Alert archive / Texas / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 48, NWS Amarillo, TX

May 23, 2019Lipscomb County, Texas; Beaver County, Oklahoma

NWS Amarillo, TX issued this tornado warning at May 23, 2019, 7:41 PM CDT for Lipscomb County, Texas; Beaver County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 49 min. 2 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 23, 2019, 7:41 PM CDT (00:41 UTC)
Expired: May 23, 2019, 8:30 PM CDT
In force: 49 min
Issued by: NWS Amarillo, TX
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Beaver County, OK, Lipscomb County, TX

The radar

The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 164 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:41 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 23, 8:26 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 Nne Follett, TX	NWS DAMAGE SURVEY INFORMATION FOUND THAT A TORNADO TOUCHDOWN FIRST OCCURRED 3 MILES NNE OF FOLLETT AT 0826 PM CONTINUING TO OUN'S AREA AT 0847 PM AROUND 6 MILES NNW OF CATESBY. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN EF-2 DUE TO FENCE, TREE, AND POWERLINE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO
May 23, 8:28 PM CDT	TORNADO	3 N Follett, TX

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 45 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

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 23, 3:11 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Norman, OK (KOUN), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 288 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: 1141 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -177 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1162 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 147 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 293 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 4.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

224 
WFUS54 KAMA 240041
TORAMA
OKC007-TXC295-240130-
/O.NEW.KAMA.TO.W.0048.190524T0041Z-190524T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
741 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Beaver County in the Panhandle of Oklahoma...
  Northwestern Lipscomb County in the Panhandle of Texas...

* Until 830 PM CDT.
    
* At 741 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 7 miles west of Lipscomb, moving northeast at 40 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
  Lipscomb, Follett and Darrouzett. 

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 3613 10039 3621 10052 3651 10046 3651 10000
      3639 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0041Z 219DEG 35KT 3622 10041 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Beat

3 follow-up statements

995 
WWUS54 KAMA 240053
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
753 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

OKC007-TXC295-240130-
/O.CON.KAMA.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-190524T0130Z/
Beaver OK-Lipscomb TX-
753 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BEAVER AND NORTHERN LIPSCOMB COUNTIES...
    
At 753 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 6 miles northwest of Lipscomb, moving northeast at 40
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Lipscomb, Follett and Darrouzett. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! This storm has a history of producing tornadoes, and 
is capable of producing another tornado at any moment.  

&&

LAT...LON 3616 10034 3624 10047 3651 10043 3651 10000
      3639 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0053Z 219DEG 35KT 3631 10032 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Beat

336 
WWUS54 KAMA 240111
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
811 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

OKC007-240120-
/O.CAN.KAMA.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-190524T0130Z/
Beaver OK-
811 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BEAVER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for the Panhandle
of Oklahoma...and the Panhandle of Texas.

LAT...LON 3627 10019 3630 10028 3650 10029 3650 10000
      3639 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 219DEG 35KT 3645 10018 

$$

TXC295-240130-
/O.CON.KAMA.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-190524T0130Z/
Lipscomb TX-
811 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LIPSCOMB COUNTY...
    
At 810 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Follett, or 15 miles north of Lipscomb, moving
northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter 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...
Follett.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 3627 10019 3630 10028 3650 10029 3650 10000
      3639 10000
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 219DEG 35KT 3645 10018 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Beat

419 
WWUS54 KAMA 240119
SVSAMA

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
819 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

TXC295-240130-
/O.CON.KAMA.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-190524T0130Z/
Lipscomb TX-
819 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN LIPSCOMB COUNTY...
        
At 818 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Follett, or 17 miles northeast of Lipscomb, moving
northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters reported a rotating wall cloud and 
         occasional brief funnels.

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...
Follett.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

&&

LAT...LON 3636 10013 3640 10022 3650 10020 3650 10000
      3639 10000 3639 10001
TIME...MOT...LOC 0118Z 229DEG 28KT 3646 10012 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

Beat

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 23, 6:56 PM CDT, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 6:56 PM CDT, 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
656 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

.AVIATION...
For the 00z TAFs...
Lower than usual certainty with this issuance. Amendments likely
to be needed.

