Briscoe County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Briscoe County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Briscoe County is much lower than Texas average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #193
| Briscoe County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 0.04 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Briscoe County | 0.0000 |
| Texas | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #229
| Briscoe County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 208.58 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 12,137 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Briscoe County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 3 | Cold: | 2 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 66 |
| Dust Storm: | 6 | Flood: | 446 | Hail: | 8,360 | Heat: | 2 | Heavy Snow: | 32 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 6 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 87 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,884 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 20 | Winter Storm: | 21 | Winter Weather: | 38 |
| Other: | 162 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Briscoe County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Briscoe County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Briscoe County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 64 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Briscoe County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.4 | 1957-05-15 | 4 | 34°28'N / 101°18'W | 34°40'N / 101°03'W | 17.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 21 | 80 | 250K | 0 | Briscoe |
| 6.0 | 1962-06-07 | 2 | 34°28'N / 101°17'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe | |
| 6.1 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°28'N / 101°17'W | 34°41'N / 100°57'W | 24.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe |
| 7.5 | 1962-06-07 | 2 | 34°28'N / 101°19'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe | |
| 8.6 | 1980-05-28 | 2 | 34°39'N / 101°13'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Collingsworth | |||
| 12.2 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°22'N / 101°28'W | 34°28'N / 101°17'W | 12.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe |
| 13.0 | 2007-03-28 | 2 | 34°30'N / 101°03'W | 34°38'N / 100°55'W | 12.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 125K | 0K | Briscoe |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Many storm chasers observed a large multiple vortex tornado that developed north of Quitaque shortly after 17:30 CST. The tornado initially touched down immediately north of Texas Highway 256, and tracked northeastward across the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The tornado cut a twelve mile long path through the mesquite thickets of eastern Briscoe County, however, it continued across northwestern Hall County and into extreme southern Donley County before ending at 17:09 CST. The total path length was nearly twenty miles in length. Despite the rural nature of the area, a few structures sustained significant damage. A trailer house was destroyed about five miles south of the river. The trailer was vacant when the tornado struck, but frequently served to house deer hunters. A single-story residence also was impacted by the tornado near Antelope Flat. The roof was totally blown off of the home. A forty by twenty-four foot barn used to store all-terrain vehicles also was destroyed at the homestead. At least two wind mills were additionally destroyed. The destruction of the trailer house, the complete loss of the roof to the home, and the destruction of the large barn all support an EF2 rating. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A second supercell thunderstorm initiated along the dryline over eastern Hale and western Floyd County. This storm produced large hail and a family of tornadoes as it tracked northeastward. The most significant tornado to impact the South Plains region on the 28th developed as this storm tracked over the Caprock Canyons State Park area north of Quitaque (Briscoe County). This tornado damaged at least three structures as it cut a nearly twenty mile path across eastern Briscoe County, northwestern Hall County, and southern Donley County. | |||||||||||
| 14.0 | 1966-06-10 | 2 | 34°21'N / 101°44'W | 34°35'N / 101°09'W | 36.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher |
| 18.6 | 2007-03-28 | 2 | 34°38'N / 100°57'W | 34°43'N / 100°55'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0K | Hall |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The long-lived tornado that impacted eastern Briscoe County moved through rural areas of northwestern Hall County, just west and northwest of Brice. Although the tornado was large and had a history of causing significant damage, no man-made structures were affected in Hall County. The tornado was roping out when it crossed the Hall and Donley County line west of Texas Highway 70 at 17:05 CST. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A second supercell thunderstorm initiated along the dryline over eastern Hale and western Floyd County. This storm produced large hail and a family of tornadoes as it tracked northeastward. The most significant tornado to impact the South Plains region on the 28th developed as this storm tracked over the Caprock Canyons State Park area north of Quitaque (Briscoe County). This tornado damaged at least three structures as it cut a nearly twenty mile path across eastern Briscoe County, northwestern Hall County, and southern Donley County. | |||||||||||
