Alert archive / Texas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 313, NWS Norman, OK

May 21, 20204 counties in Texas

NWS Norman, OK issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 21, 2020, 9:26 PM CDT for 4 counties in Texas. It was in force for 17 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 21, 2020, 9:26 PM CDT (02:26 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2020, 9:43 PM CDT
In force
17 min
Issued by
NWS Norman, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Archer County, TX, Baylor County, TX, Wichita County, TX, Wilbarger County, TX

The radar

The Altus AFB radar (KFDR), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:27 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

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 191 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2020-05-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2477 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, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2020-05-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 120 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2477 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1208 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.0
Supercell composite
10.7

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 Norman, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 21, 3:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 21, 3:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Norman OK
338 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

...New LONG TERM...

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 240 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

The showers/thunderstorms that existed over western Oklahoma and
western north Texas have since diminished. As seen in the radar
and satellite loops, an MCV has lifted northeast across Oklahoma
today. As of 19Z, a surface low was centered near the CO/KS border
with a dryline extending southward across the OK and TX
panhandles. Trends in the CAMS suggest a later arrival of a
shower/thunderstorm complex into our area, which is now forecast
to enter NW Oklahoma after 06Z Friday. A few severe storms capable
of producing up to golf ball size hail and damaging wind gusts
are possible across far NW Oklahoma tonight.

The showers/thunderstorms are forecast to linger into tomorrow
morning as the upper wave progresses east. For tomorrow
afternoon/evening, latest thinking is thunderstorms may develop
and intensify along an outflow boundary across southern Oklahoma.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday night through next Wednesday)
Issued at 338 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue across
southeast/south central Oklahoma and north Texas. These
thunderstorms may grow upscale into another MCS with a threat for
severe weather through the overnight hours.

For Saturday, most locations will likely remain dry. Isolated
thunderstorms may develop along the dryline during the late
afternoon and could move eastward into western Oklahoma in the
evening. Forecast soundings indicate a strong cap (+17 C at ~770
mb), so coverage of storms should be isolated at best. In
addition, mid-level heights are progged to rise during the evening
hours (which would also temper the risk of convection).

For Sunday, the eastward progression of the longwave trough has
slowed down. Therefore, opted to decrease the probabilities of
showers/storms across western/central Oklahoma during the daytime.
There are indications a subtle wave may lift across
southeast/eastern Oklahoma, so maintained higher probabilities in
this area. With respect to the trough, thunderstorms may initially
develop along the dryline in the Texas/Oklahoma panhandles late
afternoon. Widespread showers and thunderstorms would be delayed
to Sunday night into early Monday as synoptic-scale ascent spreads
eastward.

For Monday and beyond, the forecast confidence remains low as
there remains high uncertainty on the evolution of the shortwave
trough. Model consensus continues to indicate the shortwave trough
will close-off, but the location is still uncertain. The 21/12Z
guidance indicates the low may close off to the west (New Mexico
or the Oklahoma/Texas panhandles). This will keep us in a
favorable pattern for at least a moderate chance of showers/storms
with deep, southerly flow through the middle part of the week.
Heavy rainfall/flooding will become a hazard if this occurs.

Mahale

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1251 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

Showers/thunderstorms are possible late this evening near KWWR
with storms progressing southeast overnight into the early morning
hours. Confidence is low on timing, however, as the models have
trended slower with the progression of the precipitation. Winds
are forecast to shift to the north over KWWR, KCSM, KPNC after 12Z
Friday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Oklahoma City OK  66  85  67  84 /  40  50  20  10
Hobart OK         65  89  67  88 /  30  10  20  10
Wichita Falls TX  68  91  67  87 /  20  40  40  10
Gage OK           58  85  63  93 /  60  10   0  10
Ponca City OK     64  80  65  85 /  70  70  20  10
Durant OK         66  85  69  84 /  30  40  50  20

&&

.OUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
TX...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...01
LONG TERM....10
AVIATION...01
Hazardous weather outlook, May 21, 3:52 PM CDT, 5 hours 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Norman OK
352 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-222100-
Harper-Woods-Alfalfa-Grant-Kay-Ellis-Woodward-Major-Garfield-
Noble-Roger Mills-Dewey-Custer-Blaine-Kingfisher-Logan-Payne-
Beckham-Washita-Caddo-Canadian-Oklahoma-Lincoln-Grady-McClain-
Cleveland-Pottawatomie-Seminole-Hughes-Harmon-Greer-Kiowa-Jackson-
Tillman-Comanche-Stephens-Garvin-Murray-Pontotoc-Coal-Cotton-
Jefferson-Carter-Johnston-Atoka-Love-Marshall-Bryan-Hardeman-
Foard-Wilbarger-Wichita-Knox-Baylor-Archer-Clay-
352 PM CDT Thu May 21 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northern...
western...central...and southern Oklahoma...and western north
Texas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight...

