Severe Thunderstorm Warning 208, NWS Fort Worth, TX

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
731 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

.AVIATION...
00 UTC TAFs

Concerns---Timing of convection and convective cessation. Any
storms that occur at or near TAF sites will have the ability to
produce frequent lightning, large hail and strong winds in excess
of 30-40 knots. MVFR, possibly IFR ceilings may return tonight
with additional chances for convection on Friday afternoon.
Otherwise, breezy southerly non-thunderstorm winds will likely
continue through the entire TAF period.

For the DFW Metroplex TAFs---Convection has been slow to develop
across North Texas this afternoon and evening mainly as a result
of a stout capping inversion and the lack of large scale ascent.
The latest 00 UTC FWD RAOB has indicated that capping has weakened
and while this has occurred, large scale ascent has been lacking.
As a corridor of better ascent slowly overspreads from the
northwest and low level wind flow intensifies, it's possible that
this convection slowly moves towards the east. At this time, think
that most operational guidance has been a little overdone in its
QPF/simulated refelctivity output. That being said, the latest
experimental HRRR and to some degree the latest TTU WRF appear to
offer plausible solutions. Strengthening low level flow of around
40 knots around 925mb may fuel the ongoing complex of storms
eastward towards the I-35 corridor through midnight. Right now,
confidence is a tad on the low side and so for now, I'll simply go
with VCTS for a couple of hours between 0300-0500 UTC. If
activity out to the west becomes a bit more robust, amendments to
re-introduce TS may be necessary.

With the increasing wind field through 0300 UTC coupled with
subsidence beneath the anvil, the Metroplex terminals should
respond and gust upwards into the 30 to 35 knots.

Convective chances should subside through the overnight hours,
but we will need to keep tabs on any complexes that attempt to
develop to the west. MVFR stratus should flow northward towards
Metroplex terminals around 09 UTC, as a strong low level jet
persists. Some guidance hints at the potential for IFR ceilings,
but the strong winds at and just above the surface should largely
mitigate this threat. MVFR stratus below FL020 will likely
continue through a majority of the day on Friday as the boundary
layer remains moist. Breezy southerly winds with gusts up to near
25-30 knots will also be possible. There may be an outside chance
for some showers just before midday, but confidence isn't very
high during this time. For now, will only introduce VCSH until 21
UTC, but we will monitor the potential for inclusion of TS in
later issuances.

For the Waco TAF site---Breezy southerly winds will continue at
the Waco TAF site as the surface pressure gradient remains tight.
Similar to the Metroplex, convective chances at Waco will hinge
largely on the areal coverage of storms to the west. At this time,
will keep VCTS for a few hours this evening and monitor trends.
MVFR stratus should return just after midnight and continue
through the afternoon. There's a low threat for some IFR ceilings,
but at this time, think that the breezy winds down near the
surface may keep the duration very low.

24-Bain

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 358 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017/
Afternoon visible satellite imagery shows an extensive cumulus
field across North Texas with ongoing severe thunderstorms across
western Oklahoma and far northwest Texas. There have been several
convective attempts farther south across our western counties, but
so far the cap has held. The cu field is showing some signs of
becoming more vertical though and with stronger forcing for ascent
still expected, we should see scattered severe thunderstorms
develop through the early evening. Short term model guidance is
still in fairly good agreement with scattered deep convection
developing from near Wichita Falls as far south as Killeen. The
atmosphere remains strongly unstable with surface based CAPE near
4000 J/kg. Very steep lapse rates and sufficient deep layer wind
shear will support supercell storms capable of producing very
large hail and damaging winds along with a few tornadoes.
Organized clusters of thunderstorms should also develop mature
cold pools given the amount of dry air aloft which would enhance
the potential for damaging winds.

Coverage of thunderstorms still remains the main uncertainty given
the cap strength. Initial development across the western counties
should be scattered (30-40%) and could occur on any one of a
number of localized areas of convergence. One of these extends
south of the ongoing supercell thunderstorms west of Wichita
Falls. Thunderstorms may tend to increase in coverage as they move
east later this evening as the cap continues to erode. After dark,
the main area of forcing will begin to shift off to the northeast
and areas along and north of I-20 may have the better chance for
continued thunderstorms. Long story short, there is the potential
for significant severe weather across parts of North Texas, but
not all areas are expected to be impacted.

Convection should weaken during the overnight hours, although the
front/dryline will remain across southwest Texas. Another strong
vort max will rotate around the main upper low over New Mexico.
This stronger forcing for ascent should help ignite a new round of
showers and thunderstorms, most of which will remain to the west
of the area. This convection will weaken during the early morning
hours on Friday. By Friday afternoon, we should remain fairly
unstable and a new round of convection is expected to develop
along the front/dryline to the northwest of the area. The
potential will remain for severe weather during this time. As the
main upper low finally ejects out into the Plains, a cold front
will slide southward and rain/storm chances will increase across
all of North Texas Friday night into Saturday morning. There will
be a threat for severe weather during this time, with damaging
winds being the main threat. In addition, there could be some
locally heavy rainfall.

The cold front should be south of the area on Saturday, although
rain and thunderstorm chances will continue, especially south of
I-20. We'll maintain rather high PoPs south of I-20 through the
day Saturday with things tapering off by Sunday. The weather
pattern will remain active through next week with additional
thunderstorm chances Monday through Tuesday night.

Dunn

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Dallas-Ft. Worth    73  87  70  80  62 /  60  20  80  40  30
Waco                74  88  72  83  63 /  30  20  50  60  60
Paris               70  82  69  78  59 /  40  10  60  50  30
Denton              72  83  67  78  58 /  60  20  80  40  20
McKinney            71  84  69  79  60 /  50  20  80  40  30
Dallas              74  87  72  81  64 /  50  20  80  50  40
Terrell             73  87  71  81  62 /  30  10  60  50  40
Corsicana           74  89  72  83  64 /  20  10  40  60  60
Temple              74  87  72  84  64 /  30  20  40  60  60
Mineral Wells       70  84  65  77  58 /  60  30  80  40  20

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

24/24

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
710 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

TXZ129-190100-
Eastland TX-
710 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN EASTLAND COUNTY
UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

At 709 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rising Star, or 18 miles south of Cisco, moving northeast at 20 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Gorman, Rising Star and Carbon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek
a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for central and
north central Texas.

LAT...LON 3233 9912 3234 9873 3220 9866 3208 9893
      3208 9910 3210 9912
TIME...MOT...LOC 0009Z 222DEG 18KT 3212 9905

Stalley

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
724 PM CDT THU MAY 18 2017

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

0722 PM     HAIL             RISING STAR             32.10N  98.97W
05/18/2017  E1.75 INCH       EASTLAND           TX   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL JUST SOUTH OF RISING STAR