| 18.8 | 1957-05-15 | 3 | 34°39'N / 101°30'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 20.0 | 1970-04-18 | 4 | 34°39'N / 101°32'W | 34°57'N / 101°06'W | 32.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Swisher |
| 21.5 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°41'N / 100°57'W | 34°45'N / 100°52'W | 6.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hall |
| 22.2 | 2005-05-12 | 2 | 34°13'N / 101°19'W | 34°13'N / 101°19'W | 1.50 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Floyd |
| Brief Description: F2 Tornado South Plains. Several power poles were snapped in half or blown over. The telephone poles surveyed were blown over in a variety of patterns, south to north direction, southwest to northeast direction, and a west to east direction. In addition, several center pivots were either blown over or twisted and two vehicles were flipped over in a field from a south to north direction. The Tornado produced the most damage shortly before and after crossing State Highway 207. This tornado was the parent or main tornado involved in what is known as a multi-vortex tornado. At times, this tornado was greater than one-half mile in width. Large tornadoes sometimes undergo a process where the flow inside the tornado becomes disrupted, but does not dissipate. The result is a turbulent circulation, or vortex, where smaller and typically weaker tornadoes develop and rotate around the parent or much broader circulation. The following South Plains tornado was one of these smaller and weaker tornadoes associated with this multi-vortex tornado. An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred across portions of the Texas panhandle and the South Plains of West Texas on Thursday May 12, 2005. The weather pattern on this day was highly conducive for severe thunderstorm and tornado development. A southward moving cold front early in the day became nearly stationary by afternoon as a strong flow of moisture overspread the area from the southeast. Numerous waves of severe thunderstorms developed throughout the afternoon on Thursday and continued well into the after midnight hours on Friday. During this long duration event, between the hours of 4:30 PM and 10:00 PM, several tornadoes occurred across the area. The National Weather Service in Lubbock, TX, dispatched a damage survey team to assess reports of tornadoes and associated damage. | |||||||||||
| 23.7 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°19'N / 101°39'W | 34°22'N / 101°28'W | 11.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 2 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Swisher |
| 27.9 | 1983-03-03 | 2 | 34°51'N / 101°00'W | 34°56'N / 101°00'W | 5.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Donley |
| 28.4 | 1957-04-22 | 2 | 34°41'N / 100°50'W | 34°44'N / 100°41'W | 9.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hall |
| 30.3 | 1971-08-10 | 2 | 34°24'N / 101°43'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 30.4 | 1960-06-08 | 2 | 34°52'N / 100°52'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Donley | |||
| 31.0 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°45'N / 100°52'W | 34°51'N / 100°41'W | 12.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Donley |
| 31.6 | 1970-04-18 | 4 | 34°57'N / 101°06'W | 34°59'N / 101°01'W | 5.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 16 | 42 | 2.5M | 0 | Donley |
| 31.9 | 1980-05-28 | 3 | 34°32'N / 101°46'W | 2.00 Miles | 833 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 32.4 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 34°31'N / 101°46'W | 34°34'N / 101°47'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.0M | 0K | Swisher |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A strong tornado delivered a crippling impact on the local economy of Tulia, Texas, when it devastated industrial and residential sections of the small community of 5,000 residents around 19:00 CST on the 21st. A two block wide swath of damage paralleled U.S. Highway 87 in west Tulia for fifteen blocks. Three persons were treated at area hospitals for injuries, almost thirty homes sustained damage or were destroyed along with twenty businesses, and approximately five hundred people were displaced or made homeless. Local officials and newspaper accounts indicated that several of the businesses that were heavily damaged during the tornado served as staples to the Tulia economy prior to the storm. U.S. President George W. Bush declared Swisher County a federal disaster area on May 1, 2007. This destructive tornado developed near a power plant at the intersection of Broadway Street and U.S. Highway 87 in west Tulia at 18:57 CST. The tornado moved north and caused extensive damage to a local supermarket