Matador, TX Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Matador is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Matador is lower than Texas average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #736
| Matador, TX | 0.01 |
| 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
| Matador, TX | 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, #1299
| Matador, TX | 145.05 |
| 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 2,094 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Matador, TX 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: | 1 | Cold: | 0 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 38 |
| Dust Storm: | 2 | Flood: | 58 | Hail: | 1,384 | Heat: | 2 | Heavy Snow: | 7 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 2 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 26 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 513 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 10 | Winter Weather: | 19 |
| Other: | 28 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Matador, TX.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Matador, TX.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Matador, TX.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 42 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Matador, TX.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.1 | 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 |
| 14.9 | 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 |
| 15.6 | 1973-03-23 | 2 | 33°52'N / 100°22'W | 34°00'N / 100°46'W | 24.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Motley |
| 16.8 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 17.2 | 1960-05-24 | 3 | 33°45'N / 100°51'W | 33°47'N / 100°49'W | 3.30 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Motley |
| 21.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 27.1 | 2010-04-22 | 3 | 34°10'N / 100°30'W | 34°15'N / 100°19'W | 12.00 Miles | 975 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Cottle |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A large and rain wrapped tornado tracked from southwest of Cee Vee to just west of U.S. Highway 62/83 east-northeast of Cee Vee between 18:46 and 19:20 CST. A storm spotter observed the tornado as it passed southeast of Cee Vee at approximately 19:05 CST, and described it visually as a large wedge-shaped vortex. A post-storm ground and aerial survey conducted by local emergency management officials and National Weather Service meteorologists concluded that the tornado resulted in significant EF-3 damage. A number light weight objects and structures, including well-houses, horse stables, utility poles, empty semi-truck trailers, and a partially filled petroleum tank were heavily damaged or destroyed along the initial portions of the tornado's track through ranchland southwest and south of Cee Vee. This includes minor roof damage to a permanent farm home near County Road 172. Significant damage first occurred at a farmstead 3 miles east-southeast of Cee Vee, south of Farm to Market Road 1440. At this site, upwards of twenty-percent of the roof was removed from a well-built permanent home. A large metal building was partially collapsed and a well-house was completely destroyed. A horse trailer was blown over and rolled. In addition, several large trees were uprooted. The tornado continued to move northeastward and impacted a second farmstead four miles east of Cee Vee, just south of Farm to Market Road 1440. The tornado's maximum damage intensity was observed at this site, where a well-built stucco constructed permanant home, a cinderblock two-car garage, and several outbuildings were destroyed. The home's roof was totally removed, and three exterior walls collapsed. A portion of the home's roof and exterior walls were blown downwind and struck the two-car cinderblock garage broadside. This contributed to the complete destruction of that structure with only the frames of two exterior walls remaining. Two outbuildings and a horse stable were completely destroyed, with another unroofed. In addition, an entire stand of more than a dozen large trees were uprooted. A detailed survey by local officials of the site, revealed that the home was well-built, and that the exterior walls were secured to the slab foundation with bolts. In collaboration with experts at Texas Tech University's Wind Engineering Department, the developers of the Enhanced-Fujita Scale, it was determined that estimated wind speeds at the site of the destroyed residence ranged between 130 and 150 mph. With an average expected wind speed of 140 mph, the tornado was assigned an EF-3 rating based on this damage. The tornado continued northeastward across Farm to Market Road 1440. It caused light roof damage to a couple of light weight structures before dissipating just west of U.S. Highway 62/83 east-northeast of Cee Vee at approximately 19:20 CST. Despite damaging three residences, no injuries were reported. 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. | |||||||||||
| 27.5 | 1957-04-20 | 2 | 33°48'N / 100°25'W | 0.40 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | King | |
| 30.7 | 1989-05-15 | 2 | 33°40'N / 100°23'W | 33°45'N / 100°29'W | 7.00 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | King |
| 30.8 | 1956-05-08 | 2 | 34°01'N / 100°17'W | 1.00 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cottle | |
| 31.6 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 33.3 | 1971-05-31 | 2 | 33°50'N / 100°17'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cottle | |
| 34.3 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 34.5 | 1954-06-01 | 3 | 34°01'N / 100°18'W | 33°52'N / 100°09'W | 13.40 Miles | 267 Yards | 1 | 14 | 2.5M | 0 | Cottle |
| 36.1 | 1981-05-07 | 2 | 33°41'N / 101°20'W | 33°42'N / 101°18'W | 2.70 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crosby |
| 37.0 | 1981-05-07 | 2 | 33°40'N / 101°22'W | 33°45'N / 101°20'W | 6.10 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crosby |
| 38.1 | 1981-05-07 | 2 | 33°42'N / 101°22'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crosby | |
| 38.1 | 1989-06-06 | 3 | 33°29'N / 101°01'W | 33°29'N / 100°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Dickens |
| 39.2 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 39.4 | 2005-05-12 | 2 | 33°41'N / 101°25'W | 33°44'N / 101°23'W | 4.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 75K | Crosby |
| Brief Description: F2 tornado in Ralls. In assessing the damage from the F3 tornado, the debris field diminished in areal coverage as the tornado tracked farther to the northeast along the end of its path. Damage assessment and public accounts of the storm suggested the tornado weakened and lifted. Meanwhile, a second tornado developed. This occurrence coincided with a break in the debris field observed during the Survey. This cycle of one tornado weakening and lifting while another tornado forms to the right of the former path is typical in well-organized tornadic thunderstorms. This second tornado developed approximately 1.5 miles west of Ralls and tracked to the north and northwest before dissipating three miles north of Ralls. The tornado damaged a residence and a nearby barn. Two thousand pound bales of hay were tossed from one side of US Highway 62/82 to the other as the tornado scattered debris to the south and southwest across an adjacent field. In addition, a vehicle was overturned on the property within debris from the residence and power poles were either blown down or snapped and center pivots overturned. 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. | |||||||||||
