Hail — Lubbock, Texas

2015-05-08 · near Woodrow, Lubbock, Texas

Event narrative

A supercell storm erupted near Ropesville in extreme instability and went on to produce a significant hail swath across south-central and southeast Lubbock County where giant hail to softball size occurred in Slaton. Damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, and wheat crops was common from two miles east of Woodrow to Ransom Canyon. In addition to the hail, strong rear flank downdraft winds picked up gravel in Slaton and blew out dozens of windows in cars and buildings. Combined damage estimates would likely reach $300M.

Wider weather episode

Shortly before 0800 CST, elevated thunderstorms intensified across the western South Plains and far eastern New Mexico in response to a surge of Gulf moisture ahead of a mid-level trough. Unlike the previous day when widespread morning storms contaminated the potential for severe storms later in the day, this day featured multiple rounds of severe storms from mid-morning through late afternoon rumbling over the South Plains, Rolling Plains and the far southeast Texas Panhandle. The majority of these thunderstorms were elevated with large hail and failed to become surface based thanks to a large outflow boundary that surged south from early morning storms. Despite favorable low level wind shear for tornadoes, the fast-moving outflow boundary was a saving grace of sorts in that it quickly undercut supercells and prevented them from becoming tornadic. Nonetheless, the severe storms that did develop proved costly to many residents across the region, especially in and around the cities of Plainview and Slaton where extensive damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, and wheat crops was reported.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.4500, -101.8100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 567053. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.