at the intersection of U.S. Highway 87 and Sixth Street. A large portion of the roof was removed on the east side of the structure, and one exterior wall collapsed inward. Smaller sections of two additional exterior walls additionally collapsed. A local auto dealership, located near the supermarket, also sustained a large amount of structural and inventory damage. Forty-one vehicles were damaged by flying debris, and a motor home on the property was overturned. A large overhead door on the east side of the structure's show room failed, resulting in the failure of the west wall. A large storage container was blown into the southwest corner of the building and caused the partial collapse of the roof. Several large metal industrial-style buildings sustained major damage due to the failure of large overhead doors and buckling of roof purlins on the south side of the buildings. One such structure collapsed onto a collection of classic cars, and resulted in a $250,000 loss. Two storm chasers escaped injuries when they were struck by the tornado along the industrial stretch of U.S. Highway 87. Their vehicle was blown into a brick building, and then a tractor-trailer was blown broadside against the chase vehicle. Damage also was observed to the north and northeast of the industrial area, with severe damage in residential areas including a mobile home community between Eighth and Ninth Streets just west of Highland Elementary School. Five mobile homes were damaged, with two others completely destroyed. The most significant residential damage occurred in a subdivision along Northwest Ninth Street through Northwest Eleventh Street. Across this area, a number of homes suffered roof losses. Roofs were totally removed from at least two single-family homes on Tenth Street near Airport Road, with partial exterior wall collapses also noted. The tornado dissipated near the Tulia Municipal Airport at 19:01 CST. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas, Texas Tech University, and engineers from numerous private and governmental agencies surveyed the Tulia damage. All indications suggest that the maximum winds with the Tulia tornado were between 125 and 135 mph. This makes the Tulia tornado an EF-2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale for tornado intensity. The total economic loss is estimated at $2.0 million. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An outbreak of severe weather impacted much of the central U.S. from Minnesota to Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 21st. The west Texas South Plains and the extreme southern Texas Panhandle were affected by a series of significant tornadoes. At least five tornadoes were spawned by a single cyclic supercell thunderstorm that resulted in more than $3.5 million in damages. The most severely impacted communities included Olton (Lamb County) and Tulia (Swisher County). Both of these west Texas towns were impacted by EF-2 tornadoes that destroyed property and injured four people, and more than 14,000 customers were without electrical power throughout the night. The tornado outbreak was caused by a potent storm system that progressed east over the Four Corners region of the western U.S. on the 21st. A potent upper level jet stream spread over the Southern Plains of the U.S., and helped to create a favorable environment for supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes along a dryline that was stretched across west Texas. | |||||||||||
| 32.4 | 1971-08-22 | 2 | 34°22'N / 101°46'W | 34°22'N / 101°43'W | 2.70 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher |
| 33.2 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°11'N / 101°43'W | 34°19'N / 101°39'W | 10.10 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Floyd |
| 33.7 | 1955-06-16 | 2 | 35°00'N / 101°04'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Donley | |
| 34.6 | 1989-06-06 | 2 | 34°11'N / 101°39'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Hale | |
| 35.2 | 1980-05-28 | 2 | 34°30'N / 101°52'W | 34°31'N / 101°47'W | 4.90 Miles | 1667 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher |
| 35.3 | 1973-04-15 | 3 | 34°11'N / 101°45'W | 34°14'N / 101°38'W | 7.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 2 | 26 | 0K | 0 | Hale |
| 35.5 | 1970-04-18 | 4 | 34°59'N / 101°01'W | 35°02'N / 100°58'W | 4.70 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Donley |
| 36.0 | 1977-05-17 | 2 | 34°12'N / 101°42'W | 0.50 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hale | |
| 36.1 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°45'N / 101°48'W | 34°49'N / 101°43'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 40K | 0 | Randall |
| Brief Description: A damage assessment was made on this tornado. This tornado began in Lubbock's County Warning Area in Swisher county. After the tornado tore through the community of Happy Texas, it moved east northeast and entered the extreme southern sections of Randall county. Two homes received moderate damage from the tornado in Randall county. No injuries or deaths occurred in Randall county. Severe thunderstorms raked across much of the Texas panhandle during the late afternoon and into the evening hours. Large hail and damaging winds along with several tornadoes occurred with these storms with the extreme southern Texas panhandle being hit hardest. No fatalities or injuries occured from the severe weather...although damage was reported from the high winds and large hail. | |||||||||||
