Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL8
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 278
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
230 PM CDT Sat May 17 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Northwest and North-Central Texas
* Effective this Saturday afternoon and evening from 230 PM until
1000 PM CDT.
* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 4
inches in diameter likely
Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
to 80 mph possible
A tornado or two possible
SUMMARY…Thunderstorms will rapidly intensify this afternoon.
Supercells capable of very large hail and damaging winds will be a
concern through the early evening. A tornado or two is also
possible.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 85
statute miles east and west of a line from 60 miles north of Fort
Worth TX to 5 miles south of Waco TX. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU8).
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 277…
AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 70 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean storm motion vector
27030.
…Hart
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW8
WW 278 SEVERE TSTM TX 171930Z – 180300Z
AXIS..85 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
60N FTW/FORT WORTH TX/ – 5S ACT/WACO TX/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 75NM E/W /33SSW ADM – 7SSE ACT/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..4 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 600. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27030.
LAT…LON 33689589 31549579 31549867 33689885
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU8.
Watch 278 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Low (20%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Low (5%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Mod (40%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
High (70%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
High (70%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (>95%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.