Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2012
EF0 tornado, Wellington, Texas, April 30, 2012
This EF0 tornado ran 1.3 miles across Collingsworth County on April 30, 2012, touching down at 8:30 PM CDT and reaching 150 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- April 30, 2012
- Touchdown
- 8:30 PM CDT (01:30 UTC)
- Lifted
- 8:33 PM CDT (01:33 UTC)
- On the ground
- 3 minutes
- Path length
- 1.3 miles (2.0 km)
- Path width
- 150 yards (137 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Collingsworth County
- Touchdown point
- 34.745, -100.220
- Lift-off point
- 34.747, -100.198
- Record number
- 1204301930-01
What the Weather Service recorded
Severe thunderstorms producing large hail, thunderstorm wind gusts, flash flooding and a tornado moved across the southern and eastern Texas Panhandle during the evening hours. The only damage reported was from flash flooding and large hail across the southeastern Texas Panhandle. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
A tornado touched down just west of U.S. Highway 83 at 1930CST or approximately seven and one quarter mile south of Wellington, Texas in extreme southern Collingsworth county. The tornado was on the ground for one and one quarter miles and had a maximum path width of one hundred and fifty yards. The tornado dissipated at 1933CST and there were no reports of damage or injuries. The tornado was rated an EF0 with maximum wind speeds around sixty-five knots.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Apr 30, 6:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 6:51 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 651 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012 .AVIATION... FOR THE 00Z TAFS...BIGGEST CONCERN WILL BE TH POTENTIAL FOR TSRA THROUGH 06Z ESPECIALLY AT KAMA AND KGUY. SATELLITE TRENDS SHOW THAT MOST OF THE CUMULUS FIELD HAS DIMINISHED OVER THE LAST HOUR...AND THE STORMS ARE WEST OF KAMA. HOWEVER...THERE IS A CONCERN THAT STORMS REDEVELOP AS THE DRYLINE PUSHES BACK WEST AFTER SUNSET. SO WILL MENTION A VCTS AT BOTH KAMA AND KGUY FROM 03Z THROUGH 05Z...BUT STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY. OTHERWISE EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. JOHNSON && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 609 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012/ UPDATE... UPDATED GRIDS AND PUBLIC PRODUCTS TO ACCOUNT FOR NEW TORNADO WATCH ISSUED FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE FCST AREA. SVR TSTM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER REMAINS VALID FOR COUNTIES OUTSIDE TORNADO WATCH. ANDRADE PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 330 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012/ DISCUSSION... VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVERHEAD AT THIS TIME. 12Z RAOB FROM AMARILLO SUGGESTED LIFTED INDEX OF -9 WITH HUGE CAPE AFTER LOWER 80S ATTAINED. DRYLINE POSITIONED TO WEST OF FORECAST AREA. A COUPLE OF 700 MB VORTICITY MAXIMA WILL ASSIST IN THE RELEASE OF INSTABILITY. FORECAST CALLS FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING... WITH MOST OF ACTIVITY CONFINED TO EASTERN ZONES BY MIDNIGHT. VERY LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS EXPECTED TO BE PRIMARY THREATS THIS EVENING. NOT MANY CHANGES MADE TO EARLIER FORECAST...EXCEPT TO INTRODUCE SLIGHT CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS IN FAR EASTERN ZONES TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...DUE TO EXPECTED LOCATION OF DRYLINE AND INSTABILITY AXIS. NO POPS IN LATER PERIODS. 03 COCKRELL FIRE WEATHER... ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDTIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS DRY SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASE. DAILY RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES THURSDAY AND BEYOND WILL FALL WELL BELOW 20 PERCENT...BUT EXCESSIVE WINDS ARE NOT EXPECTED. 03 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. OK...NONE. && 16/02
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 6:46 PM CDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX 646 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-011100- CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB- HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON- GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH- 646 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING ACROSS ALL OF THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AS WELL AS THE WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE UNTIL 11 PM. IN ADDITION...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EASTERN OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE AND THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE UNTIL 2 AM TUESDAY. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH. IN ADDITION...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY IN THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS THE EASTERN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA PANHANDLES. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG...WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLES ON TUESDAY AND THE WESTERN HALF OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ON WEDNESDAY DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LOW AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND SPOTTER GROUPS ACROSS THE PANHANDLES SHOULD BE READY OR ACTIVATION THIS EVENING. AREA FIRE MANAGERS AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. ANDRADE
