Amarillo, TX – Severe thunderstorms could disrupt travel and outdoor plans within hours Thursday afternoon, with damaging winds and large hail expected across the Texas Panhandle.
According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, storms may begin developing as early as 3 p.m., with the most intense activity expected between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday. Wind gusts could reach 65 mph, and hail up to half-dollar size is possible, especially near Amarillo, Borger, and Pampa. The tornado risk remains low, but not zero.
Storms are expected to track east across the region, impacting communities along Interstate 40, including Vega and Claude. While coverage will be scattered, any storm that strengthens could quickly become severe.
A second round arrives Friday, with storms developing after 4 p.m. and peaking between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. This round may bring even larger hail, potentially up to golf ball size, along with wind gusts near 60 mph across the central and northern Panhandle, including Dumas, Dalhart, and Perryton.
Residents should secure loose outdoor items, avoid driving during peak storm windows, and ensure alerts are enabled on mobile devices. Storm chances range from 20% to 80% through Friday night, and additional warnings are likely as conditions evolve.
