Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 15 at 7:00PM CDT until September 15 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

The storm sat 8 miles south of Abernathy and tracked north at 15 mph, putting Lubbock, the airport, and New Deal directly in its path. Radar indicated the threat, and forecasters flagged it as capable of real damage in a short window.

The warning covered a narrow stretch of time, but the hazards were serious. Quarter size hail can total out a windshield in seconds, and 70 mph gusts push past what most roofs and outbuildings can handle.

Anyone in New Deal or near the airport had reason to get inside fast. NWS called out considerable tree damage and wind damage to mobile homes as likely outcomes, on top of the hail risk to cars.

Storms moving at just 15 mph don't leave much time to react once a warning hits your phone. That's why this one carried a Shelter Immediate tag instead of a routine watch.