National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Areas of Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall Today

Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts and some hail are expected this afternoon and evening from the Upper Ohio River Valley into the Northeast, and from the Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic States. Excessive rainfall from heavy thunderstorms may produce areas of flash flooding from southern New Mexico into the western and northern Gulf Coast into Wednesday. Read More >

Microburst Impacts Amarillo on April 16
 
A preliminary National Weather Service survey determined that a very localized microburst, packing winds between 65 and 70 mph, was responsible for some damage across southeast sections of Amarillo during the late afternoon hours of Monday, April 16.  A microburst is a downdraft (sinking air) in a shower or thunderstorm that is less than 2.5 miles in scale.  Some microbursts can pose a threat to life and property, but all microbursts pose a significant threat to aviation.  Although microbursts are not as widely recognized as tornadoes, they can cause comparable, and in some cases, worse damage than some tornadoes produce.  In fact, wind speeds as high as 150 mph are possible in extreme microburst cases.  We would like to thank the Amarillo/Potter/Randall Office of Emergency Management for sending two of the damage images below.
 
RADAR IMAGES
Base reflectivity image at 5:15 p.m. Base velocity image at 5:15 p.m.
Base reflectivity image at 5:15 p.m. Base velocity image at 5:15 p.m.
 
DAMAGE IMAGES