Mesoscale Discussion 0394
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0216 PM CDT Mon Apr 04 2022
Areas affected...Portions of north-central/northwest TX and far
southern OK
Concerning...Severe potential...Watch likely
Valid 041916Z - 042145Z
Probability of Watch Issuance...80 percent
SUMMARY...The threat for large to very large hail, damaging winds,
and perhaps a tornado or two will increase this afternoon and
evening. Watch issuance is likely.
DISCUSSION...19Z surface observations show a nearly stationary front
across parts of northwest TX into far south-central OK. The warm
sector along and south/east of this boundary continues to
destabilize this afternoon, with surface temperatures reaching into
the 70s and low 80s, and dewpoints ranging from the mid 50s to low
60s. Steep mid-level lapse rates around 7-8 C/km have overspread
this region, and they are contributing to upwards of 1000 J/kg of
MLCAPE as of 19Z. Additional diurnal heating and gradually cooling
mid-level temperatures as an upper trough ejects over the southern
Plains should allow MLCAPE up to 1500-2000 J/kg to develop across
parts of northwest/north-central TX over the next few hours.
Recent visible satellite imagery shows gradually deepening
thunderstorms along and just behind the front in northwest TX, along
with mid-level convection farther east over the open warm sector. As
substantial convective inhibition continues to erode (see 18Z FWD
sounding), and modest large-scale ascent overspreads the warm sector
this afternoon, additional thunderstorms are expected to form along
the front. Deep-layer shear of 35-50 kt will likely support
supercells with this initial activity. Isolated large hail should be
the main threat with this convection through the early evening,
although some damaging winds could occur as well. Given the presence
of steep mid-level lapse rates, some very large (2+ inches) hail
appears possible.
With time this evening, thunderstorms will likely grow upscale into
a bowing cluster across north-central TX and far south-central OK as
weak low-level southerly flow gradually increases. Damaging winds
will become increasingly probable as this mode transition occurs.
The tornado threat through the rest of the afternoon should remain
fairly marginal given modest low-level shear (see recent VWPs from
KDYX/KFWS). Still, a threat for a tornado or two may gradually
increase this evening, mainly after 01Z, as low-level shear slowly
strengthens. Regardless, the overall severe threat along/south of
the front this afternoon will likely warrant watch issuance in the
next couple of hours.
..Gleason/Mosier.. 04/04/2022
...Please see
www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...
ATTN...WFO...FWD...OUN...SJT...
LAT...LON 31589970 32159991 33029988 33739956 34209908 34409842
34429774 34349692 33839687 33339718 32139816 31499876
31359924 31589970