Thunderstorm Wind — Parmer, Texas

2023-09-15 · near Hub, Parmer, Texas

Event narrative

The volunteer fire chief in Friona and the NWS cooperative weather observer reported extensive damage to the south of Friona due to large hail and wind. At least six pivot irrigation system sprinklers were overturned in addition to downed utility poles along State Highway 86 west of State Highway 214. Numerous cattle were injured due to flying debris and hail. Over 200 head of cattle had to be put down due to their injuries. Hail up to baseball size was reported within this swath of severe winds and hail.

Wider weather episode

A consecutive night of intense thunderstorms with heavy rain swept across parts of northwest Texas late on the 15th through the early morning hours of the 16th. The strongest storms produced large hail and damaging winds. Particularly hard hit were portions of Parmer County several miles southwest through southeast of Friona, where baseball size hail was accompanied by severe winds that damaged six pivot irrigation sprinklers and a couple of dairy farms shortly after 2200 CST. Approximately 200 head of cattle were lost due to the storm which had to be put down due to their injuries. Later that night a wind gust of 90 mph was measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet near McAdoo (Dickens County) at 0024 CST, though no known damage was confirmed in or near McAdoo.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.5751, -102.7448)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1123830. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.