Amarillo, Texas – Severe storms could rattle the Texas Panhandle late Thursday as the region braces for large hail, damaging winds, and a low-end tornado threat through early Friday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, storms will begin intensifying after 5 p.m. and continue into the overnight hours, with hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter and wind gusts reaching 60 mph possible across the area. While the tornado risk remains low, rotating storms can’t be ruled out—especially near Amarillo, Borger, and Dumas.
Cities including Stratford, Pampa, Wheeler, and Clarendon fall within a 15–29% zone for severe hail and wind within 25 miles. Residents are urged to secure outdoor items and ensure mobile alerts are active. Power outages, roof damage, and dangerous travel conditions may occur, particularly on I-40 and surrounding county roads.
Preparedness is key: Have more than one way to receive warnings and know where to shelter if a warning is issued. This is the first widespread severe weather day in June for the region, following earlier storms in the southwest Panhandle this morning.
Storm chances decrease after 1 a.m., but additional alerts may follow if the system lingers.
