Hail in Castro County, Texas

Law enforcement in Castro County reported a swath of hail up to two inches in diameter along Texas State Highway 86 from approximately two miles west-southwest of Dimmitt into Dimmitt. Numerous windshields were reported to be destroyed.

A strong upper level low pressure system moving across the southwestern United States into the four-corners region brought ample lift to create scattered thunderstorms late in the afternoon of the 21st. Thunderstorms initially developed across eastern New Mexico by mid-afternoon in response to the approaching upper level system and moderate boundary layer instability. These thunderstorms moved into the extreme southwestern Texas Panhandle late in the afternoon producing large hail up to two inches in diameter and several severe wind gusts. Hail up to two inches in diameter in Dimmitt destroyed numerous car windshields. Several gustnadoes were observed along the leading edge of activity as it tracked across the area. Increasing low level shear, due to a low level jet, interacted with the inflow to a thunderstorm east of Dimmitt (Castro County) producing a brief tornado in an open field. Although storms were moving quickly during the late afternoon through early evening, repeated rounds of storms created flash flooding in and around Dimmitt and flooding in isolated other locations.