Amarillo, Texas – Residents across the Texas Panhandle should brace for damaging storms Thursday night, as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. Friday, potentially bringing 80 mph wind gusts and hail as large as two inches.
According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, the watch covers more than a dozen counties including Potter, Randall, Deaf Smith, and Hutchinson, along with cities such as Amarillo, Dalhart, Hereford, Borger, Canadian, and Tucumcari. The storms may produce frequent lightning, scattered hail, and localized power outages.
High-impact wind gusts and large hailstones could damage roofs, vehicles, and crops. Drivers on I-27 and I-40 should be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions, especially near Hereford and Amarillo. Residents are urged to secure outdoor items, stay indoors during lightning, and have weather alerts enabled on their phones.
More than 400,000 people, 231 schools, and 24 hospitals are within the watch area. This system follows a quieter April but mirrors severe outbreaks seen in 2023 across the same corridor.
Thunderstorm warnings may follow as cells strengthen. The NWS recommends staying weather-aware overnight, as conditions could evolve quickly.
