Tornado Watch 220

Issued

May 16, 2017, 1:54 PM CDT (18:54 UTC)

Expired

May 16, 2017, 10:00 PM CDT

In force

8 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Particularly dangerous situation

Yes

Largest hail expected

4 in

Strongest gust expected

65 kt

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:55 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.

Two or more tornadoes

90%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

80%

Ten or more severe wind reports

70%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

30%

Ten or more severe hail reports

80%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

60%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 730May 16, 1:19 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 734May 16, 3:36 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 736May 16, 4:56 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 740May 16, 7:29 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 744May 16, 9:53 PM CDT

163 
WWUS20 KWNS 161849
SEL0  
SPC WW 161849
OKZ000-TXZ000-170300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 220
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
150 PM CDT Tue May 16 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Western Oklahoma
  Eastern Texas Panhandle

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 150 PM until
  1000 PM CDT.

...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

* Primary threats include...
  Several tornadoes and a few intense tornadoes likely
  Widespread large hail and isolated very large hail events to 4
    inches in diameter likely
  Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible

SUMMARY...Isolated supercell thunderstorms are expected to form
along the dryline over the eastern Texas Panhandle and track across
the watch area this afternoon and evening.  Very large hail and
isolated strong tornadoes are possible in this area.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
east and west of a line from 75 miles south southwest of Childress
TX to 55 miles north northwest of Gage OK. For a complete depiction
of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU0).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
storm motion vector 24035.

...Hart

Tornado Watches in Texas, 2017Tornado Watches in Oklahoma, 2017Every tornado watch in 2017

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