Public Damage Survey for June 1, 2018

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
245 PM CDT Sat Jun 2 2018

...NWS Damage Survey for 06/01/2018 Thunderstorm Wind Event...

.Destructive thunderstorm downburst in and around Ralls, TX...

Peak wind:              80-90 MPH
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start date:             06_01_2018
Start time:             05:35 PM CDT
Start location:         Ralls, Texas

End date:               06_01_2018
End time:               06:10 PM CDT
End location:           Ralls, Texas


Survey Summary:
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas
conducted a ground damage survey at Ralls, Texas on June 2, 2018.
Significant damage occurred in and around Ralls during the late afternoon
of June 1, 2018 in association with a supercell thunderstorm.

Numerous buildings and homes in Ralls suffered damage. Three compress
warehouses on the north side of U.S. Highway 62/82 were completely
destroyed with debris blown across the highway to the south. Wind-driven
hail up to baseball size damaged many north-facing windows. Other damage
included downed tree limbs and destroyed or heavily damaged sheds and
outbuildings. Several dozen utility poles were damaged or destroyed along
62/82 on the west side of Ralls. Widespread power outages were reported in
Ralls. Several center pivots were observed to be overturned west of Ralls
and north of 62/82. In general, the damage was consistent with wind speeds
in the 80 to 90 mph range.

The West Texas Mesonet station located approximately one mile southeast
of Ralls reported a peak sustained wind speed of 44 mph and a peak wind
gust of 69 mph at 5:45 pm. The station also sustained major hail damage,
and observations reported after 5:45 pm were not considered to be
reliable.

The available evidence strongly suggests that the damage was the result
of a downburst that moved generally from north to south across the
community of Ralls. This determination is based on the type and location
of damage and distribution of debris, weather radar data, and eyewitness
accounts.

The supercell thunderstorm which caused the damage at Ralls continued to
move east-southeast, producing large hail and severe winds that also
resulted in damage in the communities of Crosbyton and Spur.

Note:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change,
pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.