Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 25, 2019

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 25, 2019
Start: 2019-05-25T14:59
End: 2019-05-25T18:46
Location: Texas

May 25, 2019 · NWS LUB · 11 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.3 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LUB wrote it up.

Another consecutive day of severe weather unfolded across the South Plains of West Texas and the extreme southern Texas Panhandle. An upper level trough remained in place over the Intermountain West with a weak short wave moving over the South Plains during the afternoon hours. Convection initially developed late in the morning in eastern New Mexico while rapidly expanding in coverage as convection moved east. Storms quickly became severe as they took advantage of ample instability. A few reports of large hail and severe wind gusts were received from thunderstorms on the 25th.

The most significant weather from these storms were flooding and tornadoes. A NWS storm survey revealed that four tornadoes occurred on the 25th with one EF-2 and three EF-U ratings. The first was approximately eight miles west-southwest of Anton in Hockley County but flooded roads prevented a survey from taking place. The second tornado, rated EF-2, occurred for only six minutes but caused significant damage near Plainview (Hale County). The most significant damage from this tornado was the destruction of a trussed cell phone tower. Several other areas of damage were noted from this tornado along Interstate 27 just north of Plainview. The third tornado was on the ground for approximately 4.7 miles but no damage indicators prevented a rating to be assigned to this tornado. The fourth and final tornado was observed in Hall County near the ghost town of Eli.

Very high precipitable water values relative to the time of year were observed on nearby RAOBs. Furthermore, many of the storms were slow moving. Exacerbating the flooding were the very wet grounds from previous days precipitation. A NWS cooperative weather observer's home near Littlefield flooded on both the 24th and 25th due to torrential rainfall. The supercell storm that produced a tornado near Plainview also developed major flooding in and around Plainview.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 1:26 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 1:26 PM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
226 PM CDT Sat May 25 2019

.DISCUSSION...
Convective initiation began early again this afternoon as soon as
low stratus cleared out in eastern New Mexico. This activity will
continue to move to the northeast within high CAPE but capped air.
This cap is still expected to slowly erode through the rest of the
afternoon as low stratus continues to clear. Low level shear
remains weak but very low cloud bases will allow isolated
tornadoes to continue to be possible with any storm. Additional
development is possible in the southwestern South Plains into
southeastern New Mexico later this afternoon with mixed layer CAPE
around 2500 J/kg in mostly uncapped air. It is unclear on how much
eastward movement will occur with any convection that has already
developed or any future development.

Much stronger lift will move overhead Sunday afternoon. A strong
short wave trough will move out over New Mexico along with a 110kt
jet streak at 250mb. Although most of the large scale lift will
move out over the central Plains, isolated dryline convection is
expected from the South Plains southward into the Permian Basin.
Mid and upper level flow will be increasing so shear and
instability will continue to promote severe rotating supercells
for Sunday afternoon with any storm that does develop. However,
models do show stronger capping on Sunday afternoon which may
delay the onset of initiation until very late afternoon. A long
shot possibility is that the cap holds and prevents any
convection from developing.

We will retain southwest flow aloft on Monday as the center of the
upper level low moves across the central Rockies. This will act to
push the dryline off the caprock. There will be sufficient
instability for thunderstorms and possibly even severe
thunderstorms in the eastern Rolling Plains on Monday. However,
strong capping may be an issue again preventing any convective
initiation. Drier air will sweep into the area on Tuesday putting
a brief kibosh on any potential thunderstorm development. A cold
front will follow Wednesday morning bringing an increase to low
level moisture. A little later on Wednesday, a short wave will
move overhead with lift favoring the Rolling Plains. Elevated
instability will exist above the frontal air mass with little
chances of severe thunderstorms. Low level moisture will begin to
surge back on Thursday in advance of the next upper level trough
moving into the western CONUS. Quality low level moisture will not
return until Friday. Models are depicting a short wave moving
overhead on Friday out ahead of the parent trough in the western
CONUS. With better moisture in the area, this will bring severe
thunderstorm chances back to West Texas. Southwest flow aloft
looks to remain through the weekend but details are unclear at
the moment.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch through Sunday morning for TXZ024>026-028>037-
039>041.

&&

01

Hazardous weather outlook, May 25, 10:13 AM CST, 4 hours 46 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
1113 AM CDT Sat May 25 2019

TXZ021>044-260415-
Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale-
Floyd-Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King-
Yoakum-Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall-
1113 AM CDT Sat May 25 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains, Rolling
Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop early
to mid afternoon across eastern New Mexico and push into the
western South Plains and the extreme southwestern Panhandle. Very
heavy rainfall, hail to the size of golf balls, and wind gusts to
70 mph are the main threats. Isolated tornadoes will also be
possible. There remains some uncertainty on how far east severe
thunderstorms will push later this evening. A Flood Watch is in
effect for the South Plains, northern Rolling Plains, and extreme
southeastern Panhandle through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Severe thunderstorms will be possible Sunday afternoon and
evening.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed across the western South
Plains early this afternoon and into the central South Plains late
this afternoon and evening.

