Texas, 2023

Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, October 4, 2023

October 4, 2023 · NWS OUN · 6 events in 5 counties and zones

A high-amplitude trough swept across the Central and Southern Plains on the 4th. The southern branch/maxima of the upper jet provided sufficient synoptic lift that, combined with multiple surface fronts across the area (cold front approaching from northwest with stationary boundary along Red River) aided in widespread strong to severe thunderstorm development across western-north Texas.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 OUN wrote it up.

A high-amplitude trough swept across the Central and Southern Plains on the 4th. The southern branch/maxima of the upper jet provided sufficient synoptic lift that, combined with multiple surface fronts across the area (cold front approaching from northwest with stationary boundary along Red River) aided in widespread strong to severe thunderstorm development across western-north Texas. Strong deep-layer shear and elevated instability promoted a hail concern with multiple thunderstorms. Early in the event, thunderstorm clusters developing in the warm sector (i.e. south of the stationary front) lead to reports of severe-caliber wind gusts across the area.

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hardeman

When
October 4, 1:33 PM CST
Where
Hardeman County, 4.72 mi SE of Quanah
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
34.258, -99.675

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilbarger

When
October 4, 1:46 PM CST
Where
Wilbarger County, 3.9 mi ENE of Odell
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.365, -99.354

Odell (ODEL) Mesonet observation.

Hail, Foard

When
October 4, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Foard County, Crowell
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
33.980, -99.720

Hail, Foard

When
October 4, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Foard County, Thalia
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
33.980, -99.540

Social media video.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wichita

When
October 4, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Wichita County, 5.81 mi SSE of Pleasant Valley
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.858, -98.578

Hail, Baylor

When
October 4, 4:58 PM CST
Where
Baylor County, 0.68 mi WNW of Seymour
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
33.594, -99.271

MPing report.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, October 2023

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1139796, 1139798, 1140644, 1140645, 1140776, 1140777.