NWS Lubbock Local Weather Events

Out of the twenty four counties serviced by NWS Lubbock, ten were impacted by severe thunderstorm activity and included the following: Lubbock, Crosby, Hockley, Hale, Dickens, Kent, Briscoe, Hall, Stonewall and Garza.

On Thursday May 4, 2006, the National Weather Service in Lubbock dispatched an assessment team to investigate damage reported at many locations. The following report is a summary of the teams findings.

The assessment team, comprised of John Holsenbeck, NWS Lubbock Information Technology Officer and Brian LaMarre, NWS Lubbock Warning Coordination Meteorologist investigated seven main areas. These areas were the primary zones of damage resultant from severe thunderstorm activity: Anton, Petersburg, northeast Lubbock County, Floydada, Post, Clairemont and Jayton. Damage survey results indicated evidence of classic straight-line wind damage. There was no evidence in damage patterns of any circulation or tornadic occurrences.

1. Anton, TX (Hockley County) - All damage was produced by a west and west/northwest severe thunderstorm wind.

Between the hours of 6:15 PM and 7:00 PM, a narrow swath of severe thunderstorm wind damage occurred. Damage in the Anton area was confined to a three mile radius in and around the city. Upon traveling northwest on Highway 84, about 3 miles southeast of Anton, a center pivot irrigation unit was blown over in a field from west to east approximately 100 yards to the east of the highway. Damage was more widespread around town. Several trees and structures were damaged. Additional, and more significant damage, occurred to utility poles and area structures. Many roofs were either peeled back or torn off; several hay bales (approximate weight = 1,000 pounds each) were rolled across Business 84 and over the railroad tracks, along with other scattered debris. Many highway, railroad and area business signs were also damaged and pushed toward the east. A storage shed to an area business collapsed as severe winds penetrated the structure, and a nearby chute to a grain bin silo was snapped from its bolting to a concrete pad. On the east side of the railroad tracks, damage continued - a grain trailer was toppled over and an area storage facility experienced roof and window damage.

The following are some images from the damage in Anton (please click on an image to enlarge it - large images are approx one megabyte each). All photographs were taken by the NWS Lubbock Damage Survey Team.

Estimated wind speeds between 65 and 70 mph produced the damage. The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet station located six miles south of Anton measured a wind gust to 63 mph at 6:25 PM and 71 mph at 7:00 PM.

2. Petersburg, TX (Hale County) - All damage was produced by a west severe thunderstorm wind.
Between the hours of 6:15 PM and 7:15 PM, one to two miles south and southeast of Petersburg along and just to the west of FM-789, severe thunderstorm wind snapped an old utility pole, as well as many tree limbs. One large cedar tree limb was snapped from west to east with adjacent tree limbs left undisturbed.

Estimated wind speeds between 55 and 65 mph produced the damage.

3. Northeast Lubbock County, TX - All damage was produced by a west severe thunderstorm wind.
Between the hours of 7:00 and 8:00 PM, along FM-789 just to the north and south of CR-5000, damage was observed. Less than a mile north of CR-5000, a large cedar tree limb was snapped. Just to the north of CR-5100 along FM-789, a tree limb was snapped on the west side of the roadway and a center pivot irrigation unit was blown over appoximately 200 yards to the east of the roadway. Two vehicles became stranded near the intersection of FM-789 and CR-5100 as power lines were downed on their vehicles. Motorists were successfully rescued by emergency response officials.

Estimated wind speeds between 60 and 65 mph produced the damage.

4. Floydada, TX (Floyd County) - All damage was produced by a west severe thunderstorm wind.
Around 8:00 PM, just to the east of CR-151, or over a mile east of Highway 62/207, fifteen medium voltage utility poles were snapped up to ten feet from the base of the pole.

Estimated wind speeds of 75 mph produced the damage.

The following are some images from the damage in Floyd County (please click on an image to enlarge it). All photographs were taken by the NWS Lubbock Damage Survey Team.

5. Post, TX (Garza County) - All damage was produced by a west severe thunderstorm wind.
Between the hours of 7:45 PM and 8:15 PM, approximately 12 to 15 miles east of Post along Highway 380, several medium to large mesquite tree limbs were snapped.

Estimated winds speeds of 60 mph produced the damage.

6. Clairemont, TX (Kent County) - All damage was produced by a northwest severe thunderstorm wind.
Between the hours of 8:45 PM and 9:15 PM, along Highway 380, multiple mesquite tree limbs were snapped approximately 2 miles southwest of Clairemont. Up to one mile southwest of Clairemont, several windows and sliding glass doors were blown out of a local Bed and Breakfast with a large tree uprooted on the south and southwest side of the structure. Additional tree damage occurred adjacent to the business. A small silo was blown over and caved in on the northwest facing side of the silo.

Estimated wind speeds of 65 to 70 mph produced the damage.

The following are some images from the damage in Clairemont (please click on animage to enlarge it). All photographs were taken by the NWS Lubbock Damage Survey Team.

7. Jayton, TX (Kent County) - All damage was produced by a northwest severe thunderstorm wind.
Between the hours of 9:15 PM and 9:30 PM, many tree limbs were snapped across the west and northwest side of town. Across the southern part of the town, approximately one mile south of Jayton, half of a free-standing double-wide mobile home was flipped from north to south. A medium sized tree nearby was snapped about six feet from the ground and shingles were torn off a residence.

A wind gust of 82 mph from the northwest at 9:25 PM was measured by the Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet station, located one mile south of Jayton at the Kent County airport. This peak wind gust occurrence was extremely localized as trees and structures in the vicinity were not impacted. Damage surveyed in the area was representative of wind gusts in the 60 to 70 mph range.

The following is an image from the damage in Jayton (please click on the image to enlarge it). All photographs were taken by the NWS Lubbock Damage Survey Team.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock would like to thank all of the first response officials; emergency management and media affiliates; Skywarn spotters and media storm chasers; and members of the local communities across the area for providing invaluable information during the warning process.

Brian LaMarre
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Lubbock, Texas