WW 242 SEVERE TSTM OK TX 232205Z - 240400Z
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 242
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
505 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
The western and central Oklahoma Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle and South Plains
* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 505 PM until
1100 PM CDT.
* Primary threats include...
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY...Storms forming in New Mexico will spread
east-southeastward into the Texas Panhandle through late evening
with potential to grow into one or more clusters with severe outflow
gusts (60-70 mph) and isolated large hail (1-1.5 inches in
diameter).
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 70
statute miles east and west of a line from 20 miles northwest of
Guymon OK to 10 miles south southeast of Lubbock TX. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
REMEMBER...A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 241...
AVIATION...A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 450. Mean storm motion vector
29020.
...Thompson
WW 0242 Status Updates
STATUS REPORT ON WW 242
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 35 ENE TCC
TO 35 S DHT TO 30 WNW BGD TO 35 SSW GUY TO 15 W GUY TO 5 ENE EHA.
..MEAD..05/24/26
ATTN...WFO...AMA...LUB...
STATUS REPORT FOR WS 242
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
OKC139-240240-
OK
. OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
TEXAS
TXC011-017-045-065-069-079-107-117-125-129-153-179-189-191-195-
219-233-279-303-345-357-359-369-375-381-393-437-240240-
TX
. TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ARMSTRONG BAILEY BRISCOE
CARSON CASTRO COCHRAN
CROSBY DEAF SMITH DICKENS
DONLEY FLOYD GRAY
HALE HALL HANSFORD
HOCKLEY HUTCHINSON LAMB
LUBBOCK MOTLEY OCHILTREE
OLDHAM PARMER POTTER
RANDALL ROBERTS SWISHER
No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Sun May 24 01:18:06 UTC 2026.SPC 0100Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0748 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026
Valid 240100Z - 241200Z
...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING INTO
TONIGHT ACROSS PARTS OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE INTO WESTERN NORTH
TEXAS...
...SUMMARY...
One or two evolving clusters of thunderstorms will probably be
accompanied by strong to locally severe wind gusts while spreading
from the Texas Panhandle vicinity through western North Texas this
evening into the overnight hours.
...01z Update...
...Southern Great Plains...
Considerable thunderstorm development is generally slowly spreading
eastward after initiating along the dryline, roughly from near
Clovis, NM into the Midland vicinity. However, at least somewhat
more prominent convective development continues to evolve farther to
the north, after initiating off the higher terrain to the east of
Raton and portions of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This is
appearing to be aided by stronger, albeit still modest,
northwesterly shear near the southern fringe of the westerlies,
within otherwise quite weak westerly ambient deep-layer mean flow
around or less than 10 kt, which prevails across much of the
southern Great Plains.
CAPE is somewhat modest as well, generally on the order of 1000-1500
J/kg across the high plains, but the boundary-layer has become
deeply mixed, with surface temperature-dew point spreads around or
in excess of 30F. In the presence of the more favorable shear, the
northern cluster has already generated a notable southeastward
surging cold pool accompanied by strong to locally severe wind
gusts. It appears that this will continue southeastward across much
of the southern Texas Panhandle during the next few hours. More
uncertainty exists later as it begins to interact with the
convection spreading off the dryline, but at least some convection
allowing guidance suggests that an outflow boundary intersection
could become a focus for continuing thunderstorm development with
strong to severe gusts into portions of western North Texas late
this evening or overnight.
...Southeastern Louisiana coast...
Low severe wind probabilities are being maintained tonight, as an
outflow boundary remains a focus for thunderstorm development mostly
offshore into the vicinity of southeastern coastal areas. Aided by
inflow of high moisture content air supportive of moderately large
CAPE, ongoing activity could still organize and intensify in the
presence of modest shear and southwesterly ambient deep-layer mean
flow up to around 20 kt.
..Kerr.. 05/24/2026
SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0503 PM CDT Sat May 23 2026
Valid 251200Z - 311200Z
...Synopsis...
An upper-level trough will dig into the western U.S. through much of
next week while a blocking ridge anchors over central CONUS. This
trough and associated increasing southwest flow will bring a fire
weather threat to portions of the Great Basin and Southwest through
at least Day 6/Thursday. A lower amplitude mid-level trough and
associated sub-tropical moisture entering the Southwest should
bring a dry thunderstorm threat to much of northeastern AZ and
western NM on Day 3/Monday, where fuels are more receptive to
ignitions.
...Day 3/Monday...
...Great Basin...
A deepening upper trough and robust mid-level jet enters the Pacific
Northwest Day 3/Monday, resulting in pronounced lee trough evolution
east of the Cascades. Stronger southwest winds of 15-25 mph are
expected across the northwestern Great Basin amid above normal
temperatures and low relative humidity. Recent fire activity
suggests fuels are becoming more receptive to wildfire spread. A 70%
critical probability area was introduced where corridor of enhanced
southwest winds and drier fuels are most likely to align.
...Southwest...
A mid-level shortwave with an accompanying subtropical moisture
plume will support high-based showers and thunderstorms for much of
northeastern AZ and western NM. Recent forecast guidance has trended
upward in precipitation amounts but fuels remain quite dry, with ERC
values hovering around the 90th percentile through this weekend.
Maintained 10% dry thunderstorm probability given receptive fuels
and ongoing fires on the landscape.
...Days 4-6/Tuesday-Thursday - Great Basin and Southwest...
As the upper trough becomes established across the western U.S.,
deep-layer southwesterly flow will sustain a fire weather threat for
portions of the Great Basin, Southwest and Four Corners regions
through midweek. However, the current 40% critical probability areas
may need to be adjusted in subsequent forecast updates if a more
expansive rainfall event unfolds Days 3-4/Monday-Tuesday.
..Williams.. 05/23/2026
...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...
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