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.

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 10-MAY-06 02:00:00 to 10-MAY-06 02:00:00 (CST)
Location: MEMPHIS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

A National Weather Service cooperative observer reported quarter size hail in Memphis.

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 19:15:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: BRICE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Thunderstorm Wind in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 20:25:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:40:00 (CST)
Location: (CDS)CHILDRESS ARPT
Magnitude: 57 MG
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

A swath of damaging winds were associated the storm's rear flank downdraft (RFD) from just west of Childress eastward over the northern half of the city. The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at the Childress Airport recorded a severe wind gust of 65 MPH at 20:25 CST. The RFD winds likely intensified as they spread east over Childress. A medium voltage utility pole was blown down near the intersection of U.S. Highways 83 and 287. In addition, siding was blown off of a large apartment complex on the west side of the city. Minor damage was widespread, with trees and utility lines downed. Some minor structural damage also was observed along the swath of damaging winds just to the south of the eventual tornado path.

Hail in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 18:33:00 to 09-MAY-06 18:33:00 (CST)
Location: ROARING SPGS
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Trained storm spotters reported very large hail in Roaring Springs. No damage was reported.A pair of splitting supercells developed over the Caprock Escapement during the late afternoon of the 9th. These storms produced large hail. No damage was reported.

Tornado in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 20:30:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:40:00 (CST)
Location: CHILDRESS
Tornado F-scale: F2
Property damage: 5.7M
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

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.

Hail in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 20:28:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:35:00 (CST)
Location: CHILDRESS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 75K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Large hail accompanied the tornadic supercell that affected Childress during the evening of the 9th. Most of the hailstones ranged in size from quarters to golfballs. Minor damage to vehicles was reported.

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 19:39:00 to 09-MAY-06 19:39:00 (CST)
Location: MEMPHIS
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 20:10:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:15:00 (CST)
Location: ESTELLINE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 15K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Reports from multiple sources indicated that large hail, occasionally up to the size of baseballs, accompanied a supercell thunderstorm as it propagated southeastward from near Brice to near Estelline. Reports of golfball size hail was common along the hail swath. Giant baseball size hail damaged vehicles and resulted in at least minor roof damage near Estelline. The storm eventually produced a significant tornado in Childress.

Hail in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 20:34:00 to 09-MAY-06 20:34:00 (CST)
Location: CHILDRESS
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

One report indicated that hailstones reached the size of baseballs in the northern part of Childress. Damage was restricted to dented vehicles and a few lightly damaged roofs.

Hail in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 10-MAY-06 02:22:00 to 10-MAY-06 02:22:00 (CST)
Location: CHILDRESS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Local law enforcement officials reported that another severe storms impacted Childress with large hail during the very early morning hours of the 10th. Large hail ranging in size from dimes to the quarters covered the ground in the city. Although no additional damages occurred, the hail disrupted clean-up efforts in the wake of the tornado.

Hail in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 17:55:00 to 09-MAY-06 17:55:00 (CST)
Location: MC ADOO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Local fire department officials reported hail that ranged in size from peas to quarters in Mc Adoo.

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 09-MAY-06 19:18:00 to 09-MAY-06 19:18:00 (CST)
Location: BRICE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT