Tornado Watch 236

Issued

May 18, 2017, 1:55 PM CDT (18:55 UTC)

Expired

May 19, 2017, 12:00 AM CDT

In force

10 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

4 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Dyess AFB radar (KDYX), 5 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:58 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

40%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

20%

Ten or more severe wind reports

40%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

20%

Ten or more severe hail reports

40%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

30%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

90%

• Mesoscale Discussion 755May 18, 12:03 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 764May 18, 4:55 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 771May 18, 9:08 PM CDT

940 
WWUS20 KWNS 181852
SEL6  
SPC WW 181852
TXZ000-190300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 236
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
155 PM CDT Thu May 18 2017

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  portions of northern and central Texas

* Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 155 PM until
  1000 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A couple tornadoes possible
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 4
    inches in diameter possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Strong/severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop in the
next hour or so across portions of northern and central Texas,
expanding in coverage as they spread eastward/northeastward through
the afternoon and evening hours.  Along with risk for a couple of
tornadoes, very large/destructive hail and damaging wind gusts will
be likely with the strongest storms/bands of storms.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
north and south of a line from 70 miles west of Abilene TX to 45
miles southeast of Fort Worth TX. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

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.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 235...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24040.

...Goss

Tornado Watches in Texas, 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.