A strong low pressure system developed in Colorado which led to 20 to 30 mph sustained southerly winds occurring across the combined Panhandles during the morning of April 6th. A Pacific cold front moved in from the west later in the morning and brought drier air and stronger surface winds to the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A strong low pressure system developed in Colorado which led to 20 to 30 mph sustained southerly winds occurring across the combined Panhandles during the morning of April 6th. A Pacific cold front moved in from the west later in the morning and brought drier air and stronger surface winds to the region. Sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph and wind gusts largely between 55 to 65 mph occurred. Given the low relative humidity values with the strong winds, high-end critical fire weather conditions were observed.
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 Apr 6, 5:25 AM CST, 3 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
625 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024
...New AVIATION...
.SHORT TERM ...
(Today through Sunday night)
Issued at 313 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024
It's going to be another dry and windy day for the Panhandles,
leading to very critical fire weather across the area. Southwest
flow aloft has been increasing ahead of an upper level closed low,
currently observed over southern Idaho as of 07z this morning.
The anticipated Pacific front is currently racing westward,
crossing the Rockies into the southern Plains. When it arrives,
already breezy gradient winds should quickly escalate as strong
downward momentum promotes mixing of even stronger wind gusts to
the surface, starting as early as 8-10 AM. Sustained winds will
be rather strong out of the west-southwest at 30-40 mph, lasting
through the afternoon hours. The northern Panhandles in particular
should see the tightest pressure gradient and therefore slightly
higher sustained winds. Highest confidence in strongest gusts
around 60 mph exist with the passage of the Pacific front, as cold
air advection in its wake will be less favorable for mixing.
However, heating and strong subsidence should be just sufficient
enough through the day to allow for continued 50-60+ mph gust
potential. A possible limiting factor to today's wind potential
would be if more mid-level capping is present, negating the
ability to tap into the better mid-level jet above 700mb. Even if
this occurs, still expect strong winds gusting up to 50 mph area
wide either way. The upper level low is expected to lift towards
the northern plains this evening, allowing the pressure gradient
to relax along with the strong winds, but breezy conditions will
persist overnight.
Tomorrow will be drastically calmer across the forecast area, with
the exception of the south-southwest TX Panhandle where winds
will stay in the 20-30 mph range, gusting higher at times. Dry
air won't be relenting either, creating continued critical fire
weather conditions. Thankfully, a sfc low will be positioned in
closer proximity by Sunday evening, finally bringing an end to the
winds. High temperatures will climb back into the upper 60s and
70s Sunday, as compared to upper 50s in the west and mid 70s in
the east this afternoon.
Harrel
&&
.LONG TERM ...
(Monday through Friday)
Issued at 313 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024
As the main upper level jet exits our region and advances to the
northeast, another upper level low will wrap around the primary
system and is progged to develop in the southern portions of
the desert southwest CONUS. Mid to long range models generally
agree on this next system keeping a southerly track and impacting
the combined Panhandles, but there are still discrepancies
amounts the models concerning it's strength and timing. Once this
next system leaves our area by Wednesday, the upper level ridge
will redevelop and remain through the rest of the extended.
Rain chances return to the CWA starting in the southwest by
Monday evening. By Tuesday, they become area wide as the upper low
passes over the High Plains. Thus far, models agree that the
central Texas Panhandle should see higher amounts of rain
accumulation compared to other surrounding areas. This is
exemplified by 700 mb Theta-E values being maximized for that
zone, and is reflected in our current QPF. Even so, amounts are
expected to fluctuate in the coming days since the guidance does
not converge on the strength and timing of our incoming system.
Model ensembles also hint at the potential for some elevated
instability Monday and Tuesday. This is especially true for the
southeast Texas Panhandle given the slightly higher MLCAPE values
being output for that sector, but thunderstorms will be possible
across the majority of our CWA by Tuesday. High temperatures will
be in the 50's and lower 60's on Tuesday due to ongoing showers
and cloud coverage.
Wednesday onward, as the upper low departs from our sector so will
precipitation chances. Warmer temperatures and reduced cloud
coverage can be anticipated as the upper ridge settles back in.
Rangel
&&
.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 613 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024
Strong winds and blowing dust are expected today, with low level
wind shear ongoing at all sites for the 12z TAF period. Breezy winds
are already here this morning, out of the south at about 20-25
kts, gusting 30-40 kts. Our 12z sounding has already revealed 50
kt winds directly above the surface, likely contributing to LLWS.
