The end of May was unusually warm and moist this year. With abundant moisture and lift late in the evening of the 26th a couple of storms that were long lived and slow moving developed across portions of Deaf Smith County.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS AMA wrote it up.
The end of May was unusually warm and moist this year. With abundant moisture and lift late in the evening of the 26th a couple of storms that were long lived and slow moving developed across portions of Deaf Smith County. These thunderstorms produced rainfall rates around 2 to 3 an hour over an area that received upwards of 3 the night before. This led to fast rising waters over the town of Hereford, TX and surrounding areas. Many businesses, especially in the southern portions of town, had been inundated with flood waters. Areas to the southwest along HWY 60 were estimated to have gotten 4 to 6 in 1 to 2 hours, flooding the highway and stranding motorists. Many rescues were conducted by local authorities around 1 AM CDT on the morning of the 27th along Highway 60 between Hereford and Summerfield, TX. Much of these flood waters were mixed with large amounts of hail as well. Tierra Blanca Creek, which runs through portions of Hereford, TX south of Highway 60, had water well above its banks and even overtook the highway at the bridge south of town. Water eventually flowed down into Buffalo Lake, located east of Dawn, TX and south of Umbarger, TX. This lake, which has been dry for many years, had taken on so much water the officials had to release some of the water from the old dam in order to keep it from over stressing. This area of Deaf Smith County is known for beef processing and much of the flood waters running into Buffalo Lake had been contaminated with cow dung. This posed a health risk, which led to officials warning the public not to swim in the lake waters.
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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 26, 10:54 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1154 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Saturday night) Issued at 229 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 Potential for thunderstorms bringing the possibility of severe hail, damaging winds, and flooding continues in the short term. Today, latest ridge riding shortwave looks to potentially generate another round of convection in NM which may spread into the western Panhandles this evening into the overnight hours. Similar to yesterday, effects of the extensive morning convection have temporarily stabilized the atmosphere across the Panhandles, as evidenced by the abundant but flat cumulus, particularly in the east, where subtle subsidence on the back side of last night's shortwave is favored. Due to aforementioned stabilization, expect the bulk of today's thunderstorms to once again occur after 7pm. Best bet for generation looks to be a remnant outflow boundary from last night's MCS, somewhat apparent as a thin line of agitated cumulus in NE NM. Have once again leaned heavily on the HRRR given the good performance of this guidance yesterday and the trend toward a later start time in line with expectations based on observational data. On the whole, expect less overall coverage compared to yesterday given the issues with destabilization. With a trend toward stronger winds aloft, expect a bit more wind shear compared to yesterday, with 0-6km bulk shear values in the 30- 40 knot range as MLCAPE once again builds into the 1000-2000 J/kg range. Resulting long hodographs are mostly straight however, so do expect some splitting supercells and subsequent upscale growth as the evening goes on. Given these parameters, hail and damaging winds once again look to be in play, with a bit higher of a top end hail risk compared to yesterday, which featured paltry shear. Finally, given the later start time and the expectation for splitting supercells, the tornado risk appears very low. Flash flooding will once again be a big concern given our climatologically high antecedent rainfall and expected storm motions around 25 mph. Saturday, as the main upper trough to our west finally begins to move eastward, next notable shortwave looks to arrive during the earlier afternoon. Thus, expect a more typical afternoon initiation time unless convection overachieves Friday night. Upper level winds look to be more modest with resulting deep shear struggling to surpass 25 knots. Thus, only expect lower end severe hail and winds, with flooding issues returning to the forefront given crawling favored storm motions. Ferguson && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through next Thursday) Issued at 248 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 Sunday, main portion of the current western upper trough finally shifts eastward. Yet another shot at afternoon through nighttime showers and thunderstorms will result as moisture remains broadly supportive. Flooding concerns look to be the primary concern with any thunderstorms Sunday, as upper winds aloft take another small step downward, resulting in paltry shear and sluggish storm motions. That said, instability alone would be supportive of a stray severe hail report, so cannot rule out severe thunderstorms. Monday and Tuesday look to feature a relative respite from our active weather pattern as a weak upper ridge builds over the southern High Plains. That said, cannot rule out additional convection each day as southerly flow at the surface helps maintain sufficient moisture for a couple thunderstorms. Wednesday and Thursday, High Plains upper ridge breaks down as our next round of western troughiness takes over. While presence and magnitude of severe and flooding risks will depend on each day's details, at this time Thursday could feature some more notable severe thunderstorms as some guidance does favor more robust winds aloft compared to what we've seen recently. Ferguson && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1117 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 Thunderstorms will be possible through the 06Z TAF period. Confidence is low for any of the terminals to be impacted before 12Z. Confidence gets higher going towards 18Z for thunder to impact the terminals. Some MVFR CIGs will be possible between 10Z and 14Z. Besides that, VFR conditions are expected outside of any Tstorm activity. 36 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Amarillo TX 59 72 58 77 / 70 60 40 30 Beaver OK 59 76 58 79 / 30 50 40 30 Boise City OK 55 72 55 79 / 60 40 30 30 Borger TX 61 75 60 81 / 50 60 30 30 Boys Ranch TX 59 75 58 81 / 70 50 30 20 Canyon TX 58 71 57 78 / 70 60 40 40 Clarendon TX 60 72 58 74 / 50 60 50 50 Dalhart TX 56 72 54 78 / 70 40 30 30 Guymon OK 58 74 57 79 / 50 50 30 20 Hereford TX 58 72 57 79 / 60 50 40 40 Lipscomb TX 60 75 58 77 / 20 50 40 40 Pampa TX 59 72 58 76 / 40 60 40 30 Shamrock TX 60 74 58 75 / 30 40 40 40 Wellington TX 62 77 60 75 / 30 50 50 50 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. OK...None. && SHORT TERM...77 LONG TERM....77 AVIATION...36
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Amarillo TX 254 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-271000- Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb- Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson- Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth- Palo Duro Canyon- 254 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Another round of thunderstorms is expected this late this afternoon through tonight across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. A few storms in the western and central sections of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles may become strong to severe, with large hail and damaging winds the primary hazards. In addition, the strongest storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, which may lead to flooding or flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Thunderstorms are expected to develop Saturday and Sunday across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. A few storms may become strong to severe both days, with large hail and damaging winds the primary hazards. In addition, the strongest storms will have the potential to produce very heavy rainfall, which may lead to flooding or flash flooding. More thunderstorms will be possible Monday through Thursday across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. A few storms may become strong to severe on any of those days. Also, the strongest storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, which may lead to flooding or flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed late this afternoon and evening.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1157 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 TXZ016-270600- Deaf Smith TX- 1157 PM CDT Fri May 26 2023 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Deaf Smith County through 100 AM CDT... At 1156 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Bootleg, or 17 miles north of Friona, moving east at 15 mph. HAZARD...Nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Hereford, Dawn and Bootleg. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3475 10287 3496 10289 3516 10219 3475 10220 TIME...MOT...LOC 0456Z 271DEG 13KT 3488 10283 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH LG
The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:19 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Local media had reported that water was getting into businesses around Hereford.
Multiple vehicles with people inside, wound up in the ditch on US Highway 60. Reports of 6 inches of hail and 4 inches of water in the area. Water from Tierra Blanca Creek was reported to overtake the bottom of the Highway 60 bridge and start flowing over the highway.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2023
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: 1102958, 1102966.