Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Amarillo, TX

May 16, 2017Wheeler County, Texas

NWS Amarillo, TX issued this tornado warning at May 16, 2017, 5:24 PM CDT for Wheeler County, Texas. It was in force for 51 min. 4 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 16, 2017, 5:24 PM CDT (22:24 UTC)
Expired: May 16, 2017, 6:15 PM CDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Amarillo, TX
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.75 in

County Wheeler County, TX

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:28 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 16, 5:25 PM CDT	TORNADO	5 Ssw Wheeler, TX	MULTIPLE REPORTS OF A TORNADO FROM NWS EMPLOYEE AND STORM CHASERS. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 525 PM CDT 5 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF WHEELER. THE TORNADO MOVED NORTHEAST AND WAS ON THE GROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 9.1 MILES AND AROUND 19 MINUTES. THE TORNADO
May 16, 5:38 PM CDT	HAIL 1.75	Wheeler, TX
May 16, 5:40 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Se Wheeler, TX	MULTIPLE POWER POLES SNAPPED...POWER LINES DOWN... AND TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 83.
May 16, 5:50 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	6 E Wheeler, TX	DAMAGE - 4 TELEPHONE POLES BROKEN OFF AT GROUND... 3-4 TREES ALSO DAMAGED

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 16, 1:54 PM CDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 837 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -240 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1292 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 88 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

604 
WFUS54 KAMA 162224
TORAMA
TXC483-162315-
/O.NEW.KAMA.TO.W.0017.170516T2224Z-170516T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
524 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Wheeler County in the Panhandle of Texas...

* Until 615 PM CDT
    
* At 524 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 6 miles southwest of Wheeler, or 11 miles northwest of
  Shamrock, moving northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely. 

* Locations impacted include...
  Wheeler.

The city of Wheeler is in the direct path of this storm and should 
prepare for IMMINENT, DANGEROUS, AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING 
WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEEK SHELTER NOW!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3532 10034 3537 10039 3561 10022 3553 10005
      3534 10024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 216DEG 30KT 3536 10034 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

Guerrero

3 follow-up statements

329 
WWUS54 KAMA 162230
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
530 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

TXC483-162315-
/O.CON.KAMA.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-170516T2315Z/
Wheeler TX-
530 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
WHEELER COUNTY...
    
At 529 PM CDT, a large and extremely dangerous tornado was located 4
miles southwest of Wheeler, or 12 miles north of Shamrock, moving
northeast at 35 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible. 

Locations impacted include...
Wheeler.

Those in the city of Wheeler are in the direct path of this storm 
and should prepare for IMMINENT DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEEK 
SHELTER NOW!

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is developing. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move to
a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3532 10034 3537 10039 3561 10022 3553 10005
      3534 10024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 216DEG 30KT 3538 10032 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

Guerrero

376 
WWUS54 KAMA 162235 CCA
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
535 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

TXC483-162315-
/O.COR.KAMA.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-170516T2315Z/
Wheeler TX-
535 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
WHEELER COUNTY...
    
At 534 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Wheeler, or 13 miles north of Shamrock, moving northeast
at 35 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado. 

SOURCE...Storm chasers have confirmed a tornado on the ground and 
         is rain wrapped. 

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible. 

Locations impacted include...
Wheeler.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3532 10034 3537 10039 3561 10022 3553 10005
      3534 10024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2229Z 216DEG 30KT 3538 10032 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

Guerrero

461 
WWUS54 KAMA 162310
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
610 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

TXC483-162319-
/O.EXP.KAMA.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-170516T2315Z/
Wheeler TX-
610 PM CDT TUE MAY 16 2017

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL WHEELER COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 615
PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for the Panhandle
of Texas.

A Tornado Warning still remains in effect for northeastern portions 
of Wheeler county

LAT...LON 3532 10034 3537 10039 3561 10022 3553 10005
      3534 10024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 216DEG 30KT 3565 10008 

$$

Guerrero

The office that day

Everything else NWS Amarillo, TX issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 15, 7:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hutchinson, Moore	48 min
May 15, 7:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Sherman	53 min
May 15, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Hutchinson, Ochiltree	66 min
May 15, 7:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Sherman	77 min
May 15, 8:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Hutchinson, Ochiltree, Roberts	59 min
May 15, 8:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Ochiltree	52 min
May 15, 9:44 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Ochiltree	46 min
May 16, 1:26 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Ochiltree	34 min
May 16, 1:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Ochiltree	63 min
May 16, 1:52 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Hansford	23 min
May 16, 2:01 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Hutchinson, Moore, Ochiltree	44 min
May 16, 2:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hansford, Ochiltree	61 min
May 16, 3:06 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Donley	39 min
May 16, 3:16 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Ochiltree	44 min
May 16, 3:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray	58 min
May 16, 3:19 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Roberts	41 min
May 16, 3:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Donley, Gray	25 min
May 16, 3:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Armstrong, Donley	37 min
May 16, 3:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Donley	26 min
May 16, 4:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hemphill, Roberts	27 min
May 16, 4:11 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Collingsworth, Donley, Gray, Wheeler	49 min
May 16, 4:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Collingsworth, Donley	59 min
May 16, 4:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Ochiltree	26 min
May 16, 4:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Gray, Wheeler	68 min
May 16, 4:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Gray, Wheeler	41 min
May 16, 4:55 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Collingsworth	35 min
May 16, 5:17 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Gray, Wheeler	43 min
May 16, 5:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Collingsworth	43 min
May 16, 5:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Collingsworth	45 min
May 16, 5:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hemphill, Wheeler	59 min
May 16, 5:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	AMA	Wheeler	38 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2017 Every tornado warning in 2017 Tornadoes in 2017

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.