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
Tornado Watch Number 288
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
430 PM CDT Sun May 18 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
West-Central into North-Central Texas
* Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 430 PM until
1000 PM CDT.
* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
inches in diameter likely
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Supercells will continue to rapidly develop and pose a
threat for both a few tornadoes and large to very large hail this
afternoon and evening as they move east-northeastward. The largest
hailstones may reach up to 2-3 inches in diameter. A strong tornado
may occur with any persistent supercell this evening as low-level
shear increases.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles
east and west of a line from 15 miles southwest of Brownwood TX to
25 miles north northwest of Wichita Falls TX. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and 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.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 286…WW 287…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
storm motion vector 25030.
…Gleason
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW8
WW 288 TORNADO TX 182130Z – 190300Z
AXIS..60 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
15SW BWD/BROWNWOOD TX/ – 25NNW SPS/WICHITA FALLS TX/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 50NM E/W /62SE ABI – 19NNW SPS/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 25030.
LAT…LON 31640015 34309972 34309762 31649811
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU8.
Watch 288 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Mod (30%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (40%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Low (20%)
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 (90%)
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.