“Thunderstorms will be possible across the combined Panhandles later this afternoon and through the evening,” the National Weather Service Amarillo office warns. “These thunderstorms may produce strong winds and heavy rain.”
The storms could help keep temperatures slightly lower by blocking the sun and keeping air moving. Severe weather is not the main concern on Wednesday, though forecasters say it cannot be ruled out. The NWS defines severe storms as those capable of producing hail at least 1 inch wide, a tornado or wind speeds of at least 58 mph.
For now, storm chances across the Panhandle hover around 20% to 30% on Wednesday, climbing as the weekend nears. Thunderstorm chances creep into the northwestern edge of the Texas Panhandle between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, with a 10%-25% chance.
Those odds rise to 40% to 50% across the greater region, including areas south of Amarillo, between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Thursday. The higher severe-weather risk appears to arrive Thursday, when forecasters say hail up to 1 inch in diameter is possible.