An active severe weather event evolved over the west Texas South Plains region during the afternoon and evening hours of the 29th. Overnight convection over the Southern Plains resulted in a complex surface weather pattern through the day on the 29th. Thunderstorms initiated shortly after midday along an outflow boundary over the northern Permian Basin and southern South Plains. One of these storms produced large hail in Stonewall County during the early afternoon.
More significant severe storms developed during the late afternoon hours, as convection initiated along another pre-existing outflow boundary and its intersecting triple point with a dryline. These storms developed in a very unstable airmass, and low-level wind shear along and north of the outflow boundary was sufficient to promote tornado development. Supercell thunderstorms that developed near this boundary began to produce tornadoes and very large hail over the northeastern South Plains and the extreme southeastern Panhandle shortly after 15:00 CST. While several of the tornadoes were relatively long-lived and appeared to be capable of significant damage, they remained over open range land. Only a single instance of tornado damage occurred, when an EF-1 tornado downed wooden utility poles along Farm to Market Road 97 near Cedar Hill in northeastern Floyd County.
The most significant public impacts from these storms occurred in Paducah (Cottle County), where a massive high-precipitation supercell produced very strong winds and wind-driven hail that damaged vehicles, light structures, trees, and utilities. No injuries were reported.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:11:00 to 29-APR-09 17:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Numerous storm chasers documented a long-lived tornado in northeastern Floyd County during the 17:00 CST hour of the 29th. The tornado initially developed at 17:11 CST northwest of Cedar Hill, and quickly evolved from its initial appearance as a thin rope to a fat cone-shaped vortex. The tornado tracked east-southeastward across Farm to Market Road 97 just west of Cedar Hill, where it downed four utility poles as it crossed that highway. At least a couple of the wooden poles were snapped just above ground level. The tornado continued east-southeastward as a satellite tornado developed north of the main tornado. Both tornadoes remained over open range land and no damages were reported. Video and photographs provided by several storm chasers suggest that the visible condensation funnel disappeared at 17:21 CST, but then reformed briefly as a thin rope-shaped vortex at 17:23 CST before the tornado dissipated.

Hail in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 16:42:00 to 29-APR-09 16:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUITAQUE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Local law enforcement officials reported baseball size hail along Texas Highway 256 south of the Antelope Flat community. This giant hail was produced by the cyclonic right-moving member of a supercell storm split.

Tornado in HALL, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 15:25:00 to 29-APR-09 15:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARNELL
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Rural residents in the Estillene area witnessed the life cycle of a tornado between 15:20 and 15:27 CST on the 29th. Eyewitness accounts described a small satellite tornado which developed in proximity to the main tornado for about a minute before the main tornado dissipated. Both tornadoes remained in open range land and resulted in no damages.

Hail in KING, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 20:20:00 to 29-APR-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GUTHRIE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple public and law enforcement reports of large hail that ranged in size from nickels to golfballs were received in the Guthrie vicinity.

Hail in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 18:55:00 to 29-APR-09 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: PADUCAH
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Local emergency management officials reported baseball size hail along U.S. Highway 63/83 north of Paducah, and a resident of the Dunlap community reported tennis ball size hail. The giant hail accompanied the core of an intense high-precipitation supercell that produced a damaging swath of wind-driven hail over central Cottle County during the 18:00 CST hour of the 29th. Local newspaper accounts state that at least one motorist sustained severe damage to his vehicle while traveling along U.S. Highway 63/83 north of Paducah.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:58:00 to 29-APR-09 18:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: DOUGHERTY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Several storm chasers photographed a large tornado in extreme eastern Floyd County around 18:00 CST. The tornado remained in desolate range land just above the Caprock Escarpment and southeast of Farm to Market Road 97, immediately west of the Floyd and Motley County line. Video provided by storm chasers suggest that the tornado moved east-southeastward for approximately five minutes before roping out and dissipating. Local authorities reported no damage in the area. A National Weather Service post-storm survey revealed that this large and potentially significant tornado struck inaccessible areas void of roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 18:39:00 to 29-APR-09 18:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: PADUCAH
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Local officials reported that large hail was accompanied by damaging thunderstorm winds estimated up to 75 mph along a swath of U.S. 62/70 from west of Paducah to near the city. The Paducah Fire Department initially estimated 75 mph winds and hail west of Paducah at 18:39 CST.  A KVII-TV schoolnet site in Paducah recorded a peak gust of 59 mph at 18:46 CST. Winds estimated up to 75 mph, however, were again reported by the Cottle County Emergency Manager in Paducah at 18:51 CST. Damage to trees and utilities was reportedly widespread, including the loss of a historic tree at a church. A few light weight structures, such as barns and car ports, were additionally damaged. The roof also was reportedly blown off a business. No injuries were reported.

Tornado in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 19:28:00 to 29-APR-09 19:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: DICKENS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A National Weather Service cooperative observer witnessed an intermittent tornado which remained in open range land west of the Pitchfork Ranch headquarters and north of U.S. Highway 82/114. No damages were reported.

