Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 23 to 24, 2022

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 23 to 24, 2022
Start: 2022-05-23T16:50
End: 2022-05-24T02:26
Location: Texas

May 23 to 24, 2022 · NWS LUB · 28 events in 8 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: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 28

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.

Returning Gulf of Mexico moisture into the South Plains of West Texas fueled widespread severe thunderstorm development across the region on the afternoon and evening of the 23rd. Moderate to strong instability developed across the western South Plains and eastern New Mexico Monday afternoon and evening as the improving low-level moisture and temperatures warming into the 80s developed beneath an approaching upper level storm system. Relatively strong wind shear caused several of the thunderstorms to rotate as they moved into the western South Plains and western Texas Panhandle. A cluster of thunderstorms moving northeast out of southeastern New Mexico interacted with an outflow boundary moving northwest out of the Permian Basin. This caused a storm on the southern flank of the cluster to begin to rotate and become supercellular and take a more easterly, then southeasterly track. As the storm intensified, it became cyclic in behavior and its forward speed varied from about 5 mph to 20 mph. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes over an approximately two hour period. The tornadoes occurred over rural areas which limited the overall impacts. Spotty damage did occur including two oil pumpjacks that were toppled by the intense tornadic winds. This damage, along with snapped power poles and flipped center pivots earned a peak damage rating of EF-2. The thunderstorms eventually evolved into a larger complex that brought widespread rain to most of the South Plains, Rolling Plains, and southern Texas Panhandle. The heaviest rain was associated with the slow-moving tornadic storm and was concentrated over Bailey County, where three to as much as seven inches of rain fell.

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 23, 1:06 PM CST, 3 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 1:06 PM CST, 3 hours 44 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
206 PM CDT Mon May 23 2022

.SHORT TERM...
The forecast for this afternoon and tonight remains on track. Please
reference the mesoscale discussion issued at 1051 AM CDT for
detailed information.

Convection is expected to be ongoing during the early morning hours
Tuesday across the Caprock and Rolling Plains from both the
departing MCS and the frontogenetically-forced convection moving in
from the northwest. Severe-caliber gusts up to 50 kt will be
possible within the deepest cores, though the main overnight hazard
will be heavy rainfall resulting in localized flash flooding. The
cold front will scour out low-level moisture with most of the wrap-
around showers/thunderstorms remaining displaced north of the CWA,
with the surface cyclone positioning in vicinity of the northwestern
Permian Basin by 24/12Z. PoPs have been lowered significantly beyond
24/18Z area-wide, with most of the CWA dry by 21Z tomorrow excluding
the southern South and Rolling Plains, and the eastern Rolling
Plains, given some degree of uncertainty with respect to the timing
of frontal passage. STG-SVR thunderstorms will be possible in the
afternoon across the southern and eastern zones, though convection
will quickly exit the CWA by the early evening. Cloud cover will
begin to clear out in the southwestern zones first, though the
northerly breeze/magnitude of CAA will keep temperatures cool to
mild, ranging from the lower 60s across the extreme southwestern TX
PH and into the middle 70s in the southern South and Rolling
Plains.

.LONG TERM...
Frontal-driven convection is likely to clear the forecast area by
or very early into the Tuesday evening portion of the forecast as
the upper trough axis will be shifting to the east of the area
leaving increasing subsidence in its wake while low level focus
will shift south with the front and thunderstorm outflow. Dry
northwesterly flow aloft and a reinforced cool post-frontal air
mass will result in one more pleasant day before the quick
transition back to a hot and dry pattern begins.

A fairly high-amplitude ridge over the intermountain West at the
end of the day Thursday will migrate eastward, its axis centered
over the forecast area Friday night, will lead to increasing
temperatures Thursday and Friday. However, peak temperatures are
not expected until the Saturday to Monday period when deep
southwesterly flow moves onto the southern High Plains, allowing
for a hot air mass building over New Mexico to get shifted
eastward across the southern High Plains while also adding a
downslope component to the heating. Widespread triple-digit high
temperatures continue to look likely Saturday and Sunday, and now
Monday as well, especially for areas east of the Caprock
escarpment and the southern half of the South Plains.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

09/07

Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 10:46 AM CST, 6 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
1146 AM CDT Mon May 23 2022

TXZ021>044-241700-
Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale-Floyd-
Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King-Yoakum-
Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall-
1146 AM CDT Mon May 23 2022

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Thunderstorms, some severe, are expected to form along the Texas and
New Mexico state line this afternoon. Initially, thunderstorms will
be capable of producing large hail to around half dollar size in
addition to damaging winds across the Caprock. Thunderstorms will
transition into a line by the middle to late afternoon hours while
moving west to east across the Caprock and into the Rolling Plains,
with an increasing potential for wind damage with a few swaths of
winds between 60 to 70 mph possible. Locally heavy rainfall is
expected as well, with some locations receiving two inches or greater
of rainfall which may result in localized instances of flash
flooding. Additional strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible
overnight across the region as a cold front moves in from the
northwest, capable of producing locally heavy rainfall into the
morning hours Tuesday.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Shower and thunderstorm chances will continue Tuesday. Some storms
could be strong to severe with locally heavy rainfall also possible
across the Caprock and Rolling Plains.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed.

