An established complex of thunderstorms working south across western Kansas approached the Oklahoma Panhandle during the late evening hours of the 25th and early morning hours on the 26th. Across the OK Panhandle, DCAPE values of 1300-1500 J/Kg along with effective shear of 30-40 kts was enough energy after sunset to establish to some extent the line of thunderstorms moving south.
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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.
The episode as NWS AMA wrote it up.
An established complex of thunderstorms working south across western Kansas approached the Oklahoma Panhandle during the late evening hours of the 25th and early morning hours on the 26th. Across the OK Panhandle, DCAPE values of 1300-1500 J/Kg along with effective shear of 30-40 kts was enough energy after sunset to establish to some extent the line of thunderstorms moving south. Severe wind gusts and thunderstorm damage was a result of this line of storms as it moved south. Line of thunderstorms finally weakened below severe limits by the time it crossed south into the TX Panhandle.
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 Jul 25, 9:03 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1003 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018 .UPDATE...Quick update was done to the grids to bring trends in line with approaching cold front and line of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms should arrive in the next hour or two in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and be across the remainder of the combined Panhandles through sunrise Thursday. Enough instability remains in place that these storms could be strong to marginally severe, with large hail and damaging wind gusts up to 60 MPH possible. In addition, despite increasing forward speed with the front, these storms are not moving all that quick. Heavy downpours and localized flooding will be possible with these storms, especially if the frontal boundary slows down or stalls in the area. Bieda && .AVIATION...Previous Discussion...00Z TAFs...VFR condition with southerly winds BTWN 10 to 20 kts will continue through about sunset. Thunderstorms developing in Colorado and Kansas will sag towards the south- southeast in association with a cold front. Timing of thunderstorm impacts will be greatly dependent on development, and have converted PROB30 to TEMPO groups to account for TSRA with CIG AOA 5k ft AGL. Confidence is there that thunderstorms will occur, and some amendments may be needed to adjust timing or make conditions prevailing. For now, have gone with KGUY being impacted AFT 26/03Z, KDHT AFT 26/04Z and KAMA AFT 26/06Z based upon latest hi- res guidance. The cold front could stall near KAMA, with further redevelopment possible around 26/12Z. Otherwise, winds will be out of the north around 5 to 15 kts, with low CIG around sunrise possible at KGUY and KDHT. As a side note, the KDHT ASOS is down until further notice. Bieda && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Amarillo TX 93 67 86 66 85 / 10 60 50 40 30 Beaver OK 97 67 86 67 86 / 5 80 40 20 30 Boise City OK 95 63 82 63 85 / 20 80 30 40 30 Borger TX 97 69 89 69 88 / 10 60 40 40 30 Boys Ranch TX 96 66 88 67 88 / 10 60 40 40 30 Canyon TX 94 66 87 66 86 / 10 60 50 40 30 Clarendon TX 95 69 89 67 88 / 5 50 50 50 20 Dalhart TX 95 62 85 62 86 / 20 80 30 30 30 Guymon OK 97 64 85 65 86 / 10 80 40 20 30 Hereford TX 93 67 85 66 86 / 10 50 60 40 30 Lipscomb TX 96 68 87 68 86 / 5 70 40 40 30 Pampa TX 94 67 87 65 86 / 5 60 40 40 20 Shamrock TX 96 69 90 70 88 / 5 50 40 40 20 Wellington TX 97 70 92 70 90 / 5 40 40 40 20 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 344 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018/ DISCUSSION... An upper level ridge will remain anchored over the western third of the U.S. and an upper level trough will remain over the eastern U.S. through this forecast. This will put the Panhandles in a northwest flow aloft. This northwest flow aloft will help to bring the daily mountain convection this way. There will also be embedded upper level short wave troughs that will also enhance showers and thunderstorms from time to time. Therefore, have continued with the idea of some chance of showers and thunderstorms everyday through this forecast. Shower and thunderstorm coverage may be a little greater tonight as compared to the last couple as a cold front and an associated short wave trough move southward across the Panhandles. Outside of tonight it will be tough to time each one of these short wave troughs exactly through this forecast. However, the models have been consistent on hinting that a stronger short wave trough may move through Sunday night and this may hook up with an upslope flow on the surface to increase the shower and thunderstorm activity. High temperatures are expected to be below normal through this forecast except for Saturday where we may warm above normal ahead the cold front. && .AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories... TX...None. OK...None. && 98/36
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1010 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-261515- 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- 1010 PM CDT Wed Jul 25 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms will be possible across the Panhandles. A storm or two may become severe with damaging winds and large hail the main threats. In addition, heavy rainfall may accompany the strongest storms, which could lead to localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thunderstorms will be possible across most of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles through Tuesday. Some storms will have the potential to become strong to severe at times with damaging winds and hail the primary hazards. In addition, heavy rainfall may lead to localized flooding or flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
The Dodge City radar (KDDC), 149 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:19 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Roofed ripped off trailer, damage to 4 or 5 trailers on NE side of Hooker. Winds estimated 70 to 80 mph.
Several reports of damage to buildings with trees blown down in and around Beaver. Winds estimated at 70 to 80 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Oklahoma in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Oklahoma, July 2018
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: 774046, 774047, 774048.