Thunderstorms likely to continue to impact KAMA for the next few
hours, due to proximity to cold front.  GUY may see additional
thunderstorms in the vicinity.  Cold front currently near a line
from Liberal to Skellytown to Happy.  IFR to MVFR ceilings
expected through the evening and possibly through the night at
northern terminals in moist post-frontal airmass.  MVFR to IFR
visibilities in fog expected to develop at northern terminals
before sunrise.  IFR ceilings also expected at KAMA, but could
improve ahead of schedule if frontal boundary lifts north.

Cockrell

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 255 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019/

SHORT TERM...This Afternoon and Tonight...

**See Mesoscale Discussion issued at 109 PM CDT***

LONG TERM...Friday through Wednesday...

The upper level pattern is not expected to change very much
through the weekend, remaining favorable for moisture return and
modest mid-level flow. Broad cyclonic motion expected to remain
over the western CONUS with high pressure over the southeastern
states through the weekend.

For Friday, a few storms may linger across the southeastern zones
during the morning hours and thus will maintain the Flash Flood
Watch through 18z. Fog is also possible during the early morning,
especially for areas that receive soaking rainfall Thursday.
Theta-E advection picks up in the afternoon helping to push the
dry (cool) air north. However, the models may be overdoing this,
especially if early showers or storms linger (along with low
clouds), with connectively modified boundaries likely not being
resolved well. Moreover, confidence is not high with thunderstorms
activity, and this forecast leans a little more on the lower rain
probs based on this uncertainty. If the atmosphere is able to
recover and the dryline can sharpen (or other lingering
boundaries), strong to severe thunderstorms would be possible with
ample deep layer shear of 40 to 50 knots and potentially moderate
instability. A conditional tornado threat is also possible late
afternoon into the early evening as the low level jet sets up.
Again, this is all contingent on if storms are able to form at
all.

For Saturday and Sunday, a more classic dryline type setup looks
possible. Guidance currently suggest storms will convect on the
dryline near the TX/NM state line during the afternoon and then
move east. The environment along and east of the dryline would
support supercells capable of very large hail and damaging winds given
large MLCAPE of 2000 to 3000 J/kg, 40 to 50 knots of deep layer
shear and steep mid and low level lapse rates. The low level shear
will also increase during the late afternoon and early evening,
resulting in an increasing tornado threat during that time. There
are some hints at a subtle warm layer near 700mb in the pre-
convective environment (via Bufkit profiles), so there could be
some minor ML capping, but all indications are the convection
will have no issues initiating.

The upper trough axis is progged to shift east into the central
CONUS Monday into Tuesday which should push the moisture east of
our area. Thus, a break from severe weather chances is expected
during this time. Storm chances may return towards the end of the
week as hints of another western CONUS trough are showing up in
the long term guidance.

Ward

&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Amarillo TX                57  76  60  78  61 /  60  40  30  40  60
Beaver OK                  54  78  60  81  61 /  80  30  30  40  40
Boise City OK              44  77  51  79  53 /  10   5  10  60  20
Borger TX                  57  79  61  80  62 /  60  30  30  40  60
Boys Ranch TX              52  81  59  80  60 /  20  20  20  60  40
Canyon TX                  56  79  59  80  60 /  50  40  30  40  50
Clarendon TX               62  74  62  78  63 /  80  50  50  40  40
Dalhart TX                 46  79  52  80  54 /  10  10  10  60  20
Guymon OK                  49  78  56  80  59 /  30  20  20  50  60
Hereford TX                55  81  59  81  60 /  30  30  30  40  40
Lipscomb TX                60  76  62  80  62 /  90  40  40  30  40
Pampa TX                   58  75  61  78  61 /  80  40  40  40  50
Shamrock TX                62  75  63  78  63 /  90  50  50  30  40
Wellington TX              63  77  64  80  64 /  80  50  50  30  30

&&

.AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
TX...Flash Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for the following
     zones: Armstrong...Carson...Collingsworth...Donley...Gray...
     Hansford...Hemphill...Hutchinson...Lipscomb...Moore...
     Ochiltree...Palo Duro Canyon...Potter...Randall...Roberts...
     Sherman...Wheeler.

OK...Flash Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for the following
     zones: Beaver...Texas.