| 40.8 | 1962-06-07 | 2 | 34°28'N / 101°17'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe | |
| 41.3 | 1989-06-06 | 3 | 33°37'N / 101°32'W | 33°29'N / 101°01'W | 29.00 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Crosby |
| 42.1 | 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 |
| 42.1 | 1962-06-07 | 2 | 34°28'N / 101°19'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Briscoe | |
| 42.2 | 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 |
| 42.6 | 1987-05-28 | 2 | 33°33'N / 100°25'W | 33°33'N / 100°15'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | King |
| 43.1 | 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 |
| 43.2 | 1967-04-12 | 2 | 33°50'N / 100°06'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cottle | |
| 43.3 | 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 |
| 45.0 | 2006-05-09 | 2 | 34°25'N / 100°12'W | 34°25'N / 100°12'W | 1.50 Miles | 175 Yards | 0 | 1 | 5.7M | 0 | Childress |
| Brief Description: A tornado resulted in significant (F2) damage along a one and half mile path through the north side of Childress during the evening hours of the 9th. The tornado developed in a residential are of northwest Childress at 20:30 CST. Damage in the neighborhood was characterized as weak, with numerous downed trees, street signs, and damaged roofs. A resident was injured when a tree fell and struck him, breaking his arm and causing minor lacerations. The tornado then moved east toward the high school. Damage to the high school was extensive. A local television network, KVII-TV in Amarillo, operates an automated weather station on the campus as part of a regional school net. The instrument measured a 109 MPH wind gust as the tornado ripped through the facility at 20:32 CST. Damage at Childress High School was rated F1, with large brick walls blown inn and portions of the building's roof removed. The gymnasium was declared a total loss. The tornado intensified as it continued to move east across Fair Park. A large industrial building used to house city owned emergency vehicles was completely destroyed, with extensive damage to the fleet of vehicles that were parked inside. A tennis court was destroyed by wind-blown debris, and numerous large trees were uprooted. A large stone picnic table was blown northward along the wind fields convergent axis associated with center of the tornado's path. A well-built metal bridge that spanned Park Lake was blown a considerable distance downwind. Damage along the tornado's path through the park justified a significant rating (F2) on the Fujita Tornado Damage Intensity Scale. This given the magnitude of damage observed at the industrial building site, where large steel beams were completely torn from their bolted fixtures. The damage survey indicated that the tornado quickly weakened as it continued to move east of the park, and into more rural areas in the northeastern outskirts of the city. May 9 Severe Thunderstorm and Significant Tornado Event Summary...Two isolated supercell thunderstorms developed east of a dryline that was roughly oriented along the Caprock Escarpment during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 9th. These storms evolved into splitting supercells, and resulted in large hail up to two inches in diameter in Dickens and Motley Counties. The anticyclonic member from one of the mentioned storms propagated northward over Childress County during the early evening hours. The storm effectively lowered temperature-to-dewpoint depressions and locally backed the near-surface winds. A classic supercell subsequently propagated southeastward out of the Texas Panhandle and over Hall County. This storm interacted with the "outflow boundary" left by the departing anticyclonic storm. The southeastward propagating storm rapidly became tornadic near the northwestern corner of Childress. Large hail, damaging RFD winds, and the significant (F2) tornado resulted in nearly $6 million in damages and injured one. A school net weather instrument located at the heavily damaged Childress High School measured a peak wind gust of 109 MPH as the tornado destroyed the school's gymnasium. A second round of isolated severe storms produced large hail over the extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle as clean-up crews worked in the damaged areas. | |||||||||||
| 45.7 | 2005-05-12 | 3 | 33°35'N / 101°30'W | 33°39'N / 101°25'W | 6.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 200K | Crosby |
| Brief Description: F3 tornado in Ralls. A strong tornado developed approximately 9 miles to the southwest of Ralls around 8:40 PM and tracked to the northeast for six miles. Along the path of this tornado, several power poles were blown over or snapped and a few center pivots were overturned or twisted. A residence was completely destroyed with debris entirely removed from the foundation. The majority of the debris from this structure was blown to the northeast approximately 10 to 30 feet from the foundation...with other related debris dispersed over a mile away. Two pickup trucks were lifted and deposited upside down 5 to 30 feet from former locations. Trees were mud-splattered and stripped of bark with large branches completely torn off trunks. Center pivot irrigation systems were either blown over or twisted in surrounding fields...however some were left unscathed to the northeast of this tornado. Additional debris associated with this tornado was also deposited in a field across from US Highway 62/82 before dissipating. 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. | |||||||||||
| 46.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 46.1 | 1955-05-22 | 2 | 33°48'N / 101°35'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lubbock | |||
| 47.2 | 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 |
| 47.2 | 1951-06-06 | 2 | 34°26'N / 100°12'W | 34°26'N / 100°08'W | 3.60 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Childress |
| 47.8 | 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 |
| 48.0 | 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 |
| 48.7 | 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 |
| 48.8 | 1989-06-06 | 2 | 34°11'N / 101°39'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Hale | |
| 48.9 | 1981-05-07 | 2 | 33°29'N / 101°23'W | 1.50 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crosby | |
| 49.3 | 1980-05-28 | 2 | 34°39'N / 101°13'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Collingsworth | |||
| 49.8 | 1957-05-24 | 3 | 33°24'N / 101°40'W | 33°43'N / 101°19'W | 29.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lubbock |
* 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.