After the South Plains saw its first snow of the season earlier this week, a powerful and fast-moving line of thunderstorms plowed across the South Plains this afternoon ahead of a vigorous upper storm system. The day began with abundant low clouds and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico on stiff southerly winds. These clouds parted by late morning followed by even stronger southerly winds with frequent gusts over 40 mph, areas of blowing dust, and abundant sunshine that would further destabilize the atmosphere. As a negatively-tilted upper trough and Pacific cold front began exiting eastern New Mexico shortly after 1300 CST, showers expanded in coverage near the state line and rapidly intensified into thunderstorms as they encountered an increasingly moist and unstable airmass. These storms solidified into a narrow, but intense squall line that raced eastward at highway speeds for the next four hours accompanied by several severe wind gusts measured between 58 and 77 mph. Scattered wind damage was reported throughout the South Plains and in some instances commercial power was disrupted. Well behind the thunderstorms, very strong winds developed a few thousand feet above the ground. Near Friona, these winds briefly mixed to the surface behind the cold front and produced a severe, non-convective wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:06:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: SLIDE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A house at 3308 County Road 7540 (about 2.5 miles southwest of Vintage Township) had a small portion of its roof removed by downburst winds. Farther south along Woodrow Road, a few power lines were blown down.

High Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:10:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Following a strong Pacific cold front and an earlier thunderstorm squall line, a non-convective wind gust of 61 mph was measured by a Texas Tech West Texas mesonet. Winds a few thousand feet above the ground behind the front were determined to be nearly 50 knots.

Thunderstorm Wind in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 14:50:00 to 14-DEC-12 14:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MULESHOE
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 14:59:00 to 14-DEC-12 14:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAZBUDDIE
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Measured by a KVII-TV schoolnet station in Lazbuddie.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:11:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHALLOWATER
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

An amateur radio operator and broadcast media reported downed power lines and snapped utility poles near the corn maze along FM Road 1294.

Thunderstorm Wind in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:25:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SILVERTON
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Measured by a KVII-TV schoolnet in Silverton.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAMB, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:10:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:12:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: FRIONA
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Measured by a KVII-TV schoolnet at the Friona High School.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:16:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: DIMMITT
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet site located two miles northeast of Dimmitt recorded a 74 mph wind gust at 1520 CST. At 1516 CST, a weather station at the Dimmitt High School measured a 59 mph gust from the same thunderstorm gust front.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAMB, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:25:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BECK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported downed power lines at the intersection of FM Road 303 and FM Road 37.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:35:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: RALLS
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:05:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUBBOCK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media reported a large tree was blown over and a property fence damaged near Grinnell Street and Detroit Avenue.

Thunderstorm Wind in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:30:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEVELLAND MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 15:32:00 to 14-DEC-12 15:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: HART
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Measured by a KVII-TV schoolnet at Hart Elementary.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 17:20:00 to 14-DEC-12 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHFIELD
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:06:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUBBOCK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Broadcast media relayed a report of 13 shattered vehicle windows at Texas Tech University.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHILDRESS, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 17:20:00 to 14-DEC-12 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: TELL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A NWS CO-OP observer reported moderate damage to a carport three miles south of Tell.
A few sheds nearby had sheet metal torn from their roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:05:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUBBOCK
Magnitude: 67.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site. About two miles south of the mesonet station, a large tree was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 14-DEC-12 16:04:00 to 14-DEC-12 16:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUBBOCK
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Measured by the KCBD weather station.