&&

23/03

Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 3:25 PM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
325 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-240830-
Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb-
Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson-
Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth-
Palo Duro Canyon-
325 PM CDT Thu May 23 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are developing this afternoon
and will continue through tonight. Main concerns are for large
hail and flash flooding, but a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
A Tornado Watch has been issued for roughly the eastern half of
the Texas Panhandle and far eastern Oklahoma Panhandle until 10 PM
CDT. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the central and eastern
Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Thunderstorms will be possible Friday through Sunday night across
the Panhandles and then again Tuesday across mainly the northern
and eastern portions of the Panhandles. Some thunderstorms could
become strong to severe Friday through Sunday evening with large
hail and thunderstorm wind gusts being the primary hazards.

Any slow moving thunderstorms or thunderstorms moving across the
same locations will result in heavy to very heavy rainfall which
could result in flooding or flash flooding issues. A Flash Flood
Watch is in effect until 1 PM Friday afternoon for mainly the central
and eastern portions of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is likely today and tonight.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 23, 7:18 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
718 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0706 PM     TORNADO          10 S WOLF CREEK PARK    36.07N 100.62W
05/23/2019                   OCHILTREE          TX   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            NSSL RESEARCHERS REPORT LARGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900758

15

Local storm report, May 23, 7:19 PM CDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
719 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0710 PM     TORNADO          8 SSE WOLF CREEK PARK   36.11N 100.60W
05/23/2019                   OCHILTREE          TX   STORM CHASER

            LARGE TORNADO ON GROUND CROSSING US HIGHWAY 83

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900759

15

Local storm report, May 23, 7:25 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
725 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0721 PM     TORNADO          7 E WOLF CREEK PARK     36.22N 100.52W
05/23/2019                   LIPSCOMB           TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LARGE TORNADO STILL ON GROUND ACCORDING TO LIPSCOMB
            COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900760

15

Local storm report, May 23, 7:30 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
730 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0632 PM     HAIL             3 E VALLEY DE ORO       35.45N 102.06W
05/23/2019  M0.75 INCH       POTTER             TX   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900761

15

Local storm report, May 23, 7:37 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
737 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0726 PM     TORNADO          8 E WOLF CREEK PARK     36.22N 100.50W
05/23/2019                   LIPSCOMB           TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            OKC CBS AFFILIATE SENT PICTURE OF LARGE TORNADO ON THE
            GROUND.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900762

15

Local storm report, May 23, 7:38 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
738 PM CDT THU MAY 23 2019

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

0730 PM     TORNADO          9 E WOLF CREEK PARK     36.24N 100.48W
05/23/2019                   LIPSCOMB           TX   STORM CHASER

            PICTURE FROM CHASER VIA TWITTER SHOWING TORNADO IS
            STARTING TO ROPE OUT.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1900763

15

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 23, 7:00 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Lipscomb, Ochiltree	45 min
May 23, 7:04 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	AMA	Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts	41 min
May 23, 7:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	AMA	Hemphill, Roberts	51 min
May 23, 7:55 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts	65 min
May 23, 8:11 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	AMA	Gray, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Roberts	115 min
May 23, 8:28 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Lipscomb	47 min
May 23, 8:32 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	AMA	Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree	28 min
May 23, 8:59 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Lipscomb	31 min
May 23, 9:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Lipscomb	47 min
May 23, 10:22 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Armstrong	53 min
May 23, 10:30 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Armstrong	60 min
May 23, 10:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Armstrong, Carson, Gray, Randall	54 min
May 23, 10:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Gray, Hemphill, Roberts	44 min
May 23, 11:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Carson, Gray, Roberts	53 min
May 23, 11:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hemphill, Lipscomb	48 min
May 24, 12:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Hemphill, Lipscomb, Wheeler	18 min
May 24, 12:39 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Donley, Gray	66 min
May 24, 12:54 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Hemphill	36 min
May 24, 3:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Collingsworth, Wheeler	62 min
May 24, 3:17 PM CDT	Flood Watch	AMA	Armstrong, Collingsworth, Donley, Gray, Hemphill, Lipscomb and 3 more	31 hr
May 24, 3:36 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	AMA	Lipscomb, Ochiltree	13 hr
May 23, 7:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	AMA	Beaver	37 min
May 23, 7:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	AMA	Beaver, Texas	48 min
May 23, 11:17 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	AMA	Texas	28 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Texas, 2019 Tornado Warnings in Oklahoma, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

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.