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Public Information Statement on the Severe Storms, |
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Widespread severe damage and ongoing cleanup on the west side of Matador the day after a tornado hit town. The tornado impacted Matador on Wednesday evening, 21 June 2023. |
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The results of the Damage Survey from the tornado that impacted Matador on the evening of June 21st, as well as the severe winds that affected Girard and Jayton, can be found below. The Preliminary storm reports gathered from this evening can also be accessed below. In addition, detailed damage survey information gathered from in and around Matador can be explored on the Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) Viewer located at: Damage Assessment Toolkit (noaa.gov) When viewing the DAT, be sure to set the "Begin Time" (located in the upper right corner) back to at least 6/21/2023. Then zoom in on Matador and select the various damage points for additional information and images. |
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Public Information Statement...UPDATED National Weather Service Lubbock TX 554 PM CDT Sat Jun 24 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/21/23 Tornadoes and Damaging Winds... .Overview... A supercell thunderstorm developed in the far southern Texas Panhandle during the late afternoon of Wednesday, June 21, 2023. This supercell moved south-southeastward through the western Rolling Plains during the evening and eventually moved into the Texas Big Country and the San Angelo National Weather Service forecast area around 11 pm CDT. This storm quickly intensified in Motley County just north of Matador, TX where the first of five reported tornadoes occurred around 7:50 pm CDT, however no survey was conducted as no damage was reported. This storm then produced a third of a mile wide tornado that went through the west side of Matador around 8 pm CDT killing 4 people and injuring 15 others. Peak wind gusts corresponding to the observed damage were estimated to be in the 145 mph to 165 mph range, resulting in an EF-3 rating. This rating was determined through consultation with engineers from the Texas Tech University National Wind Institute, who also performed a damage survey in Matador. It also produced extremely large hail with the largest stone measuring 4.5” in diameter on the east side of Matador. The storm continued moving to the south-southeast where an 80 mph gust was reported at the Roaring Springs West Texas Mesonet site at 8:22 pm CDT, most likely associated with a rear flank downdraft surge. As it entered northern Dickens County another tornado was reported by an off-duty NWS employee approximately 5.5 miles northeast of Afton, however no damage was reported with this tornado. A second supercell produced a brief tornado west- southwest of Matador at 8:37 pm CDT that also produced no known damage. Shortly afterward, that supercell began to merge with the initial supercell with the fifth and final tornado being reported on US Highway 82 approximately 8 miles east of Dickens and no damage was observed with this tornado either. As the storm continued to move to the south-southeast a broad rear flank downdraft was noted on radar with the peak measured gust of 109 mph at the West Texas Mesonet site in Jayton at 10:07 pm CDT with 19 minutes of continuous severe wind gusts. These strong winds also occurred with hail up to four inches in diameter leading to damage observed along State Highway 70 in northeast Kent County including in and around the towns of Girard and Jayton. .Tornado North of Matador in Motley County... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: N/A Path Length /statute/: N/A Path Width /maximum/: N/A Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 7:50 PM CDT Start Location: 6.9 N Matador / Motley County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 34.12 / -100.85 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 7:51 PM CDT End Location: 6.9 N Matador / Motley County/ TX End Lat/Lon: 34.12 / -100.85 Survey Summary: The location is approximately 7 miles north of Matador, TX. Storm chasers stated that there was a brief touchdown over open country. Point location estimated by radar as there was no known damage. .Tornado in Matador in Motley County... Rating: EF-3 Estimated Peak Wind: 165 mph Path Length /statute/: 9.4 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0.34 miles Fatalities: 4 Injuries: 15 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 7:51 PM CDT Start Location: 6.9 N Matador / Motley County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 34.12 / -100.85 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 8:09 PM CDT End Location: 1.5 S Matador / Motley County / TX End Lat/Lon: 33.99 / -100.82 Survey Summary: The tornado touched down north of town in an