The radar

The Cannon AFB radar (KFDX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:47 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 tornado, 6 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 23, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 4.66 mi W of Goodland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 33.873, -103.011

A storm chaser reported golf ball size hail in far southwestern Bailey County.

Hail, Bailey

When: May 23, 5:17 PM CST to 5:36 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 1 mi ESE of Maple to 3 mi N of Maple
Measured: 2.25 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 33.844, -102.884

Several storm chasers reported a swath of hail between ping pong ball size and 2.25 inches in far southern Bailey County. No damage was reported.

Hail, Parmer

When: May 23, 5:33 PM CST to 5:38 PM CST
Where: Parmer County, Bovina to 1.95 mi SSE of Bovina
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.520, -102.900

A swath of severe size hail was observed in and around Bovina. Law enforcement in the town of Bovina reported quarter size hail. A few minutes later, a storm chaser reported hail up to tennis ball size just south of Bovina. No damage was reported.

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 23, 5:50 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 7.82 mi NW of Morton to 7.35 mi NNW of Morton
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.99 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.814, -102.847

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the first tornado. It was a brief needle like tornado that became rain wrapped and observed by several storm chasers. No damage was observed or reported.

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 23, 6:03 PM CST to 6:12 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 6.24 mi N of Morton to 6.85 mi NNW of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.66 mi
Path width: 1,400 yd
Continued into: Bailey, Tx (LUB)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.809, -102.786

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the second tornado. The instantaneous width and center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data. Extensive photo and video evidence existed of a wide, dusty, wedge tornado with numerous sub-vortices present at times. Maximum winds were estimated at 120 mph. This tornado continued into Bailey County.

Tornado, Bailey

When: May 23, 6:12 PM CST to 6:18 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 3.13 mi S of Enochs to 2.56 mi SSW of Enochs
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.19 mi
Path width: 1,400 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.764

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the second tornado. The instantaneous width and center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data. Extensive photo and video evidence existed of a wide, dusty, wedge tornado with numerous sub-vortices present at times. Maximum winds were estimated at 120 mph. This is a continuation of a tornado from Cochran County.

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 23, 6:13 PM CST to 6:17 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 6.35 mi N of Morton Cochran Co Ar to 6.64 mi N of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.38 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Continued into: Bailey, Tx (LUB)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.821, -102.718

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the third tornado. While the larger tornado south of Enochs was occluding, a new circulation developed to the east and a brief, small tornado was reported by numerous chasers, including NWS spotters. No damage was observed or reported. The instantaneous center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data. This tornado continued into Bailey County.

Tornado, Bailey

When: May 23, 6:17 PM CST to 6:22 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 4.51 mi SE of Enochs to 3.94 mi SE of Enochs
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.3 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.713

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the third tornado. While the larger tornado south of Enochs was occluding, a new circulation developed to the east and a brief, small tornado was reported by numerous chasers, including NWS spotters. No damage was observed or reported. The instantaneous center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data. This is a continuation of a tornado from Cochran County.

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 23, 6:40 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 5.61 mi NE of Morton Cochran Co Ar to 6.39 mi NE of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Rating: EFU
Path length: 1.55 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.794, -102.669

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the fourth tornado. A short lived, small tornado was observed in far northeastern Cochran County. No damage was observed or reported. The instantaneous center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cochran

When: May 23, 6:47 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 0.28 mi NNW of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.734, -102.732

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Morton measured a severe wind gust of 80 mph.

Tornado, Hockley

When: May 23, 7:06 PM CST to 7:11 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3.08 mi SSW of Pep to 2.67 mi SSE of Pep
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.92 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.780, -102.594

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the fifth tornado. Numerous storm chasers documented a brief, small tornado in an open field. Wooden power poles were blown down at the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 597 and 303, approximately two miles south of Pep. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.

Tornado, Cochran

When: May 23, 7:14 PM CST to 7:16 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 3.82 mi SE of Morton Cochran Co Ar to 3.93 mi SE of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.14 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 33.687, -102.688

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the sixth tornado. A brief condensation funnel extended to the ground from the cloud for approximately two minutes near the intersection if County Roads 98 and 197 southeast of Morton as reported by a storm chaser. A power flash was observed with this tornado.

