STORM TRACK: September 30, 1987 (Volume 10 Issue 6)

A pair of tornadoes developed in far western Lubbock County from a left-split, left moving thunderstorm during the early evening of May 29, 1987. The tornadoes moved to the north-northwest with the first tornado developing before 6:30 pm and the second around 6:37 pm. The first tornado was sighted by Skywarn spotters as a developing funnel cloud shortly after 6:20 pm. It touched down just north of Farm Road 1585 west of Wolforth, striking a house and two mobile homes. As the tornado crossed Farm Road 2378, a mile south of Highway 114, it injured a man who was delivering a pizza (from FLYING PIZZA?) He abandoned his vehicle and hid in a ditch, but was thrown about 50 feet. The storm crossed Highway 114 about 1/4 mile west of Farm Road 2378 and struck a number of residences. Two mobile home residents living just north of the highway were injured. The tornado heavily damaged or destroyed a total of seven mobile homes and three houses before lifting at 6:40 pm. (Bill snapped the photo below.)

The second tornado had a brief life on the ground. It was reported as having touched down by DPS troopers at 6:39 pm just south of Hurlwood. It lifted within a minute without doing appreciable damage. This was the tornado that was near the south end of Reese Air Force Base.

The first tornado was rated F2 due to its destruction of roofing and some exterior walls, while tornado number 2, was rated FO. The first tornado had a path length of 8 miles and a maximum width of 80 yards. The second tornado had a path length of 1 mile and a width of just 30 yards.

Damage track