The second in a series of potent upper air storm systems transited the Southern Plains on the 26th. Isolated convective shower and thunderstorms developed in advance of the system during the midday and early afternoon hours, as cold mid level temperatures overspread the region and steepened lapse rates.  One of these storms, beneath the system's cold pool aloft, stretched a pre-existing circulation sufficiently to result in a weak non-mesocyclonic tornado west of Needmore (Bailey County) between 12:40 CST and 12:44 CST.  Convection became more vigorous as it progressed east produced quarter size hail over northern Motley County shortly after 14:00 CST.
As subsidence overspread the region in the wake of the passing system, strong westerly winds impacted portions of the extreme southwestern Panhandle and the western South Plains. High winds were observed by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet and the KVII-TV Schoolnet across Bailey, Castro and Parmer Counties.
A list of observed severe wind gusts follows:  59 mph at Friona (Parmer County) and 59 mph at Lazbuddie (Castro County).
A list of high sustained winds follows:  40 mph at Muleshoe (Bailey County), 41 mph at Dimmitt (Castro County), 41 mph at Hart (Castro County) and 43 mph at Friona
(Parmer County).
The strong winds were accompanied by critical fire weather and promoted the ignition and spread of two significant wildfires within ambient drought-stricken fuels.  A fire that spread to over 500 acres north of Petersburg (Hale County) destroyed four structures at a homestead and a tractor.  A second 3,000 acre fire west of Happy (Swisher County) destroyed two structures and caused evacuations of the town.  No injuries were reported, however, total economic losses were estimated at $350,000.

High Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 18:35:00 to 26-APR-11 19:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wildfire in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 15:49:00 to 26-APR-11 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Wildfire in HALE, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 15:37:00 to 26-APR-11 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Tornado in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 12:40:00 to 26-APR-11 12:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEEDMORE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The broadcast media relayed photographs of a non-mesocyclonic tornado which developed beneath a shallow convective cell between 12:40 CST and 12:44 CST on the 26th.  Per post-event radar and surface analysis, the tornado occurred during the updraft phase of a small convective shower, apparently due to the vertical stretching of pre-existing low level vorticity.  The low-level environment was characterized by very dry air with surface temperatures in the 70s (F) and dewpoints in the 10s (F).  A pre-existing surface boundary was not identified, and winds were uniform from a westerly direction.

Hail in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 14:06:00 to 26-APR-11 14:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHFIELD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that quarter size hail briefly accompanied a thunderstorm at Northfield shortly after 14:00 CST.

High Wind in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 18:35:00 to 26-APR-11 19:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 26-APR-11 17:20:00 to 26-APR-11 18:14:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet