Unusually moist air for mid-October was carried into the Texas South Plains on the 11th ahead of a vigorous upper low in the four corners region. By the afternoon of the 12th, this upper low tracked into Colorado accompanied by a strong subtropical jet that overspread the South Plains. With surface dewpoints in the mid to upper 60s and diminishing stratocumulus clouds, strong instability developed by late afternoon over the central South Plains. Very strong wind shear already in place was made even stronger near a warm front that began lifting slowly north between Lubbock and Plainview. By 1700 CST, a pair of strong and severe storms erupted near Shallowater and began moving north-northeast. One of these storms developed strong low-level rotation as it crossed the warm front near Hale Center and assumed an easterly motion. This rotation culminated in two tornadoes over open land in eastern Hale County. Earlier, this same storm produced very large hail up to baseball size that damaged several vehicle windows at a rest stop on I-27. Also, large hail up to golf ball size accompanied a left-moving supercell that raced northward near I-27. Both of these supercells decayed around 1900 CST before a third supercell late this evening entered Yoakum County from neighboring Lea County, NM. Although NWS Lubbock Doppler Radar indicated the likelihood of large hail west and northwest of Plains, this final supercell did not produce any known severe weather before it evolved into a line of strong thunderstorms while overspreading much of the South Plains before midnight.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 17:58:00 to 12-OCT-12 17:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALE CENTER
Magnitude: 2.75 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated baseball size hail. The extent of any damage was not known.

Thunderstorm Wind in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 18:01:00 to 12-OCT-12 18:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: KRESS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media estimated wind gusts to 75 mph along with golf ball size hail. Although damages likely occurred to area property and crops, no specific information was available.

Hail in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 18:01:00 to 12-OCT-12 18:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: KRESS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media estimated golf ball size hail along with wind gusts estimated to 75 mph. Although damages likely occurred to area property and crops, no specific information was available.

Hail in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 18:10:00 to 12-OCT-12 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: TULIA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Tulia Police Department estimated golf ball size hail. No mention of damage was provided.

Tornado in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 18:05:00 to 12-OCT-12 18:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers observed a diffuse and intermittent tornado over open land about nine miles southeast of Hale Center. At times, this weak tornado exhibited cyclical multiple vortices rotating about the larger tornadic circulation that was estimated as wide as 200 yards wide at one point. Video evidence showed intermittent circulations at ground level throughout a period of about six minutes spanning nearly two miles in length. This otherwise weak tornado remained over farm land and caused no known damage.

Tornado in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 18:14:00 to 12-OCT-12 18:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: FURGUSON STA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers documented a narrow and very brief EF0 tornado in a field. A small amount of debris was observed rotating in a tight fashion underneath a condensation funnel. No damage occurred.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 17:21:00 to 12-OCT-12 17:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALE CENTER
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated wind gusts to 65 mph with two inch diameter hail. The extent of damage was not known.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 17:21:00 to 12-OCT-12 17:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALE CENTER
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated two inch diameter hail and winds of 65 mph. The extent of damage was not known.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 17:06:00 to 12-OCT-12 17:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHALLOWATER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated quarter size hail near Shallowater. No damage was observed.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 12-OCT-12 17:39:00 to 12-OCT-12 17:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALLEY
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of very large hail up to baseball size fell along I-27 between 6 and 12 miles south of Hale Center. The hail caused various degrees of damage to several vehicles; particularly those that sought limited shelter availability at a rest stop about 12 miles south of Hale Center. In some cases, complete windshields were cracked and rear windows shattered. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Area cotton crops primed for harvest likely suffered damage as well; however, loss estimates were not known.