| 36.3 | 1982-05-11 | 3 | 34°39'N / 100°43'W | 34°34'N / 100°26'W | 15.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Hall |
| 36.7 | 1957-05-15 | 2 | 34°11'N / 101°42'W | 2.00 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hale | |
| 37.1 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 35°01'N / 101°28'W | 35°00'N / 101°31'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 38.0 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°51'W | 34°44'N / 101°48'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 2 | 4 | 4.0M | 0 | Swisher |
| Brief Description: Storm chaser video indicated that shortly after the large tornado dissipated, another tornado developed just west of town. This tornado tore a 150-yard wide path across the southern part of town. Fifteen homes were destroyed, including at least ten mobile homes, another seventeen received major damage, and eighteen others received minor damage. The storm survey team estimated wind speeds associated with the damage to be in the 115 to 130 mph range. Two fatalities occurred in a mobile home on the southeast side of town; the mobile home was rolled about 50 yards and destroyed. Four injuries also occurred in mobile homes that were in the same area. The church on the west side of town lost 120 feet of its roof and 30 vehicles, including two tractor trailers, were damaged or destroyed. Seventy five utility and telephone poles were snapped. The tornado crossed I-27 and continued to produce significant damage east of town as it struck a home two miles east of Happy on Farm-to-Market Road 1075. Before crossing into southern Randall County about three miles east of Happy, the tornado produced major damage to a second home on Farm-to-Market Road 1075. M37MH, F35MH | |||||||||||
| 38.5 | 1980-05-28 | 3 | 34°31'N / 101°56'W | 34°33'N / 101°50'W | 6.10 Miles | 2333 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Swisher |
| 39.5 | 1957-05-15 | 3 | 35°01'N / 101°03'W | 35°07'N / 100°55'W | 10.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Donley |
| 39.6 | 1984-05-01 | 3 | 34°03'N / 100°55'W | 34°01'N / 100°47'W | 8.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Motley |
| 39.7 | 1965-06-10 | 2 | 34°11'N / 101°46'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hale | |
| 39.9 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 35°01'N / 101°41'W | 35°01'N / 101°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Randall |
| 40.1 | 2007-03-28 | 2 | 34°55'N / 100°44'W | 34°59'N / 100°43'W | 4.00 Miles | 528 Yards | 0 | 0 | 63K | 0K | Donley |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The initial phase of this tornado was fairly weak with minor damage occurring to a tin roof...fences and small tree limbs. The tornado became progressively stronger...resulting in the total removal of deer blinds and considerable loss of metal roofing to a home and the detached garage. The worst damage occurred near the end of the tornado. Numerous large tree limbs were downed and several tree trunks were snapped at the base. A large barn was completely swept away...with portions of the structure found up to five hundred yards away. Several power poles were snapped and carried over twenty yards. A large hitch trailer was carried away from beside the barn and deposited in a nearby tree. A van was also displaced into a grove of trees near ground level. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms during the evening hours produced numerous tornadoes and large hail across the southern...central and eastern Texas panhandle. Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the eastern Texas panhandle during the late night and early morning hours. One man was killed by a tornado in the northeastern Texas panhandle and another person was injured. | |||||||||||
| 40.6 | 1983-03-03 | 2 | 35°02'N / 100°57'W | 35°07'N / 100°57'W | 5.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Donley |
| 41.1 | 1961-05-03 | 2 | 33°57'N / 101°05'W | 33°56'N / 101°03'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Floyd |
| 41.5 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°56'W | 34°44'N / 101°51'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Swisher |
| Brief Description: A large tornado developed west of town. It moved eastward across open country and thus the storm survey team, made up of both NWS personnel and a Texas Tech University wind engineer, could only find damage to power poles and to fence posts. Based on storm chaser video, the large tornado weakened and finally dissipated just west of Happy. | |||||||||||
| 42.0 | 1968-05-31 | 2 | 34°18'N / 101°55'W | 34°18'N / 101°52'W | 3.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Hale |
| 42.9 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°27'N / 102°31'W | 35°22'N / 101°05'W | 103.0 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Randall |
