A line of severe thunderstorms moved through Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday evening, September 29, 2026, and the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a string of tornado warnings. This article lays out what was reported, what has and has not been confirmed, and what to do if a warning is issued for your location. It is a report on a past event. Tornado warnings last well under an hour, so it cannot tell you whether a warning is active right now.
Need live information? Check the NWS Amarillo office and its @NWSAmarillo account on X, local TV weather alerts, or the wireless emergency alerts on your phone. In an emergency, call 911.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, the newest coverage I found describes Tuesday night’s storms. I found no report of an active tornado warning for Amarillo on Wednesday, but that is not the same as confirming there is none. Warnings can be issued quickly.
The NWS in Amarillo also issued an outlook for heavy rainfall and storms around the Panhandle for September 30. That means flooding and further storms remain possible, even though Tuesday’s tornado threat has passed in the reports I found.
What Happened on Tuesday, September 29
The warnings began before dinnertime in the eastern Panhandle and moved west and south as more storms developed. Each warning was issued because a severe thunderstorm was showing rotation on radar, or a tornado was spotted. All times below are Central Daylight Time.
| Time (CDT) | Area covered | What the NWS said |
|---|---|---|
| 5:38 to 6:15 p.m. | Southwestern Gray and northwestern Donley counties | Storm near Groom, moving northeast at 15 mph; radar-indicated rotation |
| 7:16 to 7:45 p.m. | Northeastern Armstrong and southeastern Carson counties | Storm over Claude, moving northeast at 30 mph |
| 7:54 to 8:30 p.m. | Central Randall County, including Canyon | Storm 4 miles southeast of Canyon, moving northeast at 20 mph |
| 7:55 to 8:30 p.m. | Eastern Deaf Smith County, including Hereford | Storm 7 miles northwest of Hereford, moving northeast at 25 mph |
| 8:33 to 9:00 p.m. | Southeast of Amarillo, near Lake Tanglewood | Storm 7 miles southeast of Amarillo, moving northeast at 25 mph |
| Until 9:00 p.m. | Amarillo, Palisades and Pullman (northeastern Randall and southeastern Potter counties) | Radar-indicated tornado; about 128,360 people and 39 schools in the warned area, per the NWS |
| 9:51 to 10:15 p.m. | Amarillo and Mescalero Park | Storm over Amarillo; tornado and quarter-size hail listed as hazards |
| Until 11:00 p.m. | North central Randall, west central Carson and southeastern Potter counties | At 10:24 p.m., storm 7 miles northeast of Amarillo |
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
Confirmed
ABC 7 Amarillo (KVII) reported that a rope tornado was on the ground southwest of Amarillo on Tuesday night, near FM 2219 and Rockwell Road. A storm chaser, Blake Brown, alerted the station first, and his parents recorded video of the tornado nearby. KVII said the NWS had received no reports of damage at that point.
Radar-indicated, not confirmed
Most warnings were based on rotation seen on radar. A Yahoo News report about the 10:07 p.m. warning said radar indicated rotation but there was no immediate confirmation of a tornado over Amarillo. A radar-indicated warning means the storm could produce a tornado. It does not mean one touched down.
Not found
I found no confirmed reports of injuries, deaths, or tornado damage in Amarillo. Damage surveys can take a day or more, so this could change. Tornado strength ratings, if any, come only from NWS surveys after the storm, and none had been published in the sources I checked.
Warning vs. Watch: What the Difference Means
A tornado watch means conditions are right for tornadoes to form, so you should stay alert and have a plan. A tornado warning means a tornado is happening or is likely, based on radar or a spotter, and you should take shelter now. The NWS office in Amarillo serves 23 counties in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and issues these alerts for the area.
What to Do During a Tornado Warning
- Go to a basement, storm shelter, or a small interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows.
- Cover your head and neck with a mattress, heavy blankets, or a helmet if you have one.
- If you live in a mobile home, leave for a sturdy building before the storm arrives. Mobile homes are not safe during a tornado.
- If you are driving, do not try to outrun a tornado. Seek a sturdy building, and avoid overpasses.
- Stay sheltered until the warning expires or officials say it is safe. Storms can follow one another, as they did on Tuesday.
- Keep your phone charged and alerts turned on so a nighttime warning wakes you.
Flooding Risk
The storms also brought heavy rain and flooding on Tuesday evening, according to reports carried by Yahoo News. Do not drive through flooded roads, because even shallow moving water can carry a vehicle away. Check for road closures before travel.
After the Storm
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them to your utility.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults and people who live alone.
- Take photos of any damage before you clean up, for insurance claims.
- If you saw a tornado or damage, you can report it to the NWS through its social media accounts or your local emergency management office.
Reader Questions
Was there a tornado in Amarillo, Texas?
A tornado was spotted southwest of Amarillo on the night of September 29, 2026, according to KVII. Whether a tornado touched down inside the city has not been confirmed in the sources I found.
Is there a tornado warning in Amarillo right now?
This article cannot show live status. Check NWS Amarillo, local TV alerts, or your phone’s emergency alerts for the current warning status.
Did the Amarillo tornado cause damage?
As of the latest coverage I found, the NWS had received no reports of damage. Damage surveys may still change that.
Which counties were under tornado warnings?
Warnings on September 29 covered parts of Randall, Potter, Carson, Armstrong, Gray, Donley, and Deaf Smith counties.
What is the difference between a tornado watch and a warning?
A watch means tornadoes are possible, and a warning means one is happening or likely and you should take shelter immediately.
Is more severe weather expected in the Panhandle?
The NWS in Amarillo issued an outlook for heavy rainfall and storms in the Panhandle on September 30, 2026.
Wrap-Up
Tuesday’s storms show how quickly a Panhandle evening can change. Eight or more separate warnings were issued in about five hours as one storm after another crossed the area. Most were driven by radar-indicated rotation, while at least one tornado was seen on the ground southwest of Amarillo.
The main lesson is to act on the warning rather than wait for confirmation. As of September 30, 2026, no tornado damage in Amarillo has been reported, and more rain and storms were in the forecast for the day.
Disclaimer
This article is based on public reports and NWS alert text checked on September 30, 2026. Warnings expire quickly and conditions change by the minute, so this page is not a live alert. Follow instructions from the National Weather Service and local officials. In an emergency, call 911.
