Special Weather Statement, NWS Amarillo, TX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
653 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

.AVIATION...
STRONG SOUTHEAST AND EAST LOW-LEVEL FLOW WILL SUSTAIN MOISTURE
SUPPLY FOR SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT.  CURRENT RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST THAT TERMINALS WILL BE
SPARED FROM STRONGEST CONVECTION IN THE NEAR TERM.  AS LOW LEVELS
CONTINUE TO MOISTEN...MVFR TO IFR CEILINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP.
IMPROVEMENT WILL BE SLOW TO OCCUR ON FRIDAY.  CURRENT THINKING IS
THAT CLEARING WILL OCCUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT KDHT AND KAMA AS
BOUNDARY LIFTS NORTH...WITH SOUTHWEST SURFACE WINDS IN ITS WAKE.  KGUY
EXPECTED TO REMAIN IFR OR MVFR THROUGH END OF FORECAST.

COCKRELL

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 443 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016/

DISCUSSION...

MESOSCALE UPDATE...
CONVECTION HAS FORMED WITHIN THE LOW-LEVEL THETA-E AXIS ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST TEXAS PANHANDLE EXTENDING SOUTHWARD ALONG THE I-27
CORRIDOR. EARLIER THINKING HAS CHANGED LITTLE. CONVECTION SHOULD
CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS IN A MODESTLY UNSTABLE
ENVIRONMENT (1000-1500 MLCAPE ON MESOANALYSIS). EFFECTIVE SHEAR IS
MORE THAN SUFFICIENT (50-55 KNOTS) FOR STORM ORGANIZATION INCLUDING
SUPERCELLS. HAIL WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT BUT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS
WILL BE POSSIBLE GIVEN WELL MIXED BOUNDARY LAYER BUT THIS THREAT
SHOULD SUBSIDE BY MID EVENING AS BOUNDARY LAYER STABILIZES. THE
WINDOW FOR A BRIEF ISOLATED TORNADO WOULD MOST LIKELY BE BETWEEN
ABOUT 6 PM AND 10 PM WHEN THE LOW LEVEL JET STRENGTHENS AND 0-1 KM
HELICITY INCREASES TO AROUND 150-200 M2/S2...BUT BEFORE THE BOUNDARY
LAYER BEGINS TO STABILIZE. AFTERWARDS THE THREAT WILL PRIMARILY BE
MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL LASTING FROM LATE EVENING THROUGH MUCH OF THE
NIGHT AS CONVECTION MOVES NORTH OF THE STATIONARY FRONT AND
BECOMES INCREASINGLY ELEVATED.

A PEAK AT WHAT IS IN SO FAR FROM THE SPECIAL 21Z SOUNDING REVEALS
FAIRLY UNIDIRECTIONAL SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW IN THE LOWEST 1.5 KM WITH
SUBSTANTIAL VEERING ABOVE THIS YIELDING 0-3KM SRH VALUES OF AROUND
150 M2/S2. A MORE SUBSTANTIAL TORNADO THREAT WILL BE LIMITED BY LACK
OF SIGNIFICANT TURNING IN A SHALLOWER NEAR-SURFACE LAYER AS WELL AS
STRONGER LOW LEVEL SPEED SHEAR AND MARGINAL LCL HEIGHTS. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS IN THE VWP AND MODIFY THE SOUNDING AS
SURFACE OBS CHANGE/MOISTURE INCREASES. ALSO NOTED IN THE FIRST
GLANCE OF THE SOUNDING IS THAT 100 MB ML PARCELS REMAINED SLIGHTLY
CAPPED. THIS CAN BE EASILY BE OVERCOME WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTENING
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. WE WILL UPDATE WITH ANY PERTINENT
INFORMATION FROM THE COMPLETED 21Z SOUNDING AND/OR OTHER
OBSERVATIONAL DATA AS NECESSARY.

BRB

SHORT TERM...
SEE SHORT TERM DISCUSSION BELOW FROM BRB.

