EF2 tornado in Glasscock County, Texas

A thunderstorm moved across Glasscock County and produced a tornado near Garden City. This tornado developed around 8:56 pm CDT, just over 1.5 miles north northwest of Garden City. This tornado produced a combination of EF-1 and EF-2 damage at two residences. A single-wide manufactured home at Home #1 was rolled and destroyed. This was indicative of damage produced by a tornado of EF-2 intensity. As the tornado moved southwestward and impacted Home #2, a combination of EF-1 and EF-2 damage was noted. Tree damage was indicative of EF-1, while the metal barn appears to have sustained lower-end EF-2 damage. It is noted however that the barn construction made it more susceptible to wind entering the structure, which could have resulted in damage at a lower wind threshold. Wind speeds are estimated at 100-115 mph with this damage.

As the tornado moved southwestward, it was the opinion of the assessment team that the tornado intensified. At approximately 9:01 pm CDT, the tornado knocked over a 320 type pump jack west of County Road 417. With this slightly smaller pump jack type, it was felt that winds in the 120-135 mph range could potentially produce this damage. Thus, the tornado was rated as being a high-end EF-2 intensity. Oil field workers noted that there was damage over open fields farther to the southwest. Using radar estimates, the team concluded that this tornado dissipated at 9:02 pm CDT just short of reaching Highway 158, 1.5 miles west of Garden City. The total path length for tornado #7 was 1.9 miles with its greatest width estimated at 150 yards. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

West Texas was under the backside of a ridge with a dryline across the area which provided lift. Good instability, moisture convergence, and high convective available potential energy was present along and to the east of the dryline. Wind shear was also high over the area, and a low level jet of high winds allowed for storms to continue into the late evening hours. These conditions contributed to thunderstorms that produced large hail, strong wind, flash flooding, and tornadoes across the Permian Basin.