Tornado Watch 62

Issued

May 2, 2018, 12:59 PM CDT (17:59 UTC)

Expired

May 2, 2018, 10:00 PM CDT

In force

9 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

3 in

Strongest gust expected

65 kt

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:01 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

70%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

70%

Ten or more severe wind reports

70%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

40%

Ten or more severe hail reports

80%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

80%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 313May 2, 11:36 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 317May 2, 3:24 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 321May 2, 6:10 PM CDT

757 
WWUS20 KWNS 021757
SEL2  
SPC WW 021757
OKZ000-TXZ000-030300-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 62
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
100 PM CDT Wed May 2 2018

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Western Oklahoma
  Eastern Texas Panhandle and northwest Texas

* Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 100 PM
  until 1000 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
  Widespread large hail and scattered very large hail events to 3
    inches in diameter likely
  Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible

SUMMARY...Additional severe storms will develop along the dryline
over the eastern Texas Panhandle this afternoon and spread east into
western Oklahoma and a part of western North Texas. Very large hail
will be the primary initial hazard, with a risk for tornadoes and
damaging winds increasing late afternoon into early evening.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles
east and west of a line from 40 miles west northwest of Alva OK to
55 miles southwest of Wichita Falls TX. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU2).

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 61...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24040.

...Grams

Tornado Watches in Oklahoma, 2018Tornado Watches in Texas, 2018Every tornado watch in 2018

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.