An upper level disturbance high instability and moderate wind shear led to severe storm development across the Texas Panhandle. The strongest storm produced a swath of thunderstorm wind damage around 2 miles wide and 4 miles long occurred along the Fritch Highway near Webb Rd.
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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 upper level disturbance high instability and moderate wind shear led to severe storm development across the Texas Panhandle. The strongest storm produced a swath of thunderstorm wind damage around 2 miles wide and 4 miles long occurred along the Fritch Highway near Webb Rd. Damage within the area included numerous broken or leaning power poles, downed power lines and damage to roofs, porches, and awnings at local residences, especially those facing west. In addition, many large tree limbs in the area were snapped and some out outbuildings and old barns in the area were destroyed. One single wide trailer was pushed off its blocks. Damage was consistent with straight line winds. All while this was going some places in north Amarillo saw large hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter and even some areas of accumulating hail up to 5 inches.
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 29, 5:31 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Amarillo TX 631 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020 .AVIATION... Thunderstorms will likely affect all TAF sites this evening. The may threat will be strong winds. After the storms go by, then low clouds in the MVFR range are expected at GUY and AMA late tonight into the post dawn hours. These CIGS will gradually dissipate toward the late morning. Winds are expected to be around 10 knots or less outside of the thunderstorms. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 222 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020/ SHORT TERM...Rest of Today and Tonight... Westerly flow aloft continues as we remain between two shortwaves. Next shortwave to arrive late this afternoon, and will provide forcing to allow for more scattered to possibly widespread thunderstorms. Storms will have the potential to be severe, as ~1000-1500 J/kg of ML CAPE will be available and Effective shear in the 35-40kt range would support possible supercells to develop and later merge into an MCS this evening. Right now satellite and radar are noting some enhancements in the northwest with the lingering low clouds from this morning. However, clearing in eastern NM and southwest TX could result in some earlier developments, as temperatures are climbing into the low 80s with dewpoints in the low 60s. It's possible if there's enough forcing that we might see some storms out ahead of the expected severe weather later this evening. CAPE values right now look pretty weak, and don't expect much to amount at this time. Still think that things will struggle before this evening as we still have a weak to moderate 700mb cap. Later this afternoon, as we gain more heating and the shortwave approaches we will be looking at some increased helicity values as well, so much that we can't rule out isolated weak tornados in the west with some of the storms. It's not clear cut that we will even see anything but LCL's look to be at or below 1000m, Effective Helicity in the 100 m2/s2 range, with isolated areas pushing 200 m2/s2, and the favorable shear for organized storms. We'll be looking close to see if any of the updrafts can latch onto a surface boundary and those will be the areas to focus for the tornado threat. Max hail threat today will range from 1"-1.5", and wind gusts will probably be in the 55-65 mph range. CAPE values mentioned earlier, while reasonable, are not overly impressive. However, the effective shear in place would support increased hail growth, so willing to consider hail up to ping pong, but would expect most hail to be closer to an inch. DCAPE values are not too impressive, a little over 1000 J/kg. Given the higher dewpoints, we're not in a typical summer inverted V sounding day. That being said, abundant moisture available in the mid levels with dry air entrainment aloft could support strong rain cooled downdrafts with severe wind gust potential. Finally, the decent moisture noted before due to low level easterly flow and the mid level moisture transport from the eastern Pacific supports PWAT values in the 1.50-2.00" range, thus moderate to heavy rain can be expected today with these storms. So much that some areas may pick up over an inch with any given storm. However, will note the storm motion today looks to be around 30 MPH. Therefore unless storms are training, or just dropping intense rain, the flash flood threat should be limited, but not impossible. Weber LONG TERM... Currently an upper level low pressure system sits over northern British Columbia and Alberta Provinces in the Canada. An associated trough sits over Washington and Oregon. This system will move east over the next few days with a secondary shortwave trough following that will push further south ending up over the FA by Wednesday. There will only be a slight chance pops for portions on the FA Sunday night and Monday. Going into Monday night and Tuesday, higher pops will be over a greater portion of the FA out ahead of the upper level shortwave trough. Along with the upper level troughing there will be a series of surface front passages continuing over the extended period. Wednesday night onward is looking mostly dry for the combined Panhandles. Lots of low level moisture will be sticking around Sunday going into Sunday night. Depending on which model looked at, there could be some isolated to scattered showers/thunderstorms late Sunday into the overnight hours. Plenty of moisture is being shown at H7 with a decent amount of instability. The question here will be if there will be enough of a disturbance to move across to help aid in some elevated thunderstorms. The primary area of concern will be the eastern half of the FA where MLCAPE values are around 2K to 3k J/kg and bulk shear around 35 knots. With the disagreement on upper level support have just kept with the 20 or less PoPs given by the NBM. Early Monday there will be another cold front passage between 12Z and 15Z. Daytime highs on Monday will be near normal, to a degree or two below normal. Behind the front, there will be a northerly wind 20 mph with gust up to 30 mph. Monday afternoon and evening there is a slight chance to chance PoPs in the southeastern third to one half of the FA. A severe thunderstorm or two cannot be ruled out for this period. Going into Tuesday morning ahead of the approaching upper level shortwave trough things start to get more interesting. PoPs began to increase to 30 to 50 percent for most of the FA during the whole Tuesday period as an H5 low develops with this upper level trough. Also another cold front will move through the area Tuesday afternoon with northerly winds around 20 mph gust 30 mph behind the front. Temperatures will be similar to Monday with highs near normal. This front may also play a roll in intensifying thunderstorms out ahead of it. The NAM shows uncapped surface based CAPE nearing 4000 J/Kg in the southeast Texas Panhandle ahead of the