Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
187 NOUS44 KLUB 151514 PNSLUB TXZ021>044-160315- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Lubbock TX 1014 AM CDT Thu May 15 2025 ...NWS Damage Survey for the 04/25/2025 Tornado and Flash Flooding Event... .Overview... Three rounds of severe storms affected the Texas South Plains region from Friday afternoon, April 25 to the early morning hours of Saturday, April 26. A supercell thunderstorm developed just east of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Bailey County late Friday afternoon. As the storm moved slowly southeast, it produced at least one tornado that passed just north of the small community of Bula, Texas. This first tornado was well- documented by storm chasers, with numerous photos and videos of it before it dissipated in southwest Lamb County. The supercell thunderstorm continued to produce periods of strong low-level rotation as it inched southeast into northern Hockley County. The storm may have spawned additional brief tornadoes based on radar data, but we have no confirmation of any additional tornadoes at the time of this report. However, what the slow-moving supercell did do was drop massive amounts of rainfall, particularly in northeast Hockley County. This resulted in flash flooding, discussed below. Severe storms continued Friday night into early Saturday morning. Another supercell thunderstorm moved northeast across the northern South Plains late Friday night. This storm produced at least one tornado that narrowly missed the towns of Springlake and Hart. A photograph taken by a storm chaser west of Hart is the only definitive evidence of a tornado as no wind damage was reported. Lastly, a small complex of storms moved slowly across the far southeast Texas Panhandle early Saturday morning, resulting in very heavy rainfall and flash flooding across portions of that area. A damage survey was conducted by NWS Lubbock with the results documented below. .Southeast Bailey/Southwest Lamb County Tornado... Rating: EFU Estimated Peak Wind: Unknown Path Length /statute/: 4.30 miles Path Width /maximum/: Unknown Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/25/2025 Start Time: 03:56 PM CDT Start Location: 2 N Bula / Bailey County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 33.9461 / -102.6467 End Date: 04/25/2025 End Time: 04:24 PM CDT End Location: 3 E Bula / Lamb County / TX End Lat/Lon: 33.9245 / -102.5778 Survey Summary: Large dusty tornado observed by many chasers and Texas Tech University research radars. The tornado became multi-vortex for a short time, then became occluded toward the end of its life cycle. Several small gustnadoes were also observed along the rear-flank gust front. Based on the structure exhibited in chaser photos and video along with a peak gate-to-gate Vrot of approx. 45-50kts from the KLBB WSR-88D, this tornado could have been briefly up to EF-2 intensity (110-137 mph), although no damage reports have been received up to this time. .Northeast Lamb and Southeast Castro County Tornado... Rating: EFU Estimated Peak Wind: Unknown Path Length /statute/: 9.00 miles Path Width /maximum/: Unknown Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/26/2025 Start Time: 02:28 AM CDT Start Location: 5 NE Springlake / Lamb County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 34.2806 / -102.234 End Date: 04/26/2025 End Time: 03:44 AM CDT End Location: 5 WNW Hart / Castro County / TX End Lat/Lon: 34.4079 / -102.2004 Survey Summary: Several funnel and tornado reports as WSR-88D data showed increasing and tightening low-level circulation southwest of Hart. Photograph of a wedge-type tornado was taken by a storm chaser at 0235 CDT. WSR-88D Max Vrot of 45-50 kt along with the photo suggests the potential of EF-1 to EF-2 tornado although no damage reports have been received up to this time. .Flash Flooding in northeast Hockley County... Start Lat/Lon: 33.715 / -102.167 Survey Summary: A nearly stationary supercell thunderstorm dropped torrential rainfall in this area. A West Texas Mesonet station 6 miles south of Anton recorded 5.83 inches of rain, with WSR-88D MRMS rainfall estimates of six to eight inches. Numerous roads in this area were flooded and impassible for several days with vehicles reported stranded. .Flash Flooding in eastern Hall and western Childress Counties... Start Lat/Lon: 34.57 / -100.44 Survey Summary: Several slow moving thunderstorms trained over this area early in the morning on the 25th. WSR-88D MRMS rainfall was estimated between two to four inches over a widespread area with localized areas between four and five inches in northeastern Hall County. Numerous roads were closed or impassable in Hall and Childress Counties including US Highway 287 between Memphis and Estelline and Texas State Highway 256 between Memphis and Lakeview. One vehicle accident was reported on Texas State Highway 86 northeast of Turkey. The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River filled its banks between Estelline and Childress briefly reaching minor flood stage at the Childress 10N river gage. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$