Tornado, Hockley

When: May 23, 7:28 PM CST to 7:32 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3.8 mi SW of Pettit to 3.84 mi SSW of Pettit
Rating: EFU
Path length: 1.08 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.663, -102.579

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the seventh tornado. No damage was observed or reported from this short lived, small tornado. The instantaneous center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data.

Flash Flood, Cochran

When: May 23, 7:30 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 9.3 mi NE of Morton Cochran Co Ar to 7.31 mi E of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.615

A cyclic tornadic supercell persisted for several hours near the intersection of Bailey, Lamb, Hockley, and Cochran Counties. This thunderstorm brought copious amount of rainfall to this region leading to flash flooding over a widespread area. Most of the rainfall was observed over far southeastern Bailey County where between three and seven inches of rain fell. While conducting a tornado storm survey the next day, the NWS survey team discovered numerous roads that were impassable due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Bailey

When: May 23, 7:30 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 6.85 mi SSE of Bula to 3.3 mi SE of Bula
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.615

Flash Flood, Lamb

When: May 23, 7:30 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 9.92 mi SSW of Beck to 6.83 mi W of Lums Chapel
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.615

Flash Flood, Hockley

When: May 23, 7:30 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 2.63 mi W of Pep to 3.81 mi SSW of Pep
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.825, -102.615

Tornado, Hockley

When: May 23, 7:37 PM CST to 7:39 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 2.9 mi SSW of Pettit to 2.72 mi SSW of Pettit
Rating: EFU
Path length: 0.44 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.664, -102.556

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the eighth tornado. No damage was observed or reported with this short lived, small tornado. The instantaneous center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cochran

When: May 23, 7:38 PM CST
Where: Cochran County, 0.3 mi NNW of Morton Cochran Co Ar
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.734, -102.732

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Morton measured a severe wind gust of 58 mph.

Tornado, Hockley

When: May 23, 7:40 PM CST to 7:58 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3.12 mi NW of Coble to 5.8 mi ESE of Pettit
Rating: EF2
Path length: 7.55 mi
Path width: 1,420 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.627, -102.544

A cyclic tornadic supercell produced several tornadoes over a period of approximately two hours. An NWS storm survey revealed that this supercell produced nine separate tornadoes. This tornado was the ninth and final tornado. The NWS storm survey team discovered several locations along Farm to Market Road 303 with wooden power poles snapped at the base and two pump jacks overturned. Maximum winds were estimated at 120 mph. The instantaneous width and center of the tornado was estimated from TTU-Kal radar data.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 23, 8:22 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 3.34 mi NE of Levelland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.615, -102.331

A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail just to the northeast of Levelland.

Hail, Hockley

When: May 23, 8:51 PM CST
Where: Hockley County, 6.6 mi N of Smyer
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.675, -102.175

A trained spotter reported quarter size hail two to three inches deep on the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bailey

When: May 23, 9:05 PM CST to 9:25 PM CST
Where: Bailey County, 2 mi SSW of Muleshoe
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.193, -102.743

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Muleshoe measured severe wind gusts from 2105 CST through 2125 CST. A peak wind gust of 67 mph was measured at 2105 and 2110 CST.

Hail, Lubbock

When: May 23, 9:08 PM CST
Where: Lubbock County, 3.98 mi WNW of Shallowater Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.693, -102.067

A trained spotter reported quarter size hail along Farm to Market Road 1294 west of Shallowater.

Heavy Rain, Lubbock

When: May 23, 10:00 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Lubbock County, 4.71 mi NW of (Ree)reese Afb Lubbo
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.650, -102.105

A report was received of standing water on the road at the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 2641 and 2378.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lamb

When: May 23, 10:14 PM CST
Where: Lamb County, 2.16 mi SSE of Earth
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.203, -102.381

The Lamb County Sheriff's Office reported several power lines down along County Road 167 to the southeast of Earth.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: May 23, 11:42 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 5 mi ENE of Abernathy
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.858, -101.769

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Abernathy measured a severe wind gust of 61 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Childress

When: May 24, 2:26 AM CST
Where: Childress County, 0.88 mi E of (Cds)childress Arpt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 34.431, -100.285

The automated surface observing system at Childress Municipal Airport measured a wind gust of 58 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.
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.
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.
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.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2022 Warnings in Texas, May 2022

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: 1018249, 1018252, 1018253, 1018505, 1018614, 1018620, 1018624, 1018626, 1018627, 1018258, 1018628, 1021064, 1018629, 1018480, 1018482, 1018485, 1018488, 1018630, 1018260, 1018631, 1018262, 1018266, 1018267, 1018265, 1018276, 1018271, 1018268, 1018269.