open field east of State Highway 70. The tornado then tracked to the south through open country until it reached just north of Farm to Market 94 where it damaged a few power poles. It then traveled to the south- southeast where it destroyed a house on the far north side of the city. Three vehicles at this residence were rolled at least a few hundred yards away from the house with two of the vehicles unable to be located. The tornado continued to track south along State Highway 70 where it damaged two additional houses and rolled another truck several hundred feet. The tornado then tracked back to the southwest and crossed State Highway 70 and damaged several houses northwest of the intersection of State Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 62, as well as rolling several vehicles including a tractor- trailer. The tornado then crossed U.S. Highway 62 between the Texas Department of Transportation facility and State Highway 70 where it rolled an RV, destroyed a house and steel framed retail store, and partially collapsed a power substation. The tornado continued traveling to the southeast paralleling State Highway 70 and damaged several more single family residences with another house being destroyed. The tornado then crossed State Highway 70 just south of Cross Lane where it destroyed a 500 foot radio tower as well as some light poles. The tornado then dissipated over an open field southeast of the Matador rest stop. .Tornado near Afton in Dickens County... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: N/A Path Length /statute/: N/A Path Width /maximum/: N/A Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 8:36 PM CDT Start Location: 5.5 NE Afton / Dickens County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 33.82 / -100.73 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 8:37 PM CDT End Location: 5.5 NE Afton / Dickens County / TX End Lat/Lon: 33.82 / -100.73 Survey Summary: An off-duty NWS employee relayed photos of a tornado approximately 5.5 miles northeast of Afton over open country. Point location estimated by radar as no damage was reported. .Tornado Southwest of Matador in Motley County... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: N/A Path Length /statute/: 2 Path Width /maximum/: N/A Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 8:37 PM CDT Start Location: 3.9 WSW Matador / Motley County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 34.01 / -100.89 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 8:40 PM CDT End Location: 4 SW Matador / Motley County / TX End Lat/Lon: 33.97 / -100.88 Survey Summary: The location is approximately 4 miles west of Matador, TX. Media streamed a tornado that was located west of Matador. Location estimated by radar as no damage was found. .Tornado near Dickens in Dickens County... Rating: EF-Unknown Estimated Peak Wind: N/A Path Length /statute/: N/A Path Width /maximum/: N/A Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 9:18 PM CDT Start Location: 8 E Dickens / Dickens County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 33.62 / -100.72 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 9:19 PM CDT End Location: 8 E Dickens / Dickens County / TX End Lat/Lon: 33.62 / -100.72 Survey Summary: A storm chaser reported a tornado crossing US highway 82 east of Dickens. Point location estimated by the spotter’s location and radar as no damage was reported. .Thunderstorm Winds in Girard and Jayton… Estimated Peak Wind: 110-120 mph Path Length /statute/: N/A Path Width /maximum/: N/A Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/21/2023 Start Time: 9:30 PM CDT Start Location: 1 W Spur / Dickens County / TX Start Lat/Lon: 33.48 / -100.88 End Date: 06/21/2023 End Time: 10:45 PM CDT End Location: 13 SW Aspermont / Stonewall County / TX End Lat/Lon: 32.96 / -100.38 Survey Summary: The West Texas Mesonet site near Spur reported an 84 mph gust at 9:32 pm CDT however there was no significant damage noted in Spur. Rear flank downdraft winds traveled to the south and southeast. In Girard, the NWS survey team found two homes that had their roofs partially or completely removed which is commensurate with wind gusts of 95-120 mph. The survey team continued to travel southeast on State Highway 70 but came across no other damage indicators until they arrived in Jayton. In town, several smaller outbuildings were completely destroyed along with some peeling back of porch roofs. This damage had an estimated wind speed of 60-80 mph. The West Texas Mesonet site just south of Jayton reported a 109 mph peak wind gust at 10:07 pm CDT. Additional damage to trees and partial peeling of a home’s roof was found on FM 1083 southwest of Jayton leading to estimated wind speeds of 65-90 mph. No additional damage was found south or southeast into Stonewall County. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
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