Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of May 24th, as an upper level disturbance rotated north across East-Central Texas, ahead of a large upper level trough of low pressure slowly drifting east over much of the Rockies. Moderate instability developed during the afternoon is response to diurnal heating and a very moist air mass in place, such that some of these storms…
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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 SHV wrote it up.
Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of May 24th, as an upper level disturbance rotated north across East-Central Texas, ahead of a large upper level trough of low pressure slowly drifting east over much of the Rockies. Moderate instability developed during the afternoon is response to diurnal heating and a very moist air mass in place, such that some of these storms became severe, producing hail and multiple reports of damaging winds which downed trees and power lines across East Texas, Northwest Louisiana, and Southeast Oklahoma. These storms eventually weakened by early evening as the air mass stabilized in response to the more widespread rain cooled air.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 24, 11:55 AM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 1255 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 .AVIATION... For the 24/18Z TAF period, a mix of MVFR/low VFR cigs observed to begin this period as low-level SE flow continues to supply abundant Gulf moisture across our area terminals. With additional heating this afternoon, expect convection to become very active aided by an upper level disturbance shifting east from central Texas along with an enhanced sea breeze from the coast. Therefore, cigs/vsbys will be impacted with intermittent MVFR conditions continuing with TEMPO thunder and periods of brief heavy rainfall. Then, look for a gradual decrease in convection with the loss of heating by early to mid evening before another strong upper level impulse advances eastward across Texas overnight and into our western terminals by early to mid morning on Monday. Therfore, have reintroduced SHRA and VCTS at our East Texas sites just prior to daybreak. Cigs will likely drop back into the MVFR range as well during this timeframe with S/SE winds prevailing between 5-10 kts with higher gusts invof convection. /19/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1115 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020/ UPDATE... We are still on pace for an active day of convection, and radar trends bear that out with shwrs and tstms beginning to quickly develop and spread north from the middle/upper Texas coast and farther east along the adjacent coastal sections of Louisiana. This is occurring near and just ahead of a mid/upper level circulation over Central Texas. Meanwhile, increasing low-level S/SE flow will help to further enhance this convection with the sea breeze influence. As a result, expect increasing coverage and intensity of convection moving from SW to NE as we go through the afternoon and early evening hours. Some of these storms may put down some gusty winds in addition to brief heavy rainfall and frequent lightning, but the threat of any severe storms should remain to our west. The current forecast has a good handle on all elements, and no changes are planned at this time. /19/ PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 400 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020/ SHORT TERM.../Today through Monday/ Continue watching a decaying cold pool associated with a remnant MCS moving our way from the Middle/Upper Red River Valley early this morning. While this convection does not have the intensity associated with it it once did, still holding together really well as it moves east near 30kts. This convection already much further east than any progs suggest so took into account where this activity would be prior to 12z and then after 12z with a pre-first period warranted in our forecast this morning. Looking aloft, longwave trough centered across the Intermountain west will move eastward into the Plains later today but downstream of this trough is a perturbation across Central Texas that will lift out northeast into our region today. This perturbation will provide the necessary forcing along with ample moisture transport northward from the Gulf to produce scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across at least the western two thirds of our region today. In fact, already seeing isolated activity well inland across SE TX this morning attm and coverage will only increase with daytime heating assisting in increasing storm coverage as well. Overnight, longwave trough becomes well established across the Plains with additional perturbations moving our way from the southwest. Once we lose the evening convection across our eastern half which will be more tied to left over daytime heating, will watch for increasing coverage late tonight moving into our region from the southwest with that coverage becoming widespread from west to east during Memorial Day. Still think it's too early to consider a Flash Flood Watch across any portion of our region through at least tonight but as soils continue to saturate from periods of heavy rainfall, will likely be in need of a Watch for at least portions of Northeast Texas as we move into the middle portions of the upcoming shortened work week but more on this in the discussion below. The good news is the widespread nature of the activity to go along with abundant cloud cover should keep heating at bay which will help to undercut instability, thus, keeping any possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms unlikely. 13 LONG TERM.../Monday Night through Saturday Night/ Wet conditions remain likely during the upcoming week. By Monday night, an upper ridge will be in place across the eastern 1/3 of the CONUS, generally east of the Appalachian Mountains. The aforementioned longwave trough west of the region will continue to dig through the Southern Plains dragging a cold front with it. Showers and thunderstorms will be a good possibility as a disturbance will move into the region ahead of the trough. Models continue to indicate that the trough and cold front will slow its progression on Tuesday and stall across the Southern Plains near the I-35 corridor with the trough closing off from the westerlies over Northwest Texas by Tuesday evening. With the ridge expected to stay in place along the East Coast of the CONUS, a blocking pattern will set up over the Southern Plains. Models differ slightly on the placement of the closed low, but general consensus is that it will meander somewhere across the northern half of Texas through the remainder of the week into next weekend. With our region on the east side of the low, lots of low level moisture will continue to stream into the region. With