High Plains sees another round of heavy rain, severe weather

Brandi D. Addison, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Updated ·2 min read
A shopper braved the rain to carry some groceries bought at the Market Street grocery store at 50th Street and Indiana Avenue, Friday, June 2, 2023.
A shopper braved the rain to carry some groceries bought at the Market Street grocery store at 50th Street and Indiana Avenue, Friday, June 2, 2023.

From the Mexico border to the Texas-Oklahoma Panhandle, residents braced themselves as severe weather moved through the region Friday.

In addition to observed tornadoes near Seminole and Fort Stockton, much of the region saw widespread heavy rainfall, some areas of flash flooding, hail and winds of up to 80 mph.

After reaching the area in the early afternoon, the storms moved eastward past the South Plains and Caprock by sunset, while heavy rainfall was expected to continue in the Rolling Plains through midnight.

As of 6 p.m., Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport recorded 0.57 of an inch on Friday, according to the weather service. Other notable rainfall totals for Friday include 1.28 inches at Abernathy, 2.87 inches at Andrews and 1.11 inches at Plains.

"It's a classic severe weather day," NWS Lubbock forecaster Harrison Sincavage said before the storm approached. "There's a very good chance for an explosive rainstorm around 2 p.m.; the air mass is ready to go. There will be several supercells initially — and there may be too many storms that can cause supercells to interfere with one another. If that happens, it could alleviate the length of time for the tornado potential, but the flip side to that is the flash flooding."

Much of the region is already waterlogged and under flood disasters after the region has accumulated between 300% to 600% more rain than typical this time of year, the forecaster said, adding that Friday's event brought an additional 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour.

The Potter County Sheriff's Office urges locals to not float the Canadian River amid hazardous flooding conditions.
The Potter County Sheriff's Office urges locals to not float the Canadian River amid hazardous flooding conditions.

Earlier this week, Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner declared a local state of disaster for northern and northwestern Potter County, which has received record-breaking rainfall since May 18.

Additionally, the Potter County Sheriff's Office issued a warning that urged residents to not float the Canadian River, which is seeing swift water speeds, a "very strong flow" and a "very dangerous" undercurrent. The sheriff's office also noted that the water spreads closer to the lake and becomes a "marsh type area with extreme quick sand."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: High Plains sees another round of heavy rain, severe weather