May 23rd, 2019 Severe Weather Event

Overview

A vigorous upper level low pressure system developing across the western United States was positioned over southern Nevada by Thursday morning, May 23rd, 2019 while a frontal boundary settled across the Panhandles. Significant wind shear and instability developed as moisture was drawn north into the Panhandles setting the stage for a very long duration, high end severe thunderstorm episode which lasted much of the day and into the evening hours.

In the morning, elevated supercell storms developed in the northwest Texas Panhandles on the cold side of a nearly stationary frontal boundary and moved northeast into the central Oklahoma Panhandle as the first upper level disturbances moved across the area. Hail up to golf ball size and wind damage was reported with these storms despite temperatures in the 50s.

During the afternoon hours, upper level disturbances, daytime heating and the very pronounced frontal boundary stretching from near Amarillo northeast into Beaver County, Oklahoma became the main catalyst for surface based supercells which produced very large hail up to baseball size and tornadoes. Two very large and long tracked tornadoes produced damage across the northeast Panhandles. Both tornadoes were over ½ mile wide at some point. The tornadoes were rated EF-2s based on the damage, but they remained in very rural areas throughout their life-cycle. One tornado destroyed a home as it crossed the county line from Beaver to Ellis County Oklahoma. A total of eight tornadoes occurred during this event, however three of these were landspouts that developed along an outflow produced by storms early in the event. With the loss of daytime heating, supercells congealed into a line which produced gusty winds and hail across the eastern Texas Panhandle before finally moving east and exiting the region in the early morning hours on May 24th.

Below are the tornadoes working from the north towards the south of the forecast area. 

• Tornado
• Photos & Video
• Radar
• Storm Reports

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Southeast Beaver County Lipscomb/Beaver Counties Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) 08:26 PM CDT EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 115 mph Path Length 10.09 miles Max Width 1400 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The tornado began in Lipscomb County, Texas and crossed into Beaver County, Oklahoma, and eventually wound up crossing into Ellis and Harper Counties in NWS Norman's forecast area. The tornado did its greatest damage as it destroyed a home just feet into NWS Norman's forecast area - damage which rated as EF-3.  Track Map (click to enlarge)

Tornado - 15 North Northwest of Canadian Roberts/Lipscomb Counties Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) 07:02 PM CDT EF Rating EF-2 Est. Peak Winds 115 mph Path Length 14.22 miles Max Width 900 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: Impacts consisted mostly of damage to trees, power lines, and oil/natural gas field equipment and sheds. Two manufactured homes being transported via truck were blown off of Highway 83. The tornado was noted to be larger and possibly stronger in inaccessible open country to the southwest of the location where it was measured to be around a 1/2 mile wide and rated an EF-2 by the survey team. Track Map (click to enlarge)

Tornado - 10 WSW Lipscomb Lipscomb County Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) 08:43 PM CDT EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 85 mph Path Length 4.47 miles Max Width 75 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: Survey was estimated using radar and chaser video. This tornado occurred in open country and no damage was reported. Track Map (click to enlarge)

Tornado - 15 N Pampa Roberts County Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) 06:14 PM CDT EF Rating EF-1 Est. Peak Winds 90 mph Path Length 9.11 miles Max Width 50 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: The tornado mostly stayed in open country, but it did damage power lines near Highway 70 north of Pampa. Track Map (click to enlarge)

Tornado - 6 NNE Pampa Roberts County Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) 08:07 PM CDT EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds 65 mph Path Length 0.04 miles Max Width 20 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: Weak tornado observed on live chaser feed. No damage occurred.  Track Map (click to enlarge)

Landspouts (Three) - Amarillo and Canyon area Potter/Randall Counties Date May 23rd, 2019 Time (Local) Between approximately 4pm and 5pm CDT  EF Rating EF-0 Est. Peak Winds Unknown Path Length 1/4 to 3/4 mile Max Width 50 yards Injuries/Deaths 0/0 Summary: Three landspouts reported by chasers and local low enforcement. Landspouts are technically tornadoes. Track Map (click to enlarge)

 

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

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Photos & Video

Some of the more intense Damage

 

Beaver County Damage and Radar Signature

 

Night Vision Tornado - Beaver County (Source: Val Castor)	Home Destroyed as it went into Ellis County (Source: NWS)	Radar reflectivity and storm relative velocity of tornado on the ground before entering Ellis County (Source: NWS/GR2Analyst)

Manufactured home being transported were blown over onto highway 83 by the tornado (Source: NWS)	Oil/Natural Gas facility damage (Source: NWS)	Radar reflectivity and storm relative velocity of tornado on the ground crosing highway 83 (Source: NWS/GR2Analyst)

Caption (source)	Caption (source)	Caption (source)

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Radar

Radar Reflectivity Loop of May 23rd, 2019 Severe Weather Event.

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Storm Reports

Insert storm reports here. Copy in PNS or paste map.

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