the aid of daytime heating, along with a few disturbances moving across the region, rain chances will remain in the forecast through the entire period. With the lack of wind shear across the region, not expecting widespread severe weather, although some localized strong to severe storms will be possible given the amount of instability and low level moisture expected to be in place. However, flooding may become a concern with the prolong period of rainfall across the region. With rain and cloud cover over the region during the extended period, milder afternoon and overnight temperatures can be expected. In fact, high temperatures will probably occur around the lunch or early afternoon hours, generally before the rain moves in, as convection will be at its greatest coverage during the late afternoon/early evening hours. /20/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 68 83 68 81 / 50 70 60 70 MLU 69 85 68 84 / 30 70 40 70 DEQ 65 81 65 79 / 60 80 70 70 TXK 67 81 66 79 / 60 80 70 70 ELD 67 85 66 82 / 40 70 60 70 TYR 68 79 66 79 / 70 80 70 70 GGG 67 82 66 80 / 60 80 70 70 LFK 69 82 68 82 / 60 80 50 70 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. && 19/13/20
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 1132 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-251645- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto- Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn- Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp- Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk- Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 1132 AM CDT Sun May 24 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Showers and thunderstorms will increase in coverage today during the late morning through the afternoon hours as low level moisture will increase ahead of an upper upper level disturbance that will move across East Texas. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm will also be possible in the afternoon, as the marginal risk has been expanded into our area. Damaging winds will be the main threat with this activity. Additionally, heavy rain could lead to localized flooding in some areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... The Four State Region will be transitioning into a fairly wet period through the upcoming work week with a nearly stalled upper level trough west of our region. This will result in periods of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms through much of the extended forecast. Flash Flood watches may become necessary for portions of the Four State Region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters may be needed this afternoon. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. 44
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 234 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 TXZ137-138-150-151-153-242015- Gregg TX-Panola TX-Harrison TX-Rusk TX-Shelby TX- 234 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN HARRISON...PANOLA... EASTERN RUSK...NORTHWESTERN SHELBY AND SOUTHEASTERN GREGG COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT... At 233 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northwest of Tenaha, or 8 miles south of Carthage, moving north at 30 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Marshall, Carthage, Hallsville, Tatum, Tenaha, Beckville, Joaquin, Deberry, Elysian Fields, Easton, Scottsville, Gary City, Front, Darco, Fairplay, Jonesville, Midyett, Deadwood, Dotson and Woods. LAT...LON 3194 9404 3191 9455 3252 9467 3256 9410 TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 172DEG 25KT 3203 9433 44
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
251 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
TXZ125-136>138-149>151-242030-
Upshur TX-Gregg TX-Cherokee TX-Smith TX-Panola TX-Harrison TX-
Rusk TX-
251 PM CDT Sun May 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SMITH...WEST CENTRAL HARRISON...
SOUTHWESTERN PANOLA...RUSK...SOUTHWESTERN UPSHUR...GREGG AND NORTHERN
CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...
At 250 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Maydelle to near Ponta to near Henderson.
Movement was northwest at 30 mph.
Pea size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Henderson, Kilgore, Whitehouse, White
Oak, Gladewater, Rusk, Overton, Bullard, Troup, New London, Arp,
Clarksville City, East Mountain, Pinehill, Mount Selman, Liberty City
and Maydelle.
LAT...LON 3230 9545 3236 9545 3238 9548 3256 9523
3256 9521 3254 9518 3257 9515 3264 9470
3197 9455 3190 9502 3170 9528 3190 9543
3193 9542 3196 9545 3205 9542 3206 9544
3209 9543 3215 9548 3218 9546 3223 9549
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 153DEG 27KT 3179 9524 3195 9504 3208 9484
44The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:56 UTC.
22 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down at the intersection of FM 838 and FM 2089.
A tree was blown down near the intersection of FM 2276 and CR 292 east of Kilgore.
Several trees were blown down between Kilgore and Gladewater.
Nickel size hail fell about 3 miles northwest of Longview.
Numerous trees were blown down throughout Upshur County, including Crabapple and Crepe Myrtle Road just south of Pritchett, Willow Oak Road, Mockingbird Lane, Highway 154, FM 556, and Silver Maple Road. Trees and power lines were downed on Aspen Trail near Pritchett. Two trees fell onto power lines near the Harmony School.
A tree was blown down on County Road 3859 north of Hawkins.
A tree was blown down on County Road 1840 just southeast of Yantis.
A tree was blown down on FM 2869 about one mile south of Highway 154.
A tree was blown down on top of a vehicle in front of the Harmony Junior High School, trapping a person inside.
Golf ball size hail fell near Gilmer.
Trees were blown down on County Road 1218.
Trees and power lines were downed on County Road 4710.
Trees were blown down on Highway 11 near the intersection of FM 1521.
Trees were downed at the 5000 block of Highway 11 West.
A tree was blown onto power lines on County Road 1127.
Trees were blown down on County Road 2119.
A tree was blown down onto FM 144 just north of Highway 49.
A tree was blown down onto County Road 3050.
One inch tree limbs were broken and a few shingles were blown off of a home several miles east of the Winfield community.
Two trees were blown down on FM 2152.
A tree was blown down on FM 1000.
A tree was blown down onto County Road 1670.
Two trees were blown down onto County Road 2120 near County Road 2110.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed across Red River County.
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, May 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: 887269, 887272, 887270, 887271, 887273, 887274, 887275, 887276, 887278, 887277, 887279, 887280, 887281, 887282, 887283, 887284, 887285, 887286, 887287, 887288, 887289, 887290, 887291, 887292.