| 43.0 | 1987-07-01 | 2 | 35°11'N / 101°22'W | 35°05'N / 101°22'W | 6.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 43.6 | 2010-04-22 | 2 | 34°09'N / 100°39'W | 34°10'N / 100°31'W | 8.00 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Motley |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Multiple storm chasers observed a large and rain-wrapped tornado that moved east-northeastward across the Motley and Cottle County line south-southeast of Northfield and southwest of Cee Vee during the 18:00 CST hour on the 22nd. Doppler radar, along with post-storm ground and aerial surveys, suggest that the tornado developed at approximately 18:20 CST 9 miles south-southwest of Northfield, just east of Farm to Market Road 94. Storm chasers first obtained a visual confirmation of the tornado at 18:37 CST as it partially emerged from obscuring rain curtains. Photographs show a very large wedge-shaped tornado, with only the southern portion of the vortex visible through the wrapping precipitation. The tornado's track across northeastern Motley County remained over uninhabited ranch land. A National Weather Service cooperative observer, however, reported a loud roar as the tornado passed south of her home south of Northfield. Surveys of adjacent ranch land, conducted by private land owners as well as National Weather Service and Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet meteorologists, revealed that the tornado destroyed four windmills, severely damaged mesquite trees, and snapped at least a half dozen wooden utility poles. The damage path was measured to be three-quarters of a mile wide. The tornado again became totally obscured by rain and hail within the parent high precipitation supercell storm before it crossed the Motley and Cottle County line approximately 8.25 miles south-southeast of Northfield at 18:42 CST. It likely dissipated just a few minutes later at approximately 18:45 CST southwest of Cee Vee in northwestern Motley County. The total path length of the tornado across portions of Motley and Cottle Counties was approximately 9 miles, with a 25-minute duration. Enhanced-Fujita Scale damage indicators for both free-standing metal towers and metal electrical transmission line poles were considered to gauge expected wind speeds for the destroyed windmills. The lower bounds for degrees of damage 2 and 5 respectively were accepted, yielding estimated wind speeds between 110 and 115 mph. Winds of at least this magnitude are additionally supported by the expected value for snapped wooden utility poles, which were additionally observed along the damage path. Therefore an EF-2 rating was assigned for this tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Scattered thunderstorms developed over the central and eastern South Plains region of west Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 22nd. These storms resulted in significant severe weather, including strong tornadoes, as they impacted portions of the extreme southeastern Panhandle and the Rolling Plains. The severe weather over the South Plains of west Texas on the 22nd was part of a larger tornado outbreak that impacted areas from west Texas northward through western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Thunderstorms initiated over the central South Plains along and east of a dryline late in the day. These storms, some exhibiting supercell characteristics, initially became severe and produced large hail and damaging winds before 18:00 CST. By 18:20 CST, the first of three tornadoes, two of which were long-lived and significant, developed over northeastern Motley County. The parent supercell thunderstorm produced two damaging and rain-wrapped tornadoes over portions of Motley and Cottle Counties. The initial tornado south of Northfield crossed the Motley and Cottle County line southwest of Cee Vee. This three-quarter mile wide EF-2 tornado destroyed windmills and utility poles as it tracked through rural ranchlands. The second tornado heavily damaged or destroyed three farmsteads south and southeast of Cee Vee (Cottle County). Winds were estimated at approximately 140 mph where one home was destroyed east of that community. No injuries were reported. A second supercell thunderstorm developed south of the initial tornadic storm, and became tornadic near Swearingen (Cottle County) shortly after 21:00 CST. In addition to tornadoes, numerous reports of large hail up to the size of baseballs were received. Another Cottle County home was heavily damaged by thunderstorm winds just north of Paducah as convection organized into a linear complex late in the evening. Also, training thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the Tahoka area in Lynn County. This resulted in areas of flooding and portions of two U.S. Highways were rendered impassable. In all, property damages were estimated at $530,000. No injuries were reported. | |||||||||||