LONG TERM...
FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
THE UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEATHER TODAY WILL BE CENTERED OVER
THE UTAH/COLORADO BORDER FRIDAY AND CONTINUE SLIDING EAST. THE UPPER
LEVEL JET WILL SWING AROUND THE BASE OF THE LOW AND PUT THE NORTHERN
AND EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE PANHANDLES IN THE LEFT EXIT REGION...THUS
CAUSING SYNOPTIC SCALE ASCENT. A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT INTO THE
MIDDLE OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ON FRIDAY. THE MID LEVELS WILL SEE DRY
AIR ADVECTION AND THUS ALLOW SIGNIFICANT COOLING AT THESE LEVELS FOR
STORMS THAT FORM. THIS WILL CREATE MORE POTENTIAL FOR GUSTY WINDS AND
LARGER HAIL AS DOWNDRAFTS WILL BE COOLER AND SLOW MELTING. CONFIDENCE
ON THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY IS NOT VERY HIGH ON THIS OUTCOME AS THE
SCENARIO OF THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE BEING SOCKED IN WITH LOW STRATUS
AND DRIZZLE SEEMS JUST AS PLAUSIBLE. FOR NOW HAVE GONE WITH THE
THUNDERSTORM POSSIBILITY SINCE LARGE SCALE SYNOPTIC FORCING WILL
LIKELY PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN THE OUTCOME. IF THE LATTER OPTION DOES
PLAY OUT...FORECASTED TEMPS WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED AS THE OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLE WILL LIKELY STRUGGLE TO GET INTO THE 50S.

A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE PANHANDLES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY MORNING AND SATURDAY WILL SEE THE FIRST LOW MOVE NORTH TO
KANSAS/NEBRASKA AND THE UPPER LEVEL JET FORCING WILL BE LOST. THIS
WILL ALLOW THE PANHANDLES A CHANCE TO DRY OUT A BIT AND SEE SOME SUN.
WEAK RIDGING WILL BUILD IN BRIEFLY BEFORE A SECOND UPPER LEVEL LOW
WHICH DROPPED INTO THE GREAT BASIN STARTS TO EJECT ACROSS THE CENTRAL
GREAT PLAINS. AS THIS LOW APPROACHES THE AREA THE PANHANDLES WILL SEE
ANOTHER ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVE IN FROM THE WEST SUNDAY AND
CONTINUE MONDAY. MODELS DIVERGE QUITE A BIT MONDAY AND BEYOND ON
TIMING OF THE MOVEMENT OF THIS LOW...HOWEVER THEY DO AGREE THAT
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WILL SEE ANOTHER DRY SPELL AS THE LOW MOVES
AWAY AND UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN CONUS.

BEAT

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMARILLO TX                51  70  42  66  42 /  60  30  10   5   5
BEAVER OK                  51  58  42  62  39 /  80  70  30   5   5
BOISE CITY OK              44  54  34  58  35 /  80  70  20  10  20
BORGER TX                  55  68  46  66  45 /  70  50  10   5   5
BOYS RANCH TX              49  70  40  65  41 /  50  30  10  10  10
CANYON TX                  50  72  39  67  41 /  50  20  10   5   5
CLARENDON TX               54  74  45  69  45 /  60  40  10   5   5
DALHART TX                 47  62  37  62  38 /  60  40  20  10  20
GUYMON OK                  48  56  41  62  41 /  80  70  30   5  10
HEREFORD TX                46  73  40  68  41 /  40  20   5  10  10
LIPSCOMB TX                53  62  45  65  43 /  70  70  20   5   5
PAMPA TX                   53  67  44  64  43 /  70  50  10   5   5
SHAMROCK TX                56  73  47  70  46 /  60  50  10   5   5
WELLINGTON TX              58  78  48  73  47 /  70  50  10   5   5

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 147 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016/

