Amarillo, Texas – Residents across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles should be prepared for thunderstorms to rapidly develop this afternoon, with the strongest storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph through the overnight hours. Travelers during the evening commute and overnight should be alert for rapidly changing weather conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, scattered thunderstorms are expected to become more numerous as the afternoon progresses, with the greatest potential for severe weather occurring between 3 p.m. Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday. While the overall severe risk remains Level 1 of 5 (Marginal Risk), a few storms could become strong to severe across portions of the Panhandles.
Damaging straight-line winds are expected to be the primary hazard, although storms may also produce quarter-size hail. The tornado threat remains very low, but forecasters caution that isolated storms could intensify quickly as they move across the region.
Communities including Amarillo, Dumas, Dalhart, Borger, Pampa, Perryton, Canadian, Guymon, Hereford, Clarendon, Wheeler and surrounding areas should monitor weather conditions through tonight. Strong wind gusts may bring down tree limbs, cause isolated power outages and create hazardous travel for high-profile vehicles on open roadways, including Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 287.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items before storms arrive and ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, especially overnight when severe weather can be more difficult to detect.
Additional watches or warnings may be issued as thunderstorms develop later today and continue into the early hours of Friday.
