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Fresh Snow and Temperature Outlook Ahead of Christmas Day

If you are looking for fresh snow by Christmas morning or are curious about potential travel disruptions, the best chances for at least 1" of new snowfall early this week exist across the mountainous West, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Otherwise, temperatures this last full week of December will average above normal for much of the lower 48 states. Read More >

Amarillo, TX

Weather Forecast Office

April 16, 2011 Microburst Hits Southeast Amarillo

Weather.gov > Amarillo, TX > April 16, 2011 Microburst Hits Southeast Amarillo
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
     
     
     
   
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