SHORT TERM...
LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATES A STATIONARY FRONT EXTENDING FROM
EAST-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO TO JUST SOUTH OF OUR FORECAST AREA TO NEAR
THE RED RIVER. WEAK CONVERGENCE IN LAPS STREAMLINE ANALYSIS IS NOTED
ALONG THIS BOUNDARY. EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE
INCREASING IN RESPONSE TO FALLING PRESSURES TO THE WEST AS THE MAIN
UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM APPROACHES. SHORT TERM MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES
TO SUGGEST RAPID LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE RETURN THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH A
CONSENSUS INDICATING MID 50 DEGREE DEW POINTS REACHING WELL INTO THE
TEXAS PANHANDLE BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. SURFACE
OBSERVATIONS SHOW LOW TO MID 50 DEGREE DEW POINTS ALREADY AS FAR
NORTHWEST AS CHILDRESS AND MATADOR. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH SURFACE
HEATING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WEAK IF NOT MODERATE INSTABILITY BY LATE
AFTERNOON. THE EVOLUTION OF SURFACE PRESSURE PATTERN AND BEHAVIOR OF
THE SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL HAVE IMPLICATIONS ON THE SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE EVENING.

DEEP MIXING AND SHARPENING DRYLINE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF
OUR AREA SEEMS LESS LIKELY THAN EARLIER THOUGHT BASED ON THE LATEST
TRENDS AND THE FIRST ADJUSTMENT TO THE FORECAST WE HAVE MADE IS TO
ADD PRECIPITATION TO THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS
AFTERNOON. WITHIN THE COVERGENT AND MOISTENING LOW-LEVEL FLOW
ISOLATED/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP PERHAPS ENHANCED BY A
WEAK SHORTWAVE NOW SEEN IN WATER VAPOR MOVING EASTWARD INTO EASTERN
COLORADO. THIS SHOULD BE COINCIDENT WITH A RELATIVELY NARROW LOW-
LEVEL THETA-E AXIS WHICH IS EXPECTED TO SET UP FROM NEAR OR SOUTH OF
DALHART TO THE AMARILLO AREA AND EXTEND SOUTHEASTWARD JUST AHEAD OF A
SHARPENING DRYLINE JUST SOUTH OF OUR AREA. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS WOULD BE THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH PERHAPS A BRIEF WINDOW FOR A
TORNADO OR TWO THIS EVENING. TWO CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE TORNADO
THREAT WILL BE 1.) INCREASING LOW LEVEL JET CONTRIBUTING TO
STRENGTHENING 0-1KM BULK SHEAR VALUES OF AROUND 25 KNOTS (THERE IS
QUITE A SPREAD IN 850 MB SPEEDS AND RESULTANT LOW LEVEL SHEAR VALUES
IN THE SHORT TERM GUIDANCE) AND 2.) CONTINUED MOISTENING RESULTING IN
LCL HEIGHTS OF AROUND 1KM...POSSIBLY LOWER.

WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATED DISCUSSION FOCUSING ON SEVERE POTENTIAL
LATER THIS AFTERNOON ONCE FURTHER ANALYSIS IS COMPLETED AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS. A SPECIAL 21Z SOUNDING IS BEING
CONSIDERED. WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE
LOW LEVEL WIND FIELDS LATER TODAY AND MAY BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE
BEGINNING OF THIS SUFFICIENTLY WITH THE 00Z SOUNDING. SO AN EARLIER
SOUNDING MAY BE OF LITTLE VALUE.

CONVECTION SHOULD EXPAND IN COVERAGE LATER TONIGHT AS ISENTROPIC
ASCENT OCCURS ATOP THE AFOREMENTIONED BOUNDARY STRENGTHENS WITH THE
APPROACH OF THE CLOSED LOW NOW OVER ARIZONA. ASCENT IS STRONGEST AND
CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICIT VALUES ARE LOWEST IN THE NORTHWEST
LATE THIS EVENING AND EARLY TONIGHT SO THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE PLACED
THE HIGHEST PROBABILITIES. ELEVATED INSTABILITY APPEARS SUFFICIENT
FOR AT LEAST MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL LATE INTO THE NIGHT. ANY SURFACE
BASED STORMS AND WIND/TORNADO RISK SHOULD BE FURTHER SOUTH NEAR THE
BOUNDARY AND BEFORE DECOUPLING INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY LATE THIS
EVENING OR EARLY TONIGHT. AFTER WHICH THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE
HAIL.

