Texas Tornado Reports and Grapefruit Sized Hail

Grapefruit-Sized Hail Fell In Texas Last Night

Overview

On the evening and night of May 25-26, 2025, a significant severe weather event impacted parts of Texas, with additional reports from neighboring states such as New Mexico, Oklahoma, and others. The event featured a combination of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds, causing localized damage to infrastructure, vegetation, and properties. This report synthesizes data from tornado, hail, and wind reports to provide a comprehensive overview of the event, focusing primarily on Texas while noting relevant activity in adjacent regions.

Tornado Activity

Tornadoes were reported across Texas and one location in New Mexico, with a total of six documented touchdowns. These tornadoes were generally brief but caused notable concern due to their occurrence in populated areas. Below is a summary of the tornado reports:

1. 7 E Afton, Dickens County, TX (21:53 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 33.75°N, 100.70°W

   • Details: A tornado was reported via a social media picture. No specific damage details were provided, suggesting it may have been a brief or weak tornado.

2. 5 SW Floyd, Roosevelt County, NM (23:23 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 34.16°N, 103.63°W

   • Details: A spotter reported a tornado south of Floyd, New Mexico, near the Texas border. No damage was noted, indicating a possible brief touchdown in a rural area.

3. 6 N Amherst, Lamb County, TX (00:37 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 34.10°N, 102.41°W

   • Details: A rain-wrapped tornado was observed on radar, suggesting limited visibility and potential for underreported impacts.

4. 5 NW Stamford, Haskell County, TX (00:39 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 33.00°N, 99.86°W

   • Details: Multiple reports confirmed two brief tornado touchdowns. No specific damage was reported, but the proximity to Stamford indicates a potential threat to infrastructure.

5. 5 NNW Stamford, Haskell County, TX (00:47 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 33.01°N, 99.83°W

   • Details: Another brief tornado touchdown occurred near Stamford, suggesting a localized area of tornadic activity.

6. 1 N Stamford, Jones County, TX (01:05 CDT)

   • Coordinates: 32.96°N, 99.80°W

   • Details: A brief tornado touchdown was reported, continuing the cluster of tornadic activity near Stamford.

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Analysis: The tornadoes were concentrated in northwest Texas, particularly in Dickens, Lamb, Haskell, and Jones counties, with one outlier in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. The reports indicate brief touchdowns, likely EF0 or EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, given the lack of detailed damage reports. The Stamford area experienced multiple touchdowns within a short time frame (00:39–01:05 CDT), suggesting a single storm system producing intermittent tornadic activity. The rain-wrapped tornado in Lamb County highlights the challenge of detecting tornadoes in low-visibility conditions, which could have increased risks for residents.

Hail Activity

Hail was a significant component of the severe weather event, with reports of large hail (up to grapefruit-sized, 4.00 inches) causing potential damage to vehicles, structures, and crops. Texas, particularly Motley and Dickens counties, was the epicenter of the largest hail reports. Below is a summary of key hail events in Texas:

• Motley County, TX:

  • Time Range: 19:07–21:49 CDT

  • Locations: Near Matador, Dougherty, Roaring Springs

  • Hail Sizes: Ranged from quarter-sized (1.00 in.) to baseball-sized (2.75 in.) and tennis ball-sized (2.50 in.).

  • Notable Reports:

    • 20:04 CDT: 3.00-inch (tea cup-sized) hail 7 NE Dougherty.

    • 20:43 CDT: 2.75-inch (baseball-sized) hail 6 E Dougherty.

    • 20:49 CDT: 2.50-inch (tennis ball-sized) hail 7 W Roaring Springs and 6 ESE Dougherty.

      
      

  • Comments: Reports were primarily sourced from mPING and ICECHIP, indicating widespread hail impacts. The large hail sizes suggest potential for significant damage to property and agriculture.

    
    

• Dickens County, TX:

  • Time Range: 21:38–22:58 CDT

  • Locations: Afton and surrounding areas

  • Hail Sizes: Ranged from golf ball-sized (1.75 in.) to grapefruit-sized (4.00 in.) and up to 4.70 in. (near softball-sized).

  • Notable Reports:

    • 21:38 CDT: 6.00-inch (partially melted, ballcap-sized) hailstone 2 NW Afton.

    • 21:49 CDT: 4.50-inch hail 2 NNE Afton (social media picture).

    • 21:52 CDT: 4.70-inch hail in Afton (ICECHIP report).

    • 22:09 CDT: 5.00-inch hail 2 NW Afton (social media picture).

      
      

  • Comments: Afton experienced an extraordinary concentration of large hail, with multiple reports of grapefruit-sized or larger hailstones. These sizes are rare and capable of causing severe damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles. The ICECHIP reports of hail found on roadsides after the storm indicate significant accumulation.

    
    

• Other Texas Counties:

  • Haskell County (Rule, Stamford): Hail sizes ranged from quarter-sized (1.00 in.) to golf ball-sized (1.75 in.) between 23:53 and 01:41 CDT.

  • Lamb County (Olton): 2.50-inch (tennis ball-sized) hail at 01:30 CDT and 3.00-inch hail at 01:55 CDT.

  • Hale County (Olton): 2.00-inch (hen egg-sized) hail at 01:35 CDT.

  • Briscoe County (Silverton, Mackenzie Reservoir): 1.50-inch (ping pong ball-sized) hail at 23:35–23:40 CDT.

  • Jones County (Anson): 1.50-inch hail at 02:12–02:15 CDT.