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 30, 7:57 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
757 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0756 PM HAIL 4 W CLARENDON 34.94N 100.96W
04/30/2012 E2.50 INCH DONLEY TX BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200380
SFJLocal storm report, Apr 30, 7:58 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
758 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0757 PM HAIL 1 NW CLARENDON 34.95N 100.90W
04/30/2012 E2.50 INCH DONLEY TX STORM CHASER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200381
SFJLocal storm report, Apr 30, 8:07 PM CDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
807 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0806 PM HAIL CLARENDON 34.94N 100.89W
04/30/2012 E1.50 INCH DONLEY TX STORM CHASER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200383
SFJLocal storm report, Apr 30, 8:08 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
808 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0755 PM HAIL 10 NW CLARENDON 35.04N 101.02W
04/30/2012 E2.00 INCH DONLEY TX BROADCAST MEDIA
THIS HAIL FELL IN ASHTOLA.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200384
EALocal storm report, Apr 30, 8:13 PM CDT, 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
813 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0812 PM HAIL HOWARDWICK 35.04N 100.91W
04/30/2012 E1.75 INCH DONLEY TX TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200385
ABMLocal storm report, Apr 30, 8:27 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
827 PM CDT MON APR 30 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0820 PM HAIL 5 NE CLARENDON 34.99N 100.83W
04/30/2012 E1.75 INCH DONLEY TX TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1200386
SFJThe air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), 00:00Z
1.5 hours before the tornado, 146 km from the path. May 1, 2012.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1280 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 916 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2953 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 53 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 4 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 35 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 266 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 7.8 K/km
The surface observations
Childress Municipal (CDS), 35 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 01:30 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2012 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 30, 2012
22 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30 | 1:56 AM CDT | EF0 | Hickory, MO | 1.2 | 100 | $5,000 | ||
| April 30 | 5:38 PM CDT | EF0 | Clark, KS | 0.4 | 75 | |||
| April 30 | 5:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Ford, KS | 0.0 | 25 | |||
| April 30 | 5:57 PM CDT | EF0 | Edwards, KS | 0.3 | 75 | |||
| April 30 | 6:39 PM CDT | EF0 | Kiowa, KS | 0.7 | 50 | |||
| April 30 | 7:12 PM CDT | EF0 | Kiowa, KS | 0.6 | 75 | |||
| April 30 | 7:34 PM CDT | EF0 | Alfalfa, OK | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| April 30 | 7:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Alfalfa, OK | 3.2 | 30 | |||
| April 30 | 7:45 PM CDT | EF2 | Comanche, KS | 2.6 | 200 | |||
| April 30 | 8:10 PM CDT | EF0 | Nowata, OK | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 30 | 8:12 PM CDT | EF1 | Nowata, OK | 0.2 | 75 | |||
| April 30 | 8:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant, OK | 16.0 | 300 | |||
| April 30 | 8:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Nowata, OK | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 30 | 8:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Nowata, OK | 0.2 | 75 | $5,000 | ||
| April 30 | 8:59 PM CDT | EF1 | Nowata, OK | 1.5 | 200 | $2,000 | ||
| April 30 | 9:06 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant, OK | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| April 30 | 9:10 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant, OK | 14.0 | 400 | |||
| April 30 | 9:29 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant, OK | 12.0 | 200 | |||
| April 30 | 10:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Craig, OK | 1.0 | 75 | |||
| April 30 | 10:07 PM CDT | EF1 | Kay, OK | 2.0 | 50 | |||
| April 30 | 10:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Kay, OK | 7.0 | 100 | |||
| April 30 | 12:42 AM CDT | EF1 | Nowata, OK | 6.5 | 300 | $10,000 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.