THE LONG TERM PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION WILL BE SENT LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.

BRB

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMARILLO TX                51  70  42  66  42 /  60  30  10   5   5
BEAVER OK                  51  58  42  62  39 /  80  70  30   5   5
BOISE CITY OK              44  54  34  58  35 /  80  70  20  10  20
BORGER TX                  55  68  46  66  45 /  70  50  10   5   5
BOYS RANCH TX              49  70  40  65  41 /  50  30  10  10  10
CANYON TX                  50  72  39  67  41 /  50  20  10   5   5
CLARENDON TX               54  74  45  69  45 /  60  40  10   5   5
DALHART TX                 47  62  37  62  38 /  60  40  20  10  20
GUYMON OK                  48  56  41  62  41 /  80  70  30   5  10
HEREFORD TX                46  73  40  68  41 /  40  20   5  10  10
LIPSCOMB TX                53  62  45  65  43 /  70  70  20   5   5
PAMPA TX                   53  67  44  64  43 /  70  50  10   5   5
SHAMROCK TX                56  73  47  70  46 /  60  50  10   5   5
WELLINGTON TX              58  78  48  73  47 /  70  50  10   5   5

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
OK...NONE.

&&

03/10

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
419 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-291000-
CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB-
HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON-
GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH-
419 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLES.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS MOST OF
THE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO
SEVERE MAINLY ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE TEXAS
PANHANDLE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALIZED HEAVY
RAINFALL THE PRIMARY HAZARDS. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME MORE
WIDESPREAD OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH LARGE HAIL AND LOCALIZED HEAVY
RAINFALL CONTINUING TO BE A THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SOME OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AS THE
MAIN THREATS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE ONCE AGAIN EXPECTED ACROSS THE
SOUTHWESTERN PANHANDLES SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN SPREADING
EASTWARD ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE PANHANDLES SATURDAY NIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WITH THESE STORMS IS
LOW AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ALERT AND EXPECT
ACTIVATION THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
EASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE.

BEAT

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
942 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0934 PM     HAIL             MIAMI                   35.69N 100.64W
04/28/2016  E1.75 INCH       ROBERTS            TX   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL ON HIGHWAY 60 IN MIAMI.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1600241

14

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
944 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 N DUMAS               35.94N 101.96W
04/28/2016                   MOORE              TX   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SNAPPED POWER POLES AT FM1060 AND COUNTY ROAD I

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1600242

LORENZEN

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
944 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

TXZ015-020-290315-
WHEELER TX-COLLINGSWORTH TX-
944 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN COLLINGSWORTH AND
SOUTHEASTERN WHEELER COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...

AT 943 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9
MILES WEST OF DOZIER...OR 19 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SHAMROCK...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL WILL  BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SHAMROCK...LELA...TWITTY...DOZIER AND SAMNORWOOD.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3494 10052 3496 10054 3514 10054 3540 10019
      3519 10000 3518 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0243Z 232DEG 24KT 3504 10050

BRB

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1008 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

OKZ001-TXZ001-290345-
CIMARRON OK-DALLAM TX-
1008 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN CIMARRON AND
NORTHEASTERN DALLAM COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...

AT 1008 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12
MILES NORTH OF CONLEN...OR 13 MILES WEST OF STRATFORD...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
GRIGGS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3671 10203 3650 10215 3650 10216 3648 10216
      3626 10229 3629 10250 3674 10239 3679 10203
TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 203DEG 44KT 3640 10231

BRB

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1013 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0952 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 ESE LORA              35.71N 100.43W
04/28/2016  M61 MPH          HEMPHILL           TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1600244

LORENZEN

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1021 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

TXZ008-290345-
HUTCHINSON TX-
1021 PM CDT THU APR 28 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN HUTCHINSON COUNTY UNTIL
1045 PM CDT...

AT 1020 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5
MILES EAST OF BORGER...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BORGER.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3566 10141 3598 10132 3591 10109 3576 10109
      3563 10120 3562 10133
TIME...MOT...LOC 0320Z 202DEG 18KT 3569 10131

BRB