| 43.9 | 1964-06-11 | 2 | 34°25'N / 101°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 4 | 3K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 44.1 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 34°27'N / 101°59'W | 34°27'N / 101°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 1230 Yards | 0 | 0 | 30K | 0K | Swisher |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A large and long-tracked tornado cut a path of damage twenty-nine miles in length and at times nearly three-quarters of a mile wide across portions of Lamb, Hale, Castro and Swisher Counties between 17:57 and 18:36 CST on the 21st. Total damages from the tornado were estimated to exceed $1.2 million, and one person was injured. The tornado was in the final stages of its life cycle as it crossed into extreme southwestern Swisher County at 18:33 CST. Storm chasers documented an extended rope-out phase before the tornado finally dissipated over cotton fields in southwestern Swisher County at 18:36 CST. Reports in local newspapers indicated that at least one center pivot irrigation system was heavily damaged west of Kress. Damage caused by the tornado east of Olton (Lamb County) supported an EF-2 rating with winds estimated between 110 and 120 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An outbreak of severe weather impacted much of the central U.S. from Minnesota to Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 21st. The west Texas South Plains and the extreme southern Texas Panhandle were affected by a series of significant tornadoes. At least five tornadoes were spawned by a single cyclic supercell thunderstorm that resulted in more than $3.5 million in damages. The most severely impacted communities included Olton (Lamb County) and Tulia (Swisher County). Both of these west Texas towns were impacted by EF-2 tornadoes that destroyed property and injured four people, and more than 14,000 customers were without electrical power throughout the night. The tornado outbreak was caused by a potent storm system that progressed east over the Four Corners region of the western U.S. on the 21st. A potent upper level jet stream spread over the Southern Plains of the U.S., and helped to create a favorable environment for supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes along a dryline that was stretched across west Texas. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1995-06-08 | 2 | 35°03'N / 100°50'W | 35°06'N / 100°46'W | 10.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Donley |
| 45.0 | 1970-04-18 | 4 | 35°02'N / 100°58'W | 35°11'N / 100°44'W | 16.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Donley |
| 45.3 | 2007-03-28 | 3 | 35°07'N / 100°56'W | 35°10'N / 100°56'W | 3.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0.2M | 0K | Donley |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado formed in the northwest part of Donley county at 1839 CST three miles south southwest of Jericho and tracked north northwest for about three miles before exiting Donley county one and a half miles west northwest of Jericho at 1848 CST.The tornado continued in Gray county for about another three miles before dissipating at 1854 CST. Damage was first noted two miles south of Interstate 40 along County Road 9 in northwest Donley County. The roof of a horse barn was completely destroyed...as was the rear room addition. Beside the barn...welded steel fencing was bent or mildly twisted. A refrigerated boxcar that had contained tools and horse feed was rolled northward eleven times and found on its side almost one hundred yards north of its original location. A feeding trough originally near the boxcar was carried one hundred yards northwest of its previous location. Three hundred yards away...the mobile home of the property owner suffered only minor damage. One mile north northwest of this location...a large home apparently lost a substantial portion of its roof. An irrigation pivot was overturned in a field just northwest of the home. The most significant damage from this tornado occurred to three semi trucks that were caught and badly damaged in the tornado on Interstate 40 on the Donley county and Gray county line. In this area...power poles were snapped near their bases. The cab of one of the semi trucks was reportedly lifted and deposited atop its trailer. The driver and his wife were sucked out of the cab. The driver was completely disrobed some distance away from the truck. His clothing was found tangled in the engine of the truck. The driver and his wife were reported to be in critical and serious condition...respectively. Additionally the cab was crushed to the steering column. The trailer roof appeared to have been pried up and twisted...and at least one of the side walls failed. The contents of the truck were scattered downstream into a field for nearly a mile. In this field...irrigation pivots were overturned. The property owner also reported that irrigation pivot tires weighing three hundred pounds were relocated and a fifteen hundred gallon fertilizer tank that was one quarter full was gone. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms during the evening hours produced numerous tornadoes and large hail across the southern...central and eastern Texas panhandle. Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the eastern Texas panhandle during the late night and early morning hours. One man was killed by a tornado in the northeastern Texas panhandle and another person was injured. | |||||||||||
