A complex of strong to severe thunderstorms developed over the western South Plains during the late afternoon and early evening of the 18th. A few of these storms became severe and produced locally intense wind gusts up to 67 mph.
The most significant impacts from these storms, however, occurred as an organized and expansive cold pool of outflow winds expanded east-northeastward in advance of the convection over the central South Plains. The large outflow boundary lofted vast amounts of dust from the area's relatively bare cotton fields, and a large haboob dust storm evolved to envelop much of the central South Plains. Reduced visibility, at times less than a few hundred yards, and gusts in excess of 50 mph accompanied the haboob passage. The haboob became well-separated from its parent convection, and was sustained into the 21:00 CST hour east of the Caprock escarpment.
The haboob was likely a contributor to the occurrence of a fatal aircraft mishap in Floyd County. A prominent business owner and a passenger were killed when their Cessna 182 went down in a field fifteen miles east of Floydada near the small community of Dougherty. While an official determination into the cause of the accident is pending via an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, the time of the mishap corresponded to the occurrence of a westerly wind-shift and onset of 50+ mph surface winds and significantly reduced visibilities associated with the haboob. Doppler radar observations reveal that the top of the dust-filled outflow likely exceeded 6,500 feet above ground level.
In addition, the vast amounts of wind-driven dust destroyed thousands of acres of young cotton crops. With sensitive cotton plants just beginning to emerge, the sand blasting effect of the dust storm caused extensive damage.
Agricultural and property losses that resulted from the haboob dust storm likely approached $6 million.

Dust Storm in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in HALE, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 750.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in GARZA, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in DICKENS, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Thunderstorm Wind in LYNN, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 19:15:00 to 18-JUN-09 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: TAHOKA
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A peak thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph was recorded by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Tahoka at 19:15 CST. No damage was reported.

Dust Storm in TERRY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 500.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Dust Storm in LYNN, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Thunderstorm Wind in TERRY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:40:00 to 18-JUN-09 18:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROWNFIELD
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Brownfield recorded a thunderstorm wind gust of 67 mph at 18:40 CST. No damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 19:10:00 to 18-JUN-09 19:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOLFFORTH
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Wolfforth recorded a severe thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph at 19:10 CST. Outflow winds then spread northeastward over the city of Lubbock, and a subsequent 59 mph gust was recorded by the Automated Surface Observing System at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport at 19:40 CST. The winds were accompanied by a blinding haboob dust storm, but no reports of significant damage were received.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 19:05:00 to 18-JUN-09 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: SMYER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet meteorologist estimated thunderstorm winds in excess of 60 mph along Farm to Market Road 168 south of Smyer. No damage was reported.

Dust Storm in KENT, TEXAS
From 18-JUN-09 18:45:00 to 18-JUN-09 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations