One of the more active severe weather days of the spring season brought large hail, bigger than baseballs in some cases, flooding, and tornadoes to the Texas Panhandle. One persistent intense supercell moved slowly across Hemphill County near Canadian and produced three tornadoes, one of which caused three injuries and was rated EF-2. Flooding from this slow moving storm closed Highway 83 north of Canadian during the evening. More flooding occurred further south in Armstrong County which caused road closures.

Tornado in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 17:05:00 to 27-MAY-15 17:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado was reported by multiple storm chasers and also touched down within the damage path of the first EF-2 tornado. Eyewitness reports indicate that this tornado stayed over open fields and cause no additional damage.

Tornado in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 17:02:00 to 27-MAY-15 17:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This was the first of two tornadoes that hit the same area within minutes. These tornadoes were documented on video within minutes of each other. It is nearly impossible to determine which tornado cause what damage but a swath of damage was noted, likely with some caused by each touchdown.

Hail in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 14:00:00 to 27-MAY-15 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PERRYTON MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Quarter size hail was reported 5 miles south of Wolf Creek Park.

Hail in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 14:32:00 to 27-MAY-15 14:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail was reported 10 miles northwest of Canadian.

Hail in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 14:34:00 to 27-MAY-15 14:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: LIPSCOMB
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter size hail was reported 12 miles north-northwest of Canadian.

Hail in OCHILTREE, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 14:34:00 to 27-MAY-15 14:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: PERRYTON MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Quarter size hail was reported 15 miles northwest of Canadian.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 14:57:00 to 27-MAY-15 14:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYSIDE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Two inch diameter hail was reported 20 miles south of Claude.

Hail in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 16:25:00 to 27-MAY-15 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Half dollar size hail was reported 6 miles northwest of Canadian.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 21:10:00 to 27-MAY-15 21:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYSIDE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Baseball size hail was reported 9 miles east-southeast of Wayside.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:15:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Ping pong ball size hail was reported in Canyon.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:24:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported in Canyon.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:24:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: TIMBERCREEK CANYON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Ping pong ball size hail was reported 3 miles west-southwest of Timber Creek Canyon.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:07:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYSIDE
Magnitude: 3.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Three inch diameter hail was reported 15 miles south of Claude.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:21:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAUDE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Quarter size hail was reported 8 miles south of Claude.

Hail in LIPSCOMB, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:25:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: LIPSCOMB
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Storm chasers measured hail stones as large as two inches in diameter.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:44:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAUDE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A report of quarter size hail in Claude was relayed by broadcast media.

Hail in CARSON, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:52:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: CONWAY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported 7 miles west of Groom.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 16:45:00 to 27-MAY-15 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYSIDE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Golf ball size hail was reported 3 miles southeast of Wayside.

Hail in HUTCHINSON, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 16:54:00 to 27-MAY-15 16:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: BORGER
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Two inch diameter hail was reported in Borger.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 17:00:00 to 27-MAY-15 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported 8 miles west of Wayside.

Hail in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 19:00:00 to 27-MAY-15 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYSIDE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Baseball size hail was reported in Wayside.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:27:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

One inch hail was reported in Canyon.

Hail in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 16:07:00 to 27-MAY-15 16:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotters reported golf ball size hail 5 miles west-southwest of Glazier. The hail started as quarter size and then became larger.

Dust Storm in CARSON, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:40:00 to 27-MAY-15 15:55:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Shortly after 4:30 PM CDT, outflow from thunderstorms moved north reaching Interstate 40 west of Groom. Despite recent rains, the wind was able to loft dust reducing visibility causing a multiple vehicle chain reaction accident eastbound near mile marker 102 involving one SUV and five tractor trailers. The accident resulted in one fatality.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:30:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

One inch hail was reported in Canyon.

Hail in RANDALL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 22:40:00 to 27-MAY-15 22:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorms built southwestward and strengthened to severe levels again shortly before midnight bringing more hail to Canyon. Ping pong ball size hail was reported with the second round.

Thunderstorm Wind in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 17:41:00 to 27-MAY-15 17:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Winds up to 70 mph blew down trees which blocked Highway 83 2 miles north-northwest of Canadian.

Tornado in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 17:05:00 to 27-MAY-15 17:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This was the second of two tornadoes that hit the same area. These tornadoes were documented on video touching down within minutes of each other. It is nearly impossible to determine which tornado caused what damage but a swath of EF-1 damage was noted, likely with some caused by each touchdown. Estimated peak wind was 100 mph.

Tornado in HEMPHILL, TEXAS
From 27-MAY-15 15:58:00 to 27-MAY-15 16:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANADIAN HEMPHILL AR
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-2 tornado touched down as a cone at 4:58 PM CDT and quickly became a wedge tornado with a path width of 0.7 miles. Approximately forty individuals took cover in a storm shelter at a drilling rig. Three people outside the shelter were injured and two of them were airlifted with critical injuries. The edge of the tornadic rotation lifted two temporary mobile homes and lofted them 50 to 70 yards completely destroying the structures. Two pickup trucks were also thrown roughly 50 yards. Some debarking of trees was noted near the destroyed mobile homes. Several large temporary structures were also moved from their original locations. This tornado was well witnessed and video documented. Personnel at the drilling rig indicate the large tornado was nearly stationary, moving slightly east and back west before moving back east into their structure.