Amarillo faces severe weather throughout week

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·4 min read

The Panhandle region has a chance to add to its above-average precipitation so far this year with a chance for severe weather - including potential flooding - throughout the week.

According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, the area received an additional 0.30 inch of rainfall Sunday leading into Monday morning. With this additional rain included, the month to date total as of Monday afternoon is 3.75 inches not including any Monday evening rainfall. According to these numbers, Amarillo is 2.26 inches above average in annual precipitation for the month.

For the week according to Luigi Meccariello, lead meteorologist for the NWS Amarillo, there is high possibility for severe weather each day this week during the evening hours with the chance of light rainfall throughout the day. Included in these severe weather systems can be over 1-inch sized hail and 50 mph winds.

"Every day beginning Monday afternoon through this coming weekend, especially into the area east of Amarillo, will have a higher level of precipitation at especially through the work week. Every afternoon and throughout the evening hours we do have a strong chance of seeing severe thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging winds being the main threat," Meccariello said.

Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible Tuesday. However, there is uncertainty in this forecast due to the lasting impacts of Monday thunderstorms.
Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible Tuesday. However, there is uncertainty in this forecast due to the lasting impacts of Monday thunderstorms.
NWS Amarillo confirms the first tornado of May to be a EF-1 that touched down on May 18 near Panhandle around 10 p.m.
NWS Amarillo confirms the first tornado of May to be a EF-1 that touched down on May 18 near Panhandle around 10 p.m.

With these severe thunderstorm warnings also comes the chance for a tornado. According to a Facebook post the NWS determined, after completing a survey, that an EF-1 tornado did occur just SW of Panhandle on May 18 during the evening hours.

Meccariello said that this tornado is the first for the spring season and the month of May but not the first for the year with two other systems recorded in Feb.

The meteorologist did say with the rise in severe weather this week individuals should take more caution during the evening hours when the rainfall is forecasted to be at its heaviest downfall and always be aware of flooding.

"Since we have had so much appreciable rainfall in the area the ground is saturated. In the areas that have received rainfall in the last week, any additional rain may cause run off, so flooding will have to be monitored very carefully especially for areas that have experienced a lot of rain in the last seven days," Meccariello added.

According to the NWS weather service the predicted forecast for each day this week is:

For Tuesday Amarillo has a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81 degrees. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Beginning Tuesday night, Amarillo faces a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the evening.

Wednesday Amarillo has a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75 degrees. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph; Wednesday night, a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees. Southeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

NWS Amarillo predicts severe thunderstorms every evening throughout the week with including damaging wind and hail.
NWS Amarillo predicts severe thunderstorms every evening throughout the week with including damaging wind and hail.

Thursday Amarillo has a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77 degrees. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Thursday night Amarillo has a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday forecast is a slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78 degrees. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. Friday night Amarillo has a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59 degrees.

Saturday has a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80 degrees, and 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61 degrees Saturday night.

Sunday has a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88 degrees, with no predicted chance for rainfall Sunday night.

For more information or to stay up to date on any weather information follow the NWS on Facebook or visit them online at https://www.weather.gov/ama/

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: NWS Amarillo warns of severe weather throughout week