.Thunderstorms...
There is a risk of severe thunderstorms tonight. The greatest
risk of severe storms will be across northern Oklahoma.

Thunderstorms moving southeast from the High Plains are expected
to move into northwest Oklahoma later this evening into the
overnight. Hail up to the size up golf balls and wind gusts up to
75 mph are the primary hazards. Heavy rainfall may also lead to
localized flooding.

Storms are expected to continue into the early morning, with a
decreasing risk of severe weather as the storms move
southeastward.

.SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STATEMENT...
Storm spotter groups and emergency management personnel across
northwest Oklahoma should prepare for severe weather operations
tonight.

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

.Thunderstorms...
Thunderstorms are expected to continue off and on through next
Wednesday. On Friday, a Slight Risk of severe storms thunderstorms
covers southeast and south central Oklahoma and adjacent parts of
north Texas. Severe storms will be most likely in the afternoon
and evening. A Marginal Risk covers the area west of Enid to
Lawton to Seymour Texas on Saturday, mainly during the evening.
Severe thunderstorms will also be possible on Sunday, but details
are still uncertain regarding timing and location.

.Heavy rain...
Heavy rainfall is possible, particularly on Friday, and again
Sunday night into Monday. Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding.

Get graphics and more details at weather.gov/norman...and follow
our weather forecast office on Twitter and Facebook.

Mahale

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 21, 8:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 22 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 21, 8:33 PM CDT, 53 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 Norman, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 22, 1:19 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNAlfalfa, Harper, Woods, Woodward26 min
May 22, 1:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNAlfalfa, Woods, Woodward41 min
May 22, 1:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNHarper, Woods, Woodward39 min
May 22, 2:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNMajor, Woods18 min
May 22, 2:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNWoods30 min
May 22, 2:35 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNEllis, Grant, Major, Woodward25 min
May 22, 2:44 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNWoods31 min
May 22, 3:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBlaine, Dewey, Ellis28 min
May 22, 3:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNGrant, Major27 min
May 22, 3:06 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAlfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Major39 min
May 22, 3:19 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNAlfalfa, Garfield, Grant41 min
May 22, 3:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGarfield, Kingfisher, Logan, Major, Noble50 min
May 22, 4:08 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBlaine37 min
May 22, 4:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBlaine25 min
May 22, 4:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCanadian, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln and 4 more51 min
May 22, 4:40 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNStephens35 min
May 22, 5:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNStephens26 min
May 22, 5:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Lincoln, Logan, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne and 2 more38 min
May 22, 5:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Jefferson, Stephens47 min
May 22, 5:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNMcClain25 min
May 22, 5:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, Lincoln, Oklahoma, Payne, Pottawatomie, Seminole51 min
May 22, 5:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCarter, Garvin, Grady, McClain, Murray, Stephens52 min
May 22, 6:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCleveland, McClain, Pottawatomie35 min
May 22, 6:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNHughes, Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Seminole51 min
May 22, 6:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNGarvin, McClain, Murray, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole49 min
May 22, 6:56 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCarter34 min
May 22, 7:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCarter, Murray30 min
May 22, 7:59 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCarter, Murray31 min
May 22, 4:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNTillman13 min
May 22, 4:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNTillman33 min
May 22, 5:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman47 min
May 22, 5:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche28 min
May 22, 6:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman57 min
May 22, 6:12 PM CDTTornado WarningOUNTillman33 min
May 22, 6:18 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNComanche27 min
May 22, 6:20 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNComanche25 min
May 22, 6:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman53 min
May 22, 6:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNCaddo36 min
May 22, 6:50 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton, Tillman40 min
May 22, 6:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNCotton48 min
May 21, 8:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBaylor, Knox44 min
May 21, 8:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNBaylor12 min
May 21, 8:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNBaylor, Knox, Wilbarger50 min
May 22, 6:41 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOUNClay34 min
May 22, 6:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOUNClay52 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.