front. Still too early to tell but this will need to be reassessed for a possible severe threat Tuesday afternoon depending on the trend of the NAM and what the other models do. The GFS, at the moment, keeps the higher uncapped SBCAPE further south to southeast of the FA. The timing of the front will play a role in the severe weather threat. The rest of the extended period look mostly dry starting Wed morning through the rest of the week. Temperatures will be near normal with the next surface front moving through on Thursday. Hoffeditz AVIATION...18Z TAFS... VFR/MVFR conditions will prevail at all TAF sites over the next 24 hours. Main concern will be lingering low clouds at KGUY and storms this evening for all TAF sites. PROB30 in effect after 03z for KGUY and KAMA, TEMPOS may be needed slightly earlier, but not going to go with TEMPOS outside the current 6 hours. DHT is right on the fringe and may see storms around 00z, for now will hold off on TEMPOS until needed, or will add in the 00z TAFs. Right now would only anticipate amendments to KDHT in the next 6 hours, if storms start to approach before 00z. Cigs look to drop around 2500-3500 ft with storms, and heavy rain could drop vis down to 4SM. Winds will be variable and less than 10kts, unless thunderstorms are involved. Weber && .AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories... TX...None. OK...None. && 77/15
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Amarillo TX 409 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-300915- 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 Sat Aug 29 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms will be possible across the Panhandles tonight. Thunderstorms may become strong to severe with hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rain as the primary threats. Additionally, a tornado cannot be ruled out across the northwestern Texas Panhandle. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 PM CDT across the western Panhandles. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms will be possible Sunday through Wednesday afternoon across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. Thunderstorms on each day could be strong to severe with hail and damaging wind gusts possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this evening.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
608 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
OKZ001-TXZ001-006-300015-
Cimarron OK-Hartley TX-Dallam TX-
608 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CIMARRON...DALLAM AND
NORTHWESTERN HARTLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...
At 608 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles northwest of Felt to 4 miles northwest
of Texline to 3 miles east of Bueyeros. Movement was east at 25 mph.
Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Texline, Ware and Felt.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
the Panhandle of Oklahoma...and the Panhandle of Texas.
LAT...LON 3650 10304 3650 10300 3663 10300 3671 10292
3671 10209 3619 10241 3569 10304
TIME...MOT...LOC 2308Z 289DEG 24KT 3661 10288 3642 10308 3597 10363
FergusonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
647 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
TXZ011-300015-
Oldham TX-
647 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN OLDHAM COUNTY UNTIL 715
PM CDT...
At 646 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking two strong thunderstorms,
the first 14 miles northeast of Adrian and the second 5 miles
northwest of Vega. Movement was northeast at 20 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Boys Ranch.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
the Panhandle of Texas.
LAT...LON 3563 10231 3563 10216 3525 10217 3525 10249
3550 10260
TIME...MOT...LOC 2346Z 242DEG 18KT 3544 10251 3531 10247
FergusonSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
712 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
TXZ006-007-011-012-300045-
Hartley TX-Potter TX-Moore TX-Oldham TX-
712 PM CDT Sat Aug 29 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN OLDHAM...POTTER...MOORE
AND SOUTHEASTERN HARTLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...
At 712 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles southeast of Masterson, or 21 miles south of Dumas, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Dumas, Channing, Four Way, Valley De Oro, Boys Ranch, Masterson and
Lake Meredith.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
the Panhandle of Texas.
LAT...LON 3606 10165 3605 10163 3536 10163 3526 10236
3571 10246
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 241DEG 22KT 3555 10190
FergusonThe Amarillo radar (KAMA), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:46 UTC.
16 thunderstorm wind, 11 hail, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail first reported from FM 1061 northwest of Amarillo propper. This storm dropped 1.5 inch diameter hail then moved southeast and dropped hail up to 1 inch in diameter closer to the city.
Collapsed workshop building pictured near loop 335 and Willow Creek Rd.
Hail between 1 inch and 1.75 inches was being reported between these two spots in town around the same time.
Roof blown off home and golf ball size hail.
Travel trailer damaged...fences blown over...power lines blown down and metal sheds destroyed due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
Accumulating hail several inches deep reported.
Wind shield was damaged, sideways blown hail. Trained spotter estimated 70 mph wind gust.
Late picture received of hail covering the ground up to 5 inches deep. Time estimated from radar and nearby reports.
Numerous 3 to 5 inch diameter trees limbs down.
Wind blew ping pong ball size hail and took out north facing windows...with winds destroying a 16 foot trampoline. Time estimated from radar.
Accumulating hail, and large tree blown into home in north Amarillo.
Train was blown over with possible 80 to 90 mph wind gust. Also, there was a tree snapped in half and laying across roadway.
Downed power lines and fence blown over at loop 335 and Amarillo BLVD in northeast Amarillo.
Report of siding from house torn of building and vent on roof damaged due to blowing debris. Time estimated from radar.
Multiple trees blown over in northeast Amarillo.
Broken tree limbs of at least 4 inches in diameter on the ground and hanging from a tree, in-between persons driveway and neighbor’s driveway. Several other branches and uprooted trees exist across the neighborhood. Entire neighborhood lost power between 830 pm and 1 am.
Street flooding in west Amarillo on Coulter St near Teddy Jacks restaurant.
Report of lots of street flooding on Interstate 40 and also on Interstate 27 especially near the exit of I-40 and I-27.
Wind farm with 10 meter wind sensor reported 61 mph wind gust.
Large portions of a roof blown off home several trees were downed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 2020
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: 917727, 917774, 917781, 917728, 917775, 917784, 917787, 917732, 917733, 917776, 917777, 917778, 917788, 917791, 917792, 917793, 917794, 917795, 917796, 917799, 917779, 917797, 917780, 917725, 917726, 917800, 917798, 917801, 917802.