Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 23, 2017

Name: Damaging Wind in Oklahoma, March 23, 2017
Start: 2017-03-23T18:08
End: 2017-03-23T18:08
Location: Oklahoma

March 23, 2017 · NWS AMA · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Severe weather was predominant across the central and western Panhandles. As an upper level worked its way east toward the Four Corners region, this helped to bring in some good mid level moisture.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS AMA wrote it up.

Severe weather was predominant across the central and western Panhandles. As an upper level worked its way east toward the Four Corners region, this helped to bring in some good mid level moisture. Although the low level moisture was not as pronounced, enough mid level instability and a strong mid level jet allowed did set the stage for discrete supercells. A surface low also formed in SW Kansas which helped to compact surface isobars and increase surface winds which eventually set up a dryline across the far western Panhandle which was the local initiation for these thunderstorms. Meso-analysis of 1000-1500 MLCAPE and DCAPE with 0-6 bulk shear around 50 kts allowed for discrete supercells. In-conjunction with cold mid-level temperatures moving closer to the Panhandles in association with the main upper level low, large hail and gusty winds were the main threat wit these storms. The result of the afternoon were many severe wind reports and hail size as big as 1.5.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Mar 23, 5:20 PM CST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 23, 5:20 PM CST, 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
620 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2017

.AVIATION...
00Z issuance...Mix of conditions possible during severe
thunderstorms tonight. Thunderstorms will have erratic winds and
will be pushing easterly across the area. Expect storms to be out
by 06Z. Southwesterly winds after 06Z will be around 20 gust 30
and increasing after 14Z as they turn northerly with gusts up to
60kts. Low clouds will push in with the northerly winds as well,
but right now are not expected to drop below 3000agl.

Beat

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 440 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2017/

SHORT TERM...
See mesoscale discussion below.

Simpson

LONG TERM...
Not much has changed forecast-wise. Tomorrow is still looking
very windy on the backside of the low. Winds tomorrow could gust
up to 70 mph. These north winds will limit our heating potential
tomorrow to slightly below climatological norms. Precip will be
likely in the OK Panhandle and northern TX Panhandle with the wrap
around moisture. Mid- level height rises on Saturday will bring
surface temps back up into the 70s. The next upper level shortwave
passes through the central Plains on Sunday and may bring some
glancing precip to very northern sections of the OK Panhandle.

Weather remains calm for the beginning of the work week as ridging
builds into the area. By mid week there is another chance for
thunderstorms. Models are still very diverse on solutions for both
timing and location of the next big system. Long range solutions
seem to be trending more towards the GFS solution with deepening
and slowing the system from Tuesday to Wednesday/Thursday time
frame. This will continue to need watching for more trends to nail
any details down, but it does seem to bring a good chance for
precip to the area.

Beat

FIRE WEATHER...
After this afternoon's critical fire weather conditions settle
down, elevated fire weather is possible on Sunday for portions
of the southern TX Panhandle. The remainder of next week looks to
stay calm for fire weather concerns.

Beat

&&

.AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
TX...Wind Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for the following
     zones: Armstrong...Carson...Collingsworth...Dallam...Deaf
     Smith...Donley...Gray...Hansford...Hartley...Hemphill...
     Hutchinson...Lipscomb...Moore...Ochiltree...Oldham...
     Potter...Randall...Roberts...Sherman...Wheeler.

     High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Friday evening for
     the following zones: Armstrong...Carson...Collingsworth...
     Dallam...Deaf Smith...Donley...Gray...Hansford...Hartley...
     Hemphill...Hutchinson...Lipscomb...Moore...Ochiltree...
     Oldham...Potter...Randall...Roberts...Sherman...Wheeler.

     Red Flag Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for the following
     zones: Dallam...Deaf Smith...Hartley...Oldham.

OK...High Wind Watch from Friday morning through Friday evening for
     the following zones: Beaver...Cimarron...Texas.

     Red Flag Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for the following
     zones: Cimarron.

&&

16/16

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 23, 3:01 PM CST, 3 hours 7 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
401 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2017

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-241200-
Cimarron-Texas-Beaver-Dallam-Sherman-Hansford-Ochiltree-Lipscomb-
Hartley-Moore-Hutchinson-Roberts-Hemphill-Oldham-Potter-Carson-
Gray-Wheeler-Deaf Smith-Randall-Armstrong-Donley-Collingsworth-
401 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2017

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight.