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:00 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Briscoe

When: May 25, 2:59 PM CST
Where: Briscoe County, Silverton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.470, -101.300

The Silverton Fire Department reported quarter size hail in Silverton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yoakum

When: May 25, 3:50 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where: Yoakum County, Plains to 3 mi N of Plains
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.180, -102.830

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plains measured a wind gust to 66 mph. Furthermore, law enforcement in Plains reported that a tree had been blown over and was blocking a roadway in the city of Plains.

Tornado, Hockley

When: May 25, 3:59 PM CST to 4:01 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3.89 mi NNE of Whitharral to 4.63 mi NE of Whitharral
Rating: EFU
Path length: 1.06 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 33.780, -102.298

Storm chasers reported a brief tornado in Hockley County. A storm survey was unable to be completed to due flooded roads.

Flash Flood, Lamb

When: May 25, 4:20 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 6 mi SE of Littlefield to 1.92 mi S of Bainer
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 33.859, -102.246

For the second day in a row, repeated rounds of torrential rainfall from thunderstorms caused a home of a NWS cooperative weather observer to be partially inundated by flood waters. Furthermore, the Sheriff's Office in Lamb County reported that Farm to Market Road 1072 through Fieldton was flooded. A storm chaser also observed 6 to 12 inches of water flowing over Farm to Market Road 168 approximately one mile north of Spade.

Tornado, Hale

When: May 25, 4:39 PM CST to 4:44 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 1.99 mi NW of Plainview to 1.13 mi WNW of Seth Ward
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.69 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.219, -101.726

Tornado development started west of Interstate 27 around 1636 CST based on storm chaser images. The first indications of damage occurred near the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and northbound Interstate 27 where shipping containers were blown over. Damage was then noted to the northeast along the Interstate at the off-ramp and North Columbia Street where tin roofs were blown off storage buildings. Damage then continued south and east towards the intersection of North Columbia Street and Fence Road where a small out building was destroyed and a mobile home that was being transported on a flatbed trailer was blown over and destroyed. The tornado started to move east near or over County Road 65/East 34th Street where several trees had damage and a small out building was destroyed. On County Road 65, halfway between North Columbia Street and Well Road, the most significant damage occurred to a trussed cell phone tower. The tower was destroyed and fell across County Road 65. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing Well Road north of County Road 65. Up to 2400 homes were without power in Plainview immediately after the storm passage.

Flash Flood, Hale

When: May 25, 4:45 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 2.38 mi ENE of Hale Center to 7.44 mi E of Halfway
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.083, -101.791

Numerous roads in and around Plainview were flooded by torrential rainfall from a supercell thunderstorm. The intersection of Interstate 27 and Farm to Market Road 194 was completely inundated by water. Water may have been reaching into some businesses along the road.

Tornado, Hale

When: May 25, 5:08 PM CST to 5:16 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 3.25 mi W of Cotton Center to 1.41 mi E of Cotton Center
Rating: EFU
Path length: 4.64 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.002, -102.057

Moving over mainly farm and ranch land, there were no damage indicators hit to provide an EF rating. The only indications of damage were an overturned center pivot irrigation system near a curve of Farm to Market Road 37, 2.5 miles WNW of Cotton Center. A cotton trailer and livestock feed bunk were also pulled across the road near this location. The tornado continued moving east passing one mile north of Cotton Center and no damage was found near Farm to Market Road 179 where the path crossed the road. The tornado dissipated one mile ENE of Cotton Center. Poor road conditions prevented a NWS storm survey to determine if any damage existed beyond this point.

Hail, Castro

When: May 25, 5:46 PM CST
Where: Castro County, Dimmitt
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.550, -102.320

Law enforcement in Dimmitt reported half dollar size hail. No damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Briscoe

When: May 25, 5:52 PM CST
Where: Briscoe County, 3.12 mi NNW of Quitaque
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.413, -101.068

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site in Caprock Canyons State Park measured a wind gust to 61 mph.

Tornado, Hall

When: May 25, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Hall County, 1.38 mi NNW of Eli
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.01 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.699, -100.629

Storm chasers observed a brief tornado near the ghost town of Eli.

Thunderstorm Wind, Briscoe

When: May 25, 6:45 PM CST to 6:46 PM CST
Where: Briscoe County, 3.12 mi NNW of Quitaque
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.413, -101.068

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site in Caprock Canyons State Park measured a wind gust to 59 mph.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2019 Warnings in Texas, May 2019

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 824295, 824298, 824304, 824310, 824309, 824311, 824308, 824300, 824301, 824305, 824302.