| 46.2 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 34°59'N / 101°48'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Randall | |
| 46.3 | 1998-04-26 | 2 | 34°06'N / 101°50'W | 34°06'N / 101°50'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 25K | Hale |
| Brief Description: A short-lived but strong (F2) tornado occurred just north of Hale Center. Two people narrowly escaped injury when their home was destroyed (they had sought shelter in a small, interior closet in this ranch-style house). The tornado also heavily damaged a vacant house, barn, hangar, and center-pivot irrigation system. Several large trees were destroyed/uprooted. Damage was investigated by NWS officials just a few hours after it occurred. A round of severe thunderstorms affected the South Plains on the 26th. The most significant storm was the one that hit Hale Center (see above) and caused a lightning fatality and tornado damage. Elsewhere, large hail was reported near Friona, Cone, Aspermont, and Jayton. | |||||||||||
| 46.4 | 1972-08-06 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 46.5 | 2010-04-22 | 2 | 34°10'N / 100°31'W | 34°11'N / 100°30'W | 2.00 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Cottle |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Multiple storm chasers observed a large and rain-wrapped tornado that moved east-northeastward across the Motley and Cottle County line south-southeast of Northfield and southwest of Cee Vee during the 18:00 CST hour on the 22nd. Doppler radar, along with post-storm ground and aerial surveys, suggest that the tornado developed at approximately 18:20 CST south-southwest of Northfield in Motley County. Storm chasers first obtained a visual confirmation of the tornado at 18:37 CST as it partially emerged from obscuring rain curtains, while still in rural areas of northeastern Motley County. Photographs from that time show a very large wedge-shaped tornado. The tornado's maximum intensity, per post storm surveys by private land owners and meteorologists from the National Weather Service and Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet, occurred in northeastern Motley County where four windmills were destroyed, mesquite trees were severely damaged, and where a number of wooden utility poles were snapped. The damage path was measured to be three-quarters of a mile wide near the Motley and Cottle County line. The tornado again became totally obscured by rain and hail within the parent high precipitation supercell storm before it crossed the Motley and Cottle County line approximately 4.8 miles west-southwest of Cee Vee at 18:42 CST. Doppler radar velocity data shows subtle evidence that a mesocyclone occlusion may have occurred, and that the tornado likely dissipated just a few minutes later at approximately 18:45 CST 3.5 miles southwest of Cee Vee. A second tornado, however, quickly developed in a cyclic fashion just southeast of the initial tornado as a new mesocyclone became dominant. The total path length of the tornado across portions of Motley and Cottle Counties was approximately 9 miles, with a 25-minute duration. Enhanced-Fujita Scale damage indicators for both free-standing metal towers and metal electrical transmission line poles were considered to gauge expected wind speeds for the destroyed windmills observed in northeastern Motley County. The lower bounds for degrees of damage 2 and 5 respectively were accepted, yielding estimated wind speeds between 110 and 115 mph. Winds of at least this magnitude are additionally supported by the expected value for snapped wooden utility poles, which were additionally observed along the damage path. Therefore an EF-2 rating was assigned for this tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Scattered thunderstorms developed over the central and eastern South Plains region of west Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 22nd. These storms resulted in significant severe weather, including strong tornadoes, as they impacted portions of the extreme southeastern Panhandle and the Rolling Plains. The severe weather over the South Plains of west Texas on the 22nd was part of a larger tornado outbreak that impacted areas from west Texas northward through western Kansas and eastern Colorado. Thunderstorms initiated over the central South Plains along and east of a dryline late in the day. These storms, some exhibiting supercell characteristics, initially became severe and produced large hail and damaging winds before 18:00 CST. By 18:20 CST, the first of three tornadoes, two of which were long-lived and significant, developed over northeastern Motley County. The parent supercell thunderstorm produced two damaging and rain-wrapped tornadoes over portions of Motley and Cottle Counties. The initial tornado south of Northfield crossed the Motley and Cottle County line southwest of Cee Vee. This three-quarter mile wide EF-2 tornado destroyed windmills and utility poles as it tracked through rural ranchlands. The second tornado heavily damaged or destroyed three farmsteads south and southeast of Cee Vee (Cottle County). Winds were estimated at approximately 140 mph where one home was destroyed east of that community. No injuries were reported. A second supercell thunderstorm developed south of the initial tornadic storm, and became tornadic near Swearingen (Cottle County) shortly after 21:00 CST. In addition to tornadoes, numerous reports of large hail up to the size of baseballs were received. Another Cottle County home was heavily damaged by thunderstorm winds just north of Paducah as convection organized into a linear complex late in the evening. Also, training thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the Tahoka area in Lynn County. This resulted in areas of flooding and portions of two U.S. Highways were rendered impassable. In all, property damages were estimated at $530,000. No injuries were reported. | |||||||||||