Thunderstorms are possible through the late evening hours. The
potential for severe weather will exist across both Panhandles
during this time with up to golf ball size hail and wind gusts
between 60 and 70 mph as the primary threats.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect for the Texas Panhandle through
early evening where south to southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with
gusts over 50 mph will be possible.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the far western Texas
and Oklahoma Panhandles where winds will be 30 to 40 mph and
relative humidity values will be 12 to 20 percent.

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

It will be windy across western and central parts of the Texas
and Oklahoma Panhandles on Friday when sustained wind speeds of 30
to 45 mph will be possible. Gusts will range from 45 to 60 mph. A
High Wind Watch has been issued for the entire Texas and Oklahoma
Panhandles.

Thunderstorms are possible again on Sunday and Tuesday through
Thursday. At this time, the threat for severe weather appears to
be low on these days. Elevated fire weather conditions will be
possible for portions of the Panhandles on Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested this evening.

Area fire managers and emergency management should be alert for
elevated fire weather conditions on Sunday.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 23, 4:28 PM CST, 1 hour 40 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
528 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

OKZ001-002-TXZ001-002-006-232315-
Cimarron OK-Texas OK-Hartley TX-Sherman TX-Dallam TX-
528 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN TEXAS...EASTERN
CIMARRON...NORTHWESTERN SHERMAN...EASTERN DALLAM AND NORTHEASTERN
HARTLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT...

At 527 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles south of Griggs to 7 miles northwest of
Hartley. Movement was northeast at 60 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Dalhart, Stratford, Hartley, Keyes, Eva, Conlen, Griggs and Sturgis.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3582 10237 3594 10272 3699 10218 3699 10156
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 210DEG 76KT 3649 10215 3594 10252

JC

Special weather statement, Mar 23, 4:50 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
550 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

TXZ006-011-016-232330-
Hartley TX-Deaf Smith TX-Oldham TX-
550 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OLDHAM...DEAF SMITH AND HARTLEY
COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM CDT...

At 549 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 15 miles northeast of Romero to 5 miles
southeast of Bootleg. Movement was northeast at 60 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Vega, Hartley, Channing, Adrian, Bootleg, Romero and Simms.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3475 10302 3600 10294 3596 10227 3475 10247
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 203DEG 54KT 3581 10268 3476 10277

JC

Local storm report, Mar 23, 4:53 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
553 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

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

0541 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 N BOOTLEG             34.93N 102.81W
03/23/2017  M61 MPH          DEAF SMITH         TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            61 MPH WIND GUST MEASURED AT SCHOOLNET SITE AT WALCOTT.

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1700252

TLH

Special weather statement, Mar 23, 5:23 PM CST, 45 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
623 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

OKZ001-002-240015-
Cimarron OK-Texas OK-
623 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN
CIMARRON COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

At 623 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 4 miles southeast of Wilburton to 9 miles east
of Griggs. Movement was northeast at 600 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Goodwell, Eva, Griggs, Hough and Sturgis.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
the Panhandle of Oklahoma...and the Panhandle of Texas.

LAT...LON 3651 10166 3650 10226 3699 10201 3700 10127
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 217DEG 43KT 3702 10172 3659 10195

JC

Local storm report, Mar 23, 5:36 PM CST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
636 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

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

0631 PM     HAIL             3 N HEREFORD            34.87N 102.40W
03/23/2017  E0.88 INCH       DEAF SMITH         TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED A FEW MILES NORTH OF HEREFORD
            ON 385

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1700253

TLH

Local storm report, Mar 23, 6:02 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
702 PM CDT THU MAR 23 2017

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

0653 PM     HAIL             3 E VEGA                35.25N 102.37W
03/23/2017  E1.00 INCH       OLDHAM             TX   BROADCAST MEDIA

            REPORTING QUARTER HAIL 3 MILES EAST OF VEGA ON I-40...
            HAIL NOW SHIFTING NORTH OF HWY

&&

EVENT NUMBER AMA1700254

TLH

The radar

The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:09 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Texas

When: March 23, 6:08 PM CST
Where: Texas County, 0.89 mi NW of (Guy)guymon Muni Arp
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 36.690, -101.510

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Oklahoma in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, March 2017

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 687383.