969  
ACUS11 KWNS 161834  
SWOMCD  
SPC MCD 161833  
OKZ000-COZ000-TXZ000-NEZ000-NMZ000-WYZ000-162030-  
 
MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1998  
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK  
0133 PM CDT SUN AUG 16 2026  
 
AREAS AFFECTED...PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS  
 
CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH POSSIBLE  
 
VALID 161833Z - 162030Z  
 
PROBABILITY OF WATCH ISSUANCE...60 PERCENT  
 
SUMMARY...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE  
COLORADO FRONT RANGE AND RATON MESA VICINITY THIS AFTERNOON,  
BRINGING A RISK FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO PORTIONS  
OF THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS.  
 
DISCUSSION...AIDED BY STRONG DIURNAL HEATING AND EASTERLY, UPSLOPE  
FLOW WITH DEWPOINTS NEAR 60 F, WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORM  
FORMATION IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON ALONG THE CO FRONT RANGE AND  
RATON MESA VICINITY OF THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS, WITH SOME LIGHTNING  
ACTIVITY ALREADY NOTED WITHIN DEEPER UPDRAFTS AS OF 1830 UTC. AROUND  
1500 J/KG MLCAPE (INCREASING TO 2000 J/KG LOCALLY BY PEAK HEATING  
THIS AFTERNOON) AND 25-35+ KTS OF EFFECTIVE SHEAR AMID MODESTLY  
STRONG WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL AID IN THE ORGANIZATION OF UPDRAFTS  
AND SHOULD SUPPORT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF SUPERCELLS. THESE STORMS  
WILL POSE A RISK FOR PRIMARILY LARGE HAIL OWING TO THE PRESENCE OF  
STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES EXCEEDING 7-7.5 C/KM, WITH A FEW  
DAMAGING/SEVERE WIND GUSTS ALSO POSSIBLE. A MORE  
OUTFLOW-DOMINANT/CLUSTER STORM MODE, AND PROPORTIONALLY GREATER  
DAMAGING/SEVERE WIND GUST RISK, SHOULD BE INCREASINGLY FAVORED WITH  
SOUTHWARD EXTENT AS OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS INDICATES EFFECTIVE SHEAR  
DECREASES TO 20-25 KTS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO AND AREAS  
FARTHER SOUTH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MAY BE NEEDED FOR AT  
LEAST A PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION AREA TO COVER THESE THREATS.  
 
..CHALMERS/GUYER.. 08/16/2026  
   
..PLEASE SEE WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV FOR GRAPHIC PRODUCT
 
 
ATTN...WFO...GLD...AMA...PUB...BOU...CYS...ABQ...  
 
LAT...LON 36360306 36520375 37020458 38040506 39210506 40850486  
41200469 41390422 41370377 41270341 41050317 40610307  
39480299 38140279 37250256 36900249 36600252 36390280  
36360306  
 
MOST PROBABLE PEAK WIND GUST...55-70 MPH  
MOST PROBABLE PEAK HAIL SIZE...1.00-1.75 IN  
 
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