Lubbock's New Outdoor Warning System Faces Its First Big Test with Tornado Warnings

Lubbock's relatively new Outdoor Warning System got its first true test in a non-simulated situation Thursday when a line of tornado-warned storms moved through the county.

The sirens came through loud and clear, adding a layer of alerts to the smart phone notifications, local media and other warnings residents received after the National Weather Service in Lubbock issued multiple tornado warnings Thursday evening. The tornado warnings came as part of a multi-day severe weather outbreak in Lubbock and the region that brought heavy rainfall, power outages and reports of mostly wind-related storm damage that was still being assessed by the NWS and local authorities.

More: Check here for live updates as storms bring tornado damage in West Texas, watch remains

While Thursday's storm system produced nearly two dozen tornadoes west of Lubbock into eastern New Mexico - including in Hockley and Cochran counties - and NWS Lubbock forecasters saw enough indicators to issue warnings for Lubbock County and the city, there were no confirmed reports of tornadoes touching down in Lubbock during Thursday's weather event, according to the city of Lubbock.

The outdoor warning system, with 45 sirens, came online in 2022 and has periodically been tested by the city - typically on Friday mornings once a month. The City of Lubbock initially budgeted around $1 million for the project and approved a contract with the Oklahoma-based Goddard Enterprises in February 2021 for $710,415, the Avalanche-Journal reported at the time.

Lubbock Outdoor Warning System activated for tornado warnings

The city of Lubbock released a statement late Thursday after the severe weather system moved through the area.

"At approximately 6:55 p.m., the National Weather Service included Lubbock, Texas in a Tornado Warning. This warning activated the Outdoor Warning System (OWS)," reads the statement. "This Tornado Warning also activated the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS). These emergency warnings provided our citizens the best opportunity to get indoors and seek shelter immediately before the storm entered the City of Lubbock, Texas."

The city stated it didn't have any confirmed reports of a tornado touching down within the city limits, Additionally, the City of Lubbock had zero reported injuries related to the storm.

"The storm that did come through the City of Lubbock posed a great amount of structural damage, debris in roadways, and severe roadway flooding," reads the statement.

More than 10,000 utility customers around the South Plains were impacted by outages, most of which were restored by Friday, although there was a continuing threat for additional storms into next week.

"Lubbock Fire Rescue, Lubbock Police Department, the City of Lubbock Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor damages and conditions," reads the statement from the city.

Active severe weather days in Lubbock, West Texas

Thursday's storm unleashed wind gusts as high as 95 mph and spawned 21 confirmed tornadoes along a narrow 90-mile stretch from Rogers, New Mexico, to Lubbock, according to the National Weather Service .

Thursday's tornadoes came as forecasters warned that upper-level weather patterns showed a large area of rotating winds stretching across the central and western United States, according to USA Today weather reporting. Meanwhile, a strong zone of high pressure — often linked to warm, stable air — lingered over the southern Great Plains, creating the perfect setup for severe storms to fire along its edges.

The region saw additional lines of storms Friday bringing heavy rainfall and prompting tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings.

Lubbock officially saw 2.7 inches of precipitation Friday at Preston Smith International Airport - a new daily record for June 6, according to the National Weather Service. The airport also recorded 1.95 inches of rainfall on Thursday. As of Saturday, Lubbock has seen 8.78 inches or precipitation this year - well above the year-to-date average of 7.01 inches.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tornado warnings give Lubbock first true test of new outdoor warning system