  • Taylor County (Abilene): Quarter-sized (1.00 in.) hail at 04:12–04:17 CDT.

    
    

Analysis: The hail event was most intense in Motley and Dickens counties, where hailstones reached sizes rarely observed (up to 5.00 inches). These large hailstones likely caused significant damage, particularly in Afton, where multiple reports of grapefruit-sized hail were recorded. The widespread nature of hail reports across northwest Texas indicates a powerful supercell or series of supercells producing large hail over several hours. The social media and ICECHIP reports underscore the value of citizen science in documenting severe weather impacts.

Wind Activity

Damaging winds were reported across Texas and several other states, with wind gusts reaching up to 80 mph in some areas. These winds contributed to widespread tree damage, power outages, and structural impacts. Below is a summary of key wind events in Texas:

• Stonewall County (Aspermont):

  • Time: 22:59–23:04 CDT

  • Wind Speeds: 65–66 mph

  • Details: Measured gusts near Aspermont indicate strong straight-line winds, likely associated with the same storm system producing hail and tornadoes.

• King County (4 SW Grow):

  • Time: 23:21 CDT

  • Details: Multiple downed power lines were reported, suggesting wind speeds sufficient to cause infrastructure damage.

• Lamb County (Amherst, Olton):

  • Time: 00:43–01:32 CDT

  • Wind Speeds: 58–81 mph

  • Details: A significant 81 mph gust was recorded 1 NE Amherst at 00:43 CDT, indicating near-hurricane-force winds capable of causing widespread damage. A 58 mph gust was reported 6 S Olton at 01:32 CDT.

• Jones County (Stamford, Anson):

  • Time: 01:47–01:58 CDT

  • Wind Speeds: 76–80 mph

  • Details: Stamford reported 80+ mph winds at 01:47 CDT, accompanied by ping pong ball-sized hail, indicating a severe thunderstorm with combined hazards. A 76 mph gust was recorded 5 E Stamford at 01:58 CDT via the West Texas Mesonet. Trees were blown down on the south side of Stamford, confirming structural damage.

• Shackelford County (Albany):

  • Time: 04:17 CDT

  • Wind Speed: 62 mph

  • Details: A measured 62 mph gust was recorded near Albany, indicating continued strong winds into the early morning hours.

• Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Dallas, and Hill Counties:

  • Time Range: 06:58–09:50 CDT

  • Wind Speeds: 58–68 mph

  • Details:

    • Collin County (Lowry Crossing): Gusts of 61–68 mph at McKinney Airport.

    • Denton County (Little Elm): 64 mph gust.

    • Tarrant County (White Settlement, Arlington): 58–59 mph gusts.

    • Dallas County (Highland Park, Irving): 60 mph gusts with large broken tree limbs.

    • Hill County (Whitney): 62 mph gust near Juniper Cove Marina.

      
      

  • Comments: These reports indicate a secondary wave of severe thunderstorms affecting the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding areas, with tree limb damage and power disruptions.

    
    

Analysis: The wind reports highlight a broad region of damaging straight-line winds, with the most intense gusts (80+ mph) occurring in Jones County. These winds, combined with large hail and tornadoes, suggest a dynamic storm system with strong downdrafts and outflow boundaries. The widespread tree and power line damage across Texas and other states underscores the significant impact on infrastructure and public safety.

Regional Context

While the focus of this report is Texas, severe weather extended into neighboring states, including:

• New Mexico: One tornado in Roosevelt County and ping pong ball-sized hail (1.50 in.) near Cannon Air Force Base.

• Oklahoma: Hail reports in Cleveland, McClain, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, and Kingfisher counties, with sizes up to 3.00 inches. Wind gusts up to 66 mph were reported in Tillman County.

• Other States: Hail and wind damage were reported in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, indicating a large-scale severe weather outbreak across the southern U.S.

  
  

Impacts and Implications

1. Damage Assessment:

   • Tornadoes: The brief nature of the tornadoes suggests minimal structural damage, but their occurrence near populated areas like Stamford warrants further investigation for minor impacts.

   • Hail: The exceptionally large hail in Dickens and Motley counties likely caused significant damage to vehicles, roofs, and agricultural fields. The 4.00–5.00-inch hailstones in Afton are among the largest reported, posing risks to life and property.

   • Winds: High wind gusts (up to 81 mph) caused widespread tree and power line damage, leading to power outages and road blockages. The combined effect of winds and hail in Stamford and surrounding areas amplified the damage potential.

2. Public Safety:

   • The rain-wrapped tornado in Lamb County highlights the need for improved detection and warning systems in low-visibility conditions.

   • Large hail and high winds posed significant risks to residents, particularly in rural areas with limited shelter options.

3. Infrastructure:

   • Power outages were reported due to downed lines in King, Jones, and other counties.

   • Tree damage blocked roads, complicating emergency response efforts.

4. Meteorological Context:

   • The severe weather was likely driven by a potent combination of warm, moist air and strong upper-level dynamics, fostering supercell development.

   • The concentration of large hail and tornadoes in northwest Texas suggests a focused area of instability, possibly enhanced by a local topographical feature or storm interaction.

Conclusion

The severe weather event May 25-26, 2025, brought a combination of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds to Texas, with significant impacts in Dickens, Motley, Haskell, Jones, and surrounding counties. The event was characterized by brief but numerous tornado touchdowns, exceptionally large hail (up to 5.00 inches), and wind gusts exceeding 80 mph. While damage was primarily to trees, power lines, and possibly structures, the event underscores the need for robust preparedness and response strategies in severe weather-prone regions.