| 46.7 | 2005-06-09 | 3 | 33°52'N / 101°31'W | 33°52'N / 101°16'W | 10.00 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 70.0M | Floyd |
| Brief Description: The National Weather Service in Lubbock, TX conducted a damage survey in the vicinity of McCoy, TX in Floyd county. The tornado was a long-lived occurrence stretching from the Petersburg area in southeast Hale county across portions of southwest and south-central Floyd county. Significant damage resulted from a tornado impacting a grain elevator about 5 miles east of Petersburg/5 miles west of McCoy. The tornado destroyed the grain elevator, numerous power poles and center pivot irrigation systems across the area along and either side of FM 54. Numerous homes sustained roof and structural damage. One home sustained extensive roof damage as tornadic winds breached the garage and moved a pickup truck about ten inches in the driveway. The damage surveyed indicated the tornadic circulation was multi-vortex in nature. Extensive video of the tornado was captured by media and storm chasers depicting a very large, wedge tornado appearance. Another residence sustained extensive damage with a pickup truck thrown over 1/2 mile from the driveway into a field behind the home. The truck was lifted and carried through the air to the field and sustained only glass damage. The Fujita-rating for this long-lived tornado was rated F-3 based on the movement and condition of the vehicle, however the majority of the damage was rated in the F-1 and F-2 categories. | |||||||||||
| 47.2 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 34°43'N / 100°26'W | 34°43'N / 100°23'W | 2.00 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hall |
| 47.4 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°00'N / 101°59'W | 34°11'N / 101°43'W | 19.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 2 | 47 | 2.5M | 0 | Hale |
| 47.4 | 1965-06-02 | 4 | 33°56'N / 102°05'W | 34°13'N / 101°35'W | 34.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 4 | 76 | 25.0M | 0 | Hale |
| 47.8 | 1966-05-10 | 2 | 34°05'N / 101°51'W | 34°05'N / 101°51'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hale | ||
| 48.0 | 1987-07-01 | 2 | 35°14'N / 101°22'W | 35°11'N / 101°22'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Carson |
| 48.8 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 34°19'N / 102°05'W | 34°25'N / 102°00'W | 8.00 Miles | 1230 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0K | Castro |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A large and long-tracked tornado cut a path of damage twenty-nine miles in length and at times nearly three-quarters of a mile wide across portions of Lamb, Hale, Castro and Swisher Counties between 17:57 and 18:36 CST on the 21st. Total damages from the tornado were estimated to exceed $1.2 million, and one person was injured. The large tornado caused damage to center pivot irrigation systems and utility lines as it tracked over southeastern Castro County between 18:18 and 18:33 CST. Local newspapers reported that numerous irrigation systems were destroyed, and utility poles were downed along Texas Highway 194 and Farm to Market Road 145 southeast and east of Hart. Damage caused by the tornado east of Olton (Lamb County) supported an EF-2 rating with winds estimated between 110 and 120 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An outbreak of severe weather impacted much of the central U.S. from Minnesota to Texas during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 21st. The west Texas South Plains and the extreme southern Texas Panhandle were affected by a series of significant tornadoes. At least five tornadoes were spawned by a single cyclic supercell thunderstorm that resulted in more than $3.5 million in damages. The most severely impacted communities included Olton (Lamb County) and Tulia (Swisher County). Both of these west Texas towns were impacted by EF-2 tornadoes that destroyed property and injured four people, and more than 14,000 customers were without electrical power throughout the night. The tornado outbreak was caused by a potent storm system that progressed east over the Four Corners region of the western U.S. on the 21st. A potent upper level jet stream spread over the Southern Plains of the U.S., and helped to create a favorable environment for supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes along a dryline that was stretched across west Texas. | |||||||||||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.