Weak steering wind flow, high instability and low to moderate wind shear allowed a cluster of thunderstorms to develop across the northeastern TX Panhandle. With very weak flow, thunderstorms were very slow to move and caused flash flooding across portions of the aforementioned region.
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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.
Weak steering wind flow, high instability and low to moderate wind shear allowed a cluster of thunderstorms to develop across the northeastern TX Panhandle. With very weak flow, thunderstorms were very slow to move and caused flash flooding across portions of the aforementioned region.
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 Aug 22, 7:18 PM CST, 2 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 818 PM CDT Wed Aug 22 2018 .UPDATE...Thunderstorm activity is currently over the central Texas Panhandle, with a storm or two entering the eastern portions of the Oklahoma Panhandle. So far, thunderstorm activity over Colorado and New Mexico has either not materialized or struggled to maintain itself over the last few hours. Have updated grids to reduce PoP chances in the western half of the combined Panhandles, and refocused higher chances along and east of the regions with ongoing activity. It is expected that these thunderstorms will dissipate shortly after sunset. Later tonight a shortwave trof passing to the north of the region could potentially cause more convection, but the latest hi-res models have been on the downtrend with this activity timed for early Thursday morning. Will retain low end PoP chances to account for this potential. Bieda/Hoffeditz && .AVIATION...00Z TAFs...Previous Discussion... VFR conditions for the 00Z TAF period barring any isolated thunderstorms. Currently isolated showers and thunderstorms are across the combined Panhandles. Confidence is low as to whether KDHT and KAMA will be impacted and there for TAFs only reflect VCTS. KGUY may see some storms come in from southeast Colorado and has a tempo group. Model guidance is currently suggesting all storm activity will be over by 06Z. Winds will be mainly out of the south at 10-15kts and CIGS and VIS will be VFR unless an isolated storm potentially brings conditions down to MVFR temporarily. Hoffeditz && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Amarillo TX 91 67 95 70 95 / 20 40 5 20 5 Beaver OK 80 66 97 69 96 / 50 60 10 30 5 Boise City OK 84 64 89 64 92 / 40 40 10 20 10 Borger TX 93 71 100 72 98 / 50 80 10 30 5 Boys Ranch TX 93 68 97 69 97 / 30 20 10 30 5 Canyon TX 92 67 94 69 96 / 20 20 5 20 5 Clarendon TX 90 68 96 72 98 / 20 30 5 10 5 Dalhart TX 89 65 92 64 93 / 30 40 10 30 5 Guymon OK 85 66 96 66 95 / 40 60 10 30 5 Hereford TX 91 66 93 68 95 / 10 20 5 10 5 Lipscomb TX 88 70 98 72 98 / 50 70 10 40 5 Pampa TX 89 69 96 71 96 / 60 80 10 30 5 Shamrock TX 90 69 96 73 99 / 10 20 5 20 5 Wellington TX 91 70 97 73 101 / 10 20 5 10 5 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 447 PM CDT Wed Aug 22 2018/ DISCUSSION... Noteworthy items continue to be evening convection and trend towards above normal temperatures to end the month. There were also signs of the month ending dry, and while this is still a possibility there are signs of precipitation now. Determining how much faith we can put in these precipitation chances in the long term will be a challenge going forward as analog signs are still favoring below normal conditions for precipitation. Pattern aloft still shows high pressure centered over Texas. There is also a cutoff low coming out of the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin/Northern Rockies region. This low will essentially track east across northern portions of the CONUS the next several days. In response, there will be small ripples of energy riding south of the low scrapping over portions of the Panhandles. For tonight specifically, there will be ample CAPE around, albeit less than yesterday, but still in the 1000-2000 J/kg range. This combined with 0-6km shear around 20-35 knots could produce some strong updrafts, but these will likely be on initial storms only. As a result, hail threat will most likely be initial convection, and thereafter the main threat will be strong wind speeds. Hail up to quarters may be possible with strong wind speeds around 60 mph. Another threat will be heavy rainfall given the high precipitable water values well into the 90th percentile and the expected slow moving nature of the thunderstorms tonight. Tornado threat does not appear likely. Initially storms will struggle given the cap in place, but this will likely break after 6 pm. A few isolated echos can be seen on radar at 4pm, but have not taken off quite yet. Nearing 5 pm and these storms have grown in coverage but still remain under severe criteria. For Thursday we will have much less CAPE to work with, but shear isn't too bad around 20-35 knots mainly across northern portions of the outlook area. Surface low/trough will be noted around southeastern Colorado to western Kansas tomorrow. The trough will push east through the day and ahead of the trough axis wind speeds will be breezy from the southwest around 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Dry southwest air mass ahead of the trough will limit precipitation chances until the evening hours when the axis pushes through the Panhandles. Severe weather does not look likely, but a few strong storms may be possible. Rain chances are best after 7pm behind the trough axis. By Friday high pressure aloft begins to shift eastward. Chance for rainfall continues into Friday night but these chances will be small around 20 percent at this time. High pressure continues to shift east/northeast towards central parts of the east coast. This will put us under southwesterly flow aloft which should help usher in dry warm air. This will help keep our highs in the mid to upper 90s through the end of the week and into next week. Precipitation chances will likely be less favored during this time too unless we can tap into some moisture, but chances are we will be more likely in a dry situation. Have precipitation chances Monday night and Tuesday night but confidence is low for these chances. Guerrero && .AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories... TX...None. OK...None. && 36/98/23
