Tornado Watch 188

Issued

May 18, 2021, 2:29 PM CDT (19:29 UTC)

Expired

May 18, 2021, 9:00 PM CDT

In force

7 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:29 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

10%

Ten or more severe wind reports

60%

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

80%

• Mesoscale Discussion 671 Severe potential...watch possibleMay 18, 1:18 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 674 Tornado watch 188May 18, 3:52 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 679 Tornado watch 188May 18, 6:13 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 681 Tornado watch 188...190May 18, 8:54 PM CDT

859 
WWUS20 KWNS 181927
SEL8  
SPC WW 181927
TXZ000-190200-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 188
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
230 PM CDT Tue May 18 2021

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  South-central/East-Central Texas

* Effective this Tuesday afternoon and evening from 230 PM until
  900 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A couple tornadoes possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
    inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Increasing severe thunderstorm development is expected
initially across south-central/east-central Texas through mid/late
afternoon, particularly in vicinity of an outflow boundary that has
generally stalled in a southwest/northeast fashion across the
region. A moist environment, modest strength low-level winds in
conjunction with the influence of the outflow boundary could support
a tornado risk aside from more prevalent damaging winds and isolated
large hail.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 80 statute miles
east and west of a line from 65 miles northwest of Lufkin TX to 55
miles south southeast of San Antonio TX. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU8).

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.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24020.

...Guyer

Tornado Watches in Texas, 2021Every tornado watch in 2021

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.