Clusters of thunderstorms associated with monsoon moisture and an upper level disturbance moved east into the western Texas Panhandle during the evening of July 15 and evolved into a mesoscale convective complex. A few storms produced severe gusts in the northwest and west-central Texas Panhandle during the late evening of July 15 and the early morning hours of July 16.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Clusters of thunderstorms associated with monsoon moisture and an upper level disturbance moved east into the western Texas Panhandle during the evening of July 15 and evolved into a mesoscale convective complex. A few storms produced severe gusts in the northwest and west-central Texas Panhandle during the late evening of July 15 and the early morning hours of July 16.
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 15, 5:20 PM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 620 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 .AVIATION... VFR conditions expected throughout most of the 00Z TAF period. Introduced VCTS conditions for all TAF sites starting around 03/04Z and continuing through around 07Z before thunderstorms dissipate and move east of all sites. Sct to bkn mid and high cigs will continue throughout the remainder of the TAF period. If thunderstorms move directly over TAF sites, erratic winds will be the main threat. Winds overall will be variable around 5-10 kts becoming more southerly at 10-15 kts going past 15Z Thursday to the end of the TAF period. Meccariello && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 343 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020/ SHORT TERM...This afternoon through tomorrow tonight Synopsis: Severe storms are possible across mainly the western tier of Panhandles counties this evening. Storms will likely struggle to remain severe as they try to move east of the I-27/US287 corridor. Mesoscale: Modest instability is promoting storm development in the Enchanted Circle of NM. This convection is expected to increase in coverage and work its way east this evening...eventually congealing into a cluster/MCS. Storms will likely reach peak intensity in far ern NM possibly into the western tier of Panhandles counties before running into an area of substantial MLCIN of 150-250 J/kg (depending on the model). This increased CINH as we move past sunset may coincide with the cold pool beginning to outrun the cluster/line and this would likely spell doom for severe convective chances east of the first tier or maybe 2 of wrn Panhandles counties. Places like Texline, Dalhart, and Boise City probably have the best chances to see severe weather tonight. As for the Dumas/Amarillo/Canyon corridor, the best chance for severe weather may be if storms make it just far enough before collapsing just to the west and blowing a last gasp outflow. Areas further east are unlikely to see severe weather tonight. Threats: Winds up to 70 MPH would be the main concern though some hail cannot be ruled in mainly the NW parts of the area. Timing: Expect the main cluster of storms to move into the NW parts of the combined Panhandles around or after 7 PM and storms will likely become sub-severe by midnight. Isolated to scattered lingering showers/storms may remain after midnight. Tomorrow: After starting off with a few low clouds, skies should become partly cloudy and temps will warm again into the 90s to around 100. Palo Duro Canyon will again be flirting with a Heat Advisory. Simpson LONG TERM...Friday through Tuesday... High pressure stretches across the southern CONUS with zonal flow and embedded trough patterns in the northern CONUS. With high pressure aloft, temperatures are to continue to be hot with highs ranging in the mid and upper 90s to 105. Surface winds will be out of the south southwest most of the period, which help drive the temperatures to near 100. Palo Duro Canyon may need a heat advisories this weekend with temperatures skirting around 105 to 107. Monsoonal moisture from Arizona will get wrapped up in the high pressure system and bring some mid-level moisture to the northwest Panhandles. Low level moisture is limited with dewpoints in the upper 40s to 50s through the weekend and into early next week. There is a chance for storms mainly in the northwest Panhandles through the extended period. Storms are likely to fire off the higher terrain in southeast Colorado and northeast New Mexico where northwest flow aloft is present along with some shortwaves coming off the mountain ranges. However, the chance for storms remains uncertain with limited moisture and instability playing a key role in storm initiation. Rutt && .AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories... TX...None. OK...None. && 29/15
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Amarillo TX 904 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-161415- 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- 904 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms are possible across the Panhandles. A few storms could be severe especially across the Oklahoma Panhandle and the northern and western Texas Panhandle with damaging winds being the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Thursday through Tuesday, isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible mainly in the far northwest combined Panhandles during the evenings. The chance for severe weather is low, but a rogue severe wind gust can't be ruled out, especially on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay an information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
635 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0809 PM TSTM WND DMG MORSE 36.06N 101.47W
07/14/2020 HANSFORD TX SOCIAL MEDIA
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT WITH PICTURES OF DAMAGE TO GRAIN
BINS AND FENCES WITH TWO LARGE TREES DOWNED
&&
EVENT NUMBER AMA2000508
FERGUSONSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Amarillo TX 913 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 OKZ001-160245- Cimarron OK- 913 PM CDT Wed Jul 15 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CIMARRON COUNTY UNTIL 945 PM CDT... At 913 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8 miles southwest of Kenton, or 25 miles north of Clayton, moving east at 10 mph. Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Black Mesa Park, Kenton and Wheeless. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take shelter in a sturdy building if threatening weather approaches. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for the Panhandle of Oklahoma. LAT...LON 3700 10262 3665 10262 3664 10300 3700 10300 TIME...MOT...LOC 0213Z 263DEG 8KT 3680 10306 LFM
The Amarillo radar (KAMA), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:31 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 64 mph gust was measured at the West Texas Mesonet station 11 miles south-southwest of Romero. No damage was reported.
A 58 mph gust was measured at the West Texas Mesonet station 4 miles west-northwest of Stratford. No damage was reported.
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, July 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: 895057, 895058.