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Amarillo TX 409 PM CDT Wed Aug 22 2018 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-230915- 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- 409 PM CDT Wed Aug 22 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Strong to severe storms expected tonight across mainly northern portions of the outlook area. Wind and hail will be the primary threats with these storms. Heavy rainfall may cause localized flooding issues as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thunderstorm chances continue Thursday night and then again Friday night for portions of the combined Panhandles. Thunderstorm chances return Monday night and Tuesday night. Some storms may be strong to severe with hail and wind as the main threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. Guerrero
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
835 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
TXZ003-004-230200-
Ochiltree TX-Hansford TX-
835 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL HANSFORD AND
NORTHERN OCHILTREE COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT...
At 835 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Farnsworth, or 12 miles west of Perryton, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Perryton, Waka and Farnsworth.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.
&&
LAT...LON 3634 10066 3617 10101 3634 10118 3650 10103
3650 10085
TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 230DEG 15KT 3634 10103
RuttSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 852 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018 TXZ004-009-230215- Ochiltree TX-Roberts TX- 852 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL ROBERTS AND SOUTHWESTERN OCHILTREE COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM CDT... At 852 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 15 miles southeast of Waka, or 17 miles southeast of Spearman, moving northeast at 15 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of north central Roberts and southwestern Ochiltree Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches. && LAT...LON 3600 10090 3609 10102 3626 10089 3606 10066 TIME...MOT...LOC 0152Z 232DEG 13KT 3608 10092 Rutt
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 905 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018 TXZ004-230230- Ochiltree TX- 905 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN OCHILTREE COUNTY UNTIL 930 PM CDT... At 905 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 4 miles southwest of Perryton, moving east at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Perryton and Wolf Creek Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches. && LAT...LON 3625 10096 3643 10096 3650 10055 3612 10055 TIME...MOT...LOC 0205Z 270DEG 18KT 3633 10083 Rutt
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
917 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM FLOOD FARNSWORTH 36.32N 100.97W
08/22/2018 OCHILTREE TX TRAINED SPOTTER
WATER IS FLOWING HEAVILY OVER PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WITH
APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET COVERED.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1800459
BIEDASpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
939 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
TXZ004-009-230315-
Ochiltree TX-Roberts TX-
939 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN ROBERTS AND
SOUTHWESTERN OCHILTREE COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM CDT...
At 939 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southeast of Spearman, moving northeast at 15 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern
Roberts and southwestern Ochiltree Counties.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.
&&
LAT...LON 3607 10079 3598 10099 3604 10109 3609 10109
3621 10104
TIME...MOT...LOC 0239Z 218DEG 14KT 3605 10103
RuttPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
951 PM CDT WED AUG 22 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0934 PM FLOOD PERRYTON 36.39N 100.80W
08/22/2018 OCHILTREE TX BROADCAST MEDIA
ABC AFFILIATE SENT PHOTOS OF LOCALIZED FLOODING AROUND
WRIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA1800460
BIEDAThe Amarillo radar (KAMA), 154 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:43 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Cars flooded out due to running water over roadways in N Perryton. Three-quarters of a mile of us highway 83 covered with flowing water, and water making contact with Wright elementary school.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 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: 780342.