Winds will markedly increase this morning and afternoon when a
Pacific front moves in, helping some of the stronger winds aloft
make it to the ground. Sustained winds will be 30-35 kts out of
the west-southwest with intermittent gusts around 50 kts. Blowing
dust could reduce visibility at times as a result. Winds will
relinquish somewhat this evening, but will still be breezy towards
the end of the period.
Harrel
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 313 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024
Critical fire weather conditions are expected across the Panhandles
on Saturday with winds gusting to near 60 mph and lowest relative
humidity values down around 10 percent. Sustained winds will
be rather strong out of the west-southwest at 30-40 mph, lasting
through the afternoon hours. The northern Panhandles in particular
should see the tightest pressure gradient and therefore slightly
higher sustained winds. Breezy winds overnight coupled with quite
poor RH recovery of 20-30% would unfortunately be sufficient to
sustain any fires that may exist into the overnight hours.
Critical fire weather conditions will again be possible across
the southwest Texas Panhandle on Sunday as the stronger winds
will coincide with the lowest relative humidity values in the
single digits. Minimum RH values will be no higher than 10-11%
area wide, but winds will be much lighter for most of the forecast
area.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Amarillo TX 65 41 74 39 / 0 0 0 0
Beaver OK 71 40 72 34 / 10 0 0 0
Boise City OK 61 33 68 32 / 0 0 0 0
Borger TX 70 44 76 40 / 0 0 0 0
Boys Ranch TX 65 39 75 36 / 0 0 0 0
Canyon TX 65 40 74 39 / 0 0 0 0
Clarendon TX 70 44 75 43 / 0 0 0 0
Dalhart TX 62 33 71 32 / 0 0 0 0
Guymon OK 67 36 70 33 / 0 0 0 0
Hereford TX 65 37 74 37 / 0 0 0 0
Lipscomb TX 72 43 73 38 / 10 0 0 0
Pampa TX 69 42 73 39 / 0 0 0 0
Shamrock TX 74 45 76 42 / 0 0 0 0
Wellington TX 75 44 77 42 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Red Flag Warning from 10 AM this morning to midnight CDT tonight
for TXZ001>020-317.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this
evening for TXZ001>014-016>018.
Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening
for TXZ001-006-011-012-016>018-317.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM CDT this evening
for TXZ015-019-020.
OK...Red Flag Warning from 10 AM this morning to midnight CDT tonight
for OKZ001>003.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this
evening for OKZ001>003.
Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening
for OKZ001.
&&
SHORT TERM...38
LONG TERM....55
AVIATION...38Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Amarillo TX 628 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-317-062330- 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- 628 AM CDT Sat Apr 6 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles from 10 AM through midnight for critical fire weather conditions. A High Wind Warning will also be in effect from 10 AM to 8 PM for a majority of the combined Panhandles, for strong southwest winds sustained at 30 to 40 mph, gusting up to 65 mph. A Wind Advisory will also be in effect for the southeast Texas Panhandle from 10 AM to 9 PM for winds gusting up to 50 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Critical fire weather will be possible for the southwest and western combined Panhandles on Sunday. Thunderstorms will be possible Monday evening through Wednesday. Thunderstorms are not expected to reach severe criteria at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. Area fire managers and emergency officials should be alert for elevated or critical fire weather conditions through Sunday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple wind gusts between 58 and 63 mph were measured by a mesonet near Vega, TX during this time period.
Multiple wind gusts in the 58 to 65 mph range were measured by a couple of different mesonets in the county during this time.
The Amarillo Airport ASOS measured multiple wind gusts of 58 to 62 mph during this time. A mesonet station in Potter County also measured at least one wind gust of 62 mph.
Mesonets across the county measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period. The Borger ASOS measured wind gust up to 67 and 72 mph at 0942CST and 1302CST respectively.
Mesonets across the county measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period.
Mesonets across the county measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period.
The mesonet located near Texline measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period.
Mesonets across the county, and the AWOS at Hereford airport measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period.
Multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph were measured during this time.
Mesonets across the county measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 66 mph during this time period.
The Lipscomb mesonet measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 65 mph during this time period.
The Goodnight mesonet gusted to 58 mph while the Claude 12SW mesonet gusted to 59 mph during this time.
Mesonets across the county measured multiple wind gusts between 58 and 64 mph during this time period.
The Clarendon 2 WSW mesonet gusted to 58mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2024
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: 1175360, 1175363, 1175365, 1175373, 1175371, 1175372, 1175374, 1175375, 1175366, 1175376, 1175377, 1175358, 1175379, 1175380.