Tornado in KING, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 19:18:00 to 29-APR-09 19:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: FINNEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Newspaper accounts described a local rancher's eyewitness account of a tornado that occurred one mile north of Finney shortly before 19:30 CST. The witness stated that he observed a tornado travel a short distance across the north side of his property for about one minute before it dissipated. An analysis of Doppler radar imagery reveals a brief hook echo and velocity couplet near Finney as a complex of severe storms impacted the area. Event time is estimated via radar imagery.

Hail in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 19:15:00 to 29-APR-09 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: DICKENS
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Law enforcement officials reported baseball size hail along Farm to Market Road 265 northeast of Dickens. No damages were reported.

Hail in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 19:15:00 to 29-APR-09 19:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: AFTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple reports of large hail up to the size of golfballs, and occasionally larger, were received from local law enforcement officials northeast of Dickens shortly after 19:00 CST. This occurred as a newly developed supercell thunderstorm impacted central Dickens County.

Hail in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 18:25:00 to 29-APR-09 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: PADUCAH
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

An intense high-precipitation supercell produced a broad swath of wind-driven hail over central Cottle County during the 18:00 CST hour of the 29th. Storm chasers initially reported quarter size hail blown by winds estimated near 75 mph within the storm's rear flank downdraft west of Paducah along U.S. Highway 62/70 at 18:25 CST. Additional reports of large wind-blown hail were received as the parent storm tracked southeastward over the immediate Paducah vicinity. Reports indicate that the largest hail fell north of the city, where reports of tennis ball to baseball size hail stones were received.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:19:00 to 29-APR-09 17:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers documented a satellite tornado which accompanied a cone-shaped and long-lived tornado near Cedar Hill in northeastern Floyd County around 19:20 CST. The small satellite tornado remained in open range land southeast of Farm to Market Road 97 and resulted in no damages.

Hail in HALL, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 16:41:00 to 29-APR-09 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRICE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

An anticyclonic left-moving supercell storm produced golfball size hail at Brice shortly after 16:40 CST. Local officials additionally reported a well-developed funnel cloud associated with this storm. The right-moving member of the preceding storm split produced very large hail in northeastern Briscoe County.

Hail in COTTLE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 15:32:00 to 29-APR-09 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEE VEE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers reported golfball size hail along Farm to Market Road 1440 just west of Cee Vee.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:07:00 to 29-APR-09 17:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A thin rope-shaped tornado was witnessed by several storm chasers just north of South Plains and immediately west of Texas Highway 207.  This tornado was initially documented as the development phase of the long-lived Cedar Hill tornado, but subsequent photographic evidence suggest it was indeed a seperate event.  The brief tornado caused no damage and remained over open fields.

Tornado in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 16:13:00 to 29-APR-09 16:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An off-duty National Weather Service meteorologist witnessed a brief tornado in extreme northeastern Floyd County shortly before 16:15 CST. The tornado occurred as a developing supercell thunderstorm interacted with a pre-existing outflow boundary. No damages were reported.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 15:40:00 to 29-APR-09 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: EDMONSON
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Multiple reports of large hail up to the size of half dollars were received from just north of Edmonson to near Plaiview. This swath of hail accompanied a developing supercell thunderstorm that tracked across northern Hale County.

Hail in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:02:00 to 29-APR-09 17:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUITAQUE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Fire department officials reported golfball size hail along Texas Highway 86 east of Quitaque.

Hail in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 16:35:00 to 29-APR-09 17:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONE STAR
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Multiple reports of large hail that ranged in size between quarters and and golfballs were received as a supercell thunderstorm tracked across northern Floyd County. Local newspapers reported golfball size hail in Providence, a small community in extreme northwestern Floyd County, as the storm initially moved into the county. Storm chasers reported quarter size hail at 16:54 CST west of South Plains. Skywarn storm spotters reported quarter size hail in South Plains at 17:01 CST. The hail continued to fall along a east-southeastward moving swath to near Cedar Hill, where local fire department officials additionally reported quarter size hail at 17:51 CST. The supercell storm that produced the hail swath eventually produced a family of tornadoes in eastern Floyd County.

Hail in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 17:02:00 to 29-APR-09 17:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATADOR
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Multiple reports of golfball size hail were received from storm chasers along Texas Highway 70 northwest of Matador shortly after 17:00 CST.

Hail in STONEWALL, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 12:45:00 to 29-APR-09 12:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: ASPERMONT
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that penny size hail damaged a number of pecan trees at an orchard southeast of Aspermont.

Tornado in HALL, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 15:20:00 to 29-APR-09 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAMPICO
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the public reported a tornado in rural portions of Hall County shortly before 15:30 CST. The tornado remained in open range land west of Estelline, and north of Texas Highway 86. Area residents reported that a satellite tornado briefly developed and rotated around the main tornado. No damages were reported.

Hail in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 29-APR-09 16:20:00 to 29-APR-09 16:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Local fire department officials reported large hail that ranged in size between quarters and golfballs near Farm to Market Road 1065 in far northeastern Floyd County. The supercell thunderstorm that produced the hail produced a tornado minutes before the hail was observed.