On the afternoon of the 15th, a cold front pushed into the southern South Plains initially developing thunderstorms in the Permian Basin. However, strong instability north of the frontal boundary combined with an advancing short wave in New Mexico brought significant severe convection to the South Plains and extreme southern Texas Panhandle. Initially, thunderstorms brought severe hail to the area. Crosbyton (Crosby County) took the brunt of the damage with widespread damage reports in the town due to wind-driven baseball size hail. An NWS storm survey the next day revealed numerous south facing windows on buildings destroyed along with many totaled vehicles. In Abernathy (Hale County), penny to quarter size hail completely covered Interstate-27. As the evening progressed, storms moving into the area from New Mexico primarily created severe wind gusts. A large swath of wind gusts spanned from western Hale County into central Floyd County. These strong wind gusts blew over a tractor trailer on Interstate-27 just north of Plainview (Hale County).

Hail in LYNN, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 15:25:00 to 15-MAY-18 15:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRASSLAND
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail up to the size of golf balls fell at the Co-op gin in Grassland. No damage was reported.

Hail in LYNN, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 15:42:00 to 15-MAY-18 15:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRASSLAND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to quarter size was reported along US Highway 380 north of Grassland.

Hail in GARZA, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 15:49:00 to 15-MAY-18 15:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: POST
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail up to golf ball size was reported along Texas State Highway 207 just north of Post.

Hail in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 16:33:00 to 15-MAY-18 16:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: OWENS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

A storm chaser video feed showed hail on the side of the road just after the storm had passed over Texas State Highway 207.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 16:41:00 to 15-MAY-18 16:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOLFFORTH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An off-duty NWS employee reported hail up to quarter size.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 17:03:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST CARLISLE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail up to the size of ping pongs was reported on social media. No damage was reported.

Hail in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 17:05:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROSBYTON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Extensive hail damage was observed in the city of Crosbyton. Many building suffered heavy roof and siding damage from wind driven hail up to the size of baseballs. Most south facing windows were shattered in town along with significant damage to vehicles.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 17:25:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALDWELL
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Pictures on social media indicated hail up to the size of ping pongs near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 175 and County Road 5200 in Lubbock County.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 17:19:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: COUNTYLINE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

An off-duty NWS employee reported hail up to golf ball size near the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 179 and 597.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 17:39:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALDWELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several reports were received of quarter size hail covering the ground in north-central Lubbock County.

Thunderstorm Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:20:00 to 15-MAY-18 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: FRIONA
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet recorded a wind gust to 58 mph.

Hail in PARMER, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:45:00 to 15-MAY-18 18:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LAZBUDDIE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Quarter size hail was reported just west of Lazbuddie. No damage was reported.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:30:00 to 15-MAY-18 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLAINVIEW
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Hail up to half-dollar size was reported on social media. No damage was reported.

Hail in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:35:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTH PLAINS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Reports between ping pong and golf ball size hail were received around the intersection of Farm to Market Road 97 and Texas Highway 207 as well as near Cedar Hill.

Hail in MOTLEY, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:52:00 to 15-MAY-18 18:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROARING SPGS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Thunderstorm Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 18:55:00 to 15-MAY-18 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: DIMMITT
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet measured a wind gust to 62 mph.

Hail in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:11:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: DODD
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A storm chaser with a local television station reported ping pong ball size hail in extreme southwestern Castro County.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:07:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: DODD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Reports on social media indicated a power pole was blown over near the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 1524 and 1055.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:20:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: HART
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet measured a wind gust to 70 mph near Hart. Reports were also received of wind damage in the town of Hart. A roof was partially removed from a large warehouse.

Hail in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:15:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITELEY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Golf ball size hail was reported near the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 378 and 145.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALE, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:48:00 to 15-MAY-18 20:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: HALFWAY
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

From 1948 CST to 2023 CST, a swath of severe thunderstorm wind gusts affected a portion of northern Hale County. The swath began just east of Halfway and persisted through Plainview and ended near Aiken. The maximum wind gust of 63 mph was recorded was by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet near Aiken. Furthermore, a tractor trailer was blown over on Interstate-27 just north of Plainview.

Thunderstorm Wind in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 19:58:00 to 15-MAY-18 19:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: VIGO PARK
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet measured a wind gust to 59 mph in Vigo Park.

Thunderstorm Wind in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 20:35:00 to 15-MAY-18 20:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLOYDADA
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet measured a wind gust to 60 mph near Floydada. This is a continuation of the severe thunderstorm wind gust swath from Hale County.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 20:45:00 to 15-MAY-18 20:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: TURKEY
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet near Turkey measured a wind gust to 66 mph.

Heavy Rain in LYNN, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 16:14:00 to 15-MAY-18 17:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW LYNN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Water around three inches deep was reported running across US Highway 380.

Thunderstorm Wind in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 15-MAY-18 16:50:00 to 15-MAY-18 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: RALLS
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet measured a wind gust to 67 mph near Ralls.