Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 72, NWS Lubbock, TX

May 20, 2020Childress County, Texas

NWS Lubbock, TX issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2020, 12:18 AM CDT for Childress County, Texas. It was in force for 42 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 20, 2020, 12:18 AM CDT (05:18 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2020, 1:00 AM CDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Lubbock, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Childress County, TX

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 114 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:20 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Amarillo Airport, TX (KAMA), launched 00:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 157 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 2020-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1126 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Amarillo Airport, TX at 00:00Z on 2020-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1126 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-277 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2113 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
106 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 19, 6:21 PM CDT, 5 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 19, 6:21 PM CDT, 5 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
621 PM CDT Tue May 19 2020

.AVIATION...
Potential for isolated TS continuing in the very near term after
which concern shifts to MVFR ceilings late tonight and past
sunrise Wednesday. Consensus, although not unanimity, amongst the
models in stratus developing in moist, easterly low level flow.
Will continue with a period in each of the TAFs.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 242 PM CDT Tue May 19 2020/

SHORT TERM...
The rest of today...Isolated showers and thunderstorms are beginning
to develop across eastern NM and the Southern Plains in the dry air
as they meet convective temps. The set up for these storms to
produce any quality precipitation or severe weather continues to
look dismal. Soundings depict a very dry subcloud layer with a
dramatic inverted V signature and large DCAPE values. A surface low
to our west, an upper level shortwave and a stationary front
draped across the edge of the Caprock will all aid with further
forcing and convective temps will continue to be easily met.
However, minimal instability, the lack of deep layer moisture,
very weak shear values and the presence of some capping remain
large limiting factors. Nonetheless, it is still mid-May and any
storms that do tap the limited moisture and develop into a full
fledged storm could be accompanied by small hail and strong dry
downburst winds. If this should happen the storm will be short
lived and won't progress eastward too far or too fast. Overall the
thinking is that cumulus clouds will develop but result in virga
showers with strong dry downburst winds.

Tonight...easterly surface flow will help moisture flow westward
across the CWA with the development of a stratus deck. Late
night/early morning progged soundings showing an onion sounding
look which is indicative of heat bursts occurring. Have left very
low end PoPs in the forecast across much of the area as virga
could occur through the late night hours. Otherwise overnight will
be mild.

Tomorrow...The unseasonably deep upper trough to our west will begin
to move eastward. As this occurs an associated shortwave will rotate
through eastern NM and the UL ridge over the CWA will break down. At
the surface dynamics and accompanying downslope winds will aid in
the development of a deep lee surface low as a weak front stalls
across the NM/TX border. The overall environment will be similar to
today with a few improvements that may lead to dryline convection.
Dewpoints east of the dryline will increase into the 60F-65F range
while 850mb temps will be slightly cooler than today, that along
with better MUCAPEs and slightly stronger SFC-6KM shear values.
Although bases will remain high (700mb) they will not be near as
high as today and given better instability accompanied by diurnal
heating storms will likely fire along the dryline and head east into
the CWA. Storms will take on a linear mode as they propagate
eastward. The main hazards with this line will be strong outflow
winds and severe hail. It should be noted that the NAM shows nearly
no convection tomorrow and keeps much of the CWA covered in stratus.
While this model is the outlier at this time and seem less likely it
is still a possibility.

LONG TERM...
Fairly typical occasionally unsettled weather will be the rule
through this mid- to late-May stretch. This will include several
chances for thunderstorms, some which could be severe.

The upper trough/low currently in place over the Great Basin is
progged to lift north-northeastward into the Canadian Rockies by
Thursday, though it will be quickly replaced by the next trough
iteration. This will keep some form of southwesterly flow aloft in
place over West Texas through the weekend. This flow, combined with
a dryline in the region, will provide occasional thunderstorm
chances, favoring the afternoon and evening hours. Although the flow
will be on the weaker side...by May standards...the magnitude of the
instability along and east of the dryline will support a
strong/severe risk.

Looking into the details, isolated to scattered convection that
develops along the residual front/surface trough/dryline near
TX/NM line tomorrow afternoon could persist into the evening as it
propagates eastward. The storms won't be as high based as today,
though they will still be high-based. Steep mid-level lapse rates
could support a wind and hail threat, as noted in the latest SPC
Day 2 Outlook. Increased southwest flow aloft will give the
dryline an eastward push on Thursday, shifting any late-day storm
risk off the Caprock. Friday and Saturday will bring more of the
same with the best storm chances potentially residing in the
Rolling Plains or even east of the CWA entirely.

Thunderstorm chances will expand to include much/all of the FA late
weekend into early next week as a cold front dips into the region in
response to the western trough progressing eastward into the High
Plains. A portion of this trough may cut off into an upper low that
could linger in the region well into next week, providing cooler
temperatures and periodic rain/storm chances.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

07
Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 10:49 AM CDT, 13 hours 29 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
1049 AM CDT Tue May 19 2020

TXZ021>044-201600-
Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale-Floyd-
Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King-Yoakum-
Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall-
1049 AM CDT Tue May 19 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains, Rolling
Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

There is a conditional threat for strong downburst winds around any
storms that form this afternoon and evenings across the far
northwestern South Plains and the far western southern Texas
Panhandle.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Chances for isolated thunderstorms will gradually increase towards
Wednesday evening and into the weekend. A few storms may be severe.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 19, 9:29 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, May 19, 9:41 PM CDT, 2 hours 37 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, May 19, 9:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, May 19, 11:18 PM CDT, 1 hour before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Special weather statement, May 19, 11:51 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>
Local storm report, May 20, 12:00 AM CDT, 18 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 19, 7:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro32 min
May 19, 7:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLUBLubbock31 min
May 19, 7:36 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLUBCastro114 min
May 19, 7:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBHockley, Lubbock36 min
May 19, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro31 min
May 19, 8:00 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBHale, Lamb45 min
May 19, 8:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro, Swisher26 min
May 19, 8:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCrosby, Garza, Lubbock, Lynn40 min
May 19, 8:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBHale, Swisher38 min
May 19, 8:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBSwisher32 min
May 19, 9:41 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLUBCrosby34 min
May 19, 9:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLUBBriscoe, Swisher32 min
May 19, 11:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLUBHall42 min
May 19, 11:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementLUBChildress, Hall24 min
May 20, 4:02 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBGarza58 min
May 20, 4:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro, Hale, Lamb, Swisher54 min
May 20, 4:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro, Parmer65 min
May 20, 4:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBGarza, Kent65 min
May 20, 5:24 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryLUBGarza51 min
May 20, 5:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBGarza, Lynn56 min
May 20, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro, Hale, Lamb, Swisher66 min
May 20, 6:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCrosby, Garza, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn56 min
May 20, 6:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCrosby, Garza18 min
May 20, 6:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCastro, Swisher45 min
May 20, 6:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLUBCrosby, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock67 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Texas, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

Sources

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.