Severe thunderstorms struck the northwest parts of the Permian Basin during the early evening of the 1st.  The most intense storm was a supercell which moved from far northwest Andrews County across the western half of the Gaines County.  This storm produced very large hail and damaging winds.  Local newspaper reports indicate that crop and rural property damage was wide spread.  The most intense damage began about 17 miles west of Seminole, just south of U.S. Highway 180, and continued north.  Almost ninety power poles were blown down by the storm, and several thousand electrical customers were without power through the remainder of the night.  Crop damage was reported to be substaintial, with five circles of peanuts destroyed along with 8,000 acres of cotton.   Two additional severe storms moved across central Gaines County later in the evening.  These also produced large hail.  Close to 1,000 acres of cotton was also destroyed by these storms.The economical impact due to agricultural damage was reported to be significant, since crops could not be replanted so late in the growing season.  The total estimated agricultural losses are in the one to one and a half million dollar range.

Hail in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 20:10:00 to 01-OCT-02 20:10:00 (CST)
Location: SEMINOLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:15:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:15:00 (CST)
Location: SEMINOLE
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 500K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Crop damage resulted from large hail up to the size of tennis balls.

Thunderstorm Wind in ANDREWS, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:05:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:05:00 (CST)
Location: FRANKEL CITY
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail to the size of quarters and 60 MPH winds were reported along the Texas/New Mexico border between Eunice and Frankel City.

Hail in ANDREWS, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:05:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:05:00 (CST)
Location: FRANKEL CITY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 19:30:00 to 01-OCT-02 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: SEMINOLE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 250K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:40:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:40:00 (CST)
Location: HIGGINBOTHAM
Magnitude: 52 E
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:40:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:40:00 (CST)
Location: HIGGINBOTHAM
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 300K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Large hail combined with severe winds to produce damage to crops and rural properties.

Thunderstorm Wind in GAINES, TEXAS
From 01-OCT-02 18:15:00 to 01-OCT-02 18:50:00 (CST)
Location: SEMINOLE
Magnitude: 70 E
Property damage: 375K
Crop damage: 500K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

An intense supercell thunderstorm moved across the western sections of Gaines County.  This storm resulted in damaging winds and large hail.  Reports from the local emergency manager indicate eighty-seven power poles were blown down from the storm.  Although reports of large hail were only confirmed in the two locations listed, evidence of wind driven hail was present in crop damage across a large part of western Gaines County.