National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Heavy Rain and Severe Thunderstorms

May 24 and 25 

Starting mid day on May 24, a slow moving dry line, combined with a potent upper level low, and an approaching pacific cold front resulted in numerous thunderstorms across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. In all, the National Weather Service in Amarillo issued 50 severe thunderstorm, tornado, and flash flood warnings, and had over 50 severe weather reports including several tornado reports. 

In addition to the tornado, hail and wind reports, heavy rain also impacted much of the Panhandles and caused flash flooding in a few areas. Flash flooding in Amarillo resulted in numerous stranded motorists and a few high water rescues.  There were also reports of flooding in Miami in Roberts County, and also near Lefors in Gray County. Below is an image of the rainfall totals from May 24th into the 25th.  You can click on the image to make it larger.  If you happen to have any photos from this event and would like us to display your pictures on this page, please send an e-mail to the WFO Amarillo webmaster at: sr-ama.webmaster@noaa.gov

Also, the storms near Amarillo produced a vivid lightning display.  Forecaster JJ Brost snapped a few photos of the lightning and produced this time lapse animation.  The exposure time on each image was about 12 seconds.  The complete animation uses about 55 pictures so you are viewing 10 minutes worth of lightning.  You can click on the animation to enlarge.