Heavy Rain August 14-15, 2017

Another Round of Heavy Rain for the Southern Texas Panhandle 14-15 August 2017

West Texas Mesonet 24-hour rain totals ending at 5 pm on Tuesday, 15 August 2017.

A small complex of thunderstorms that started in northeast New Mexico and the northwest Texas Panhandle Monday afternoon (14 August 2017) move southeastward through the evening hours. The complex produced a couple of 60 mph wind gusts while moving past Dalhart and Vega, but weakened thereafter. Although not severe, the thunderstorms did increase in coverage as they moved into the southern Texas Panhandle around and after midnight. In addition to generating wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph, the storms also dropped heavy rain.


Regional radar animations valid at: (Left) 8:48 pm to 9:58 pm on Monday, 14 August 2017; (right) 7:58 am to 9:08 am on Tuesday, 15 August 2017.

Additional showers and thunderstorms continued to redevelop through the overnight while gradually shifting south and eastward. The final showers finally diminished across the Rolling Plains Tuesday morning. By the time all was said and done most of the area saw at least a little rain. The heaviest amounts were across the southern Texas Panhandle where widespread 1 to 2+ inch amounts fell. A few spots even recorded 2 to 3+ inches.


24 hour radar--estimated and bias-corrected rainfall totals ending at 4 pm on Tuesday, 15 August 2017.

The COOP observer in Friona tallied an impressive 2.69 inches. Officially, Lubbock and Childress recorded 0.10" and 0.25", respectively.