SYNOPSIS FOR 05/09/94 - VORTEX-94

A deep upper level low pressure system remained stationary over Arizona 
throughout the day. A minor wave rotated around the upper low and 
enhanced instability over southwestern Texas early in the day. A convective 
cluster propagated eastward and weakened over central Texas by late 
morning. A weak tornado occurred around  830 AM CDT south of SJT 
with the convective cluster. The wave rotated northeastward around the 
upper low, and enhanced upper level divergence aided convective 
development over southern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and the 
northern Texas Panhandle during the afternoon hours. A Canadian cold 
front entered northern Oklahoma and the northern Texas Panhandle early in 
the day and advanced southward very slowly to near a line from AMA to 
BVO by late afternoon. East to northeast winds at 15 to 20 mph with higher 
gusts persisted behind the boundary. Dewpoints behind the boundary 
remained in the upper 50s, and the strong east winds resulted in a 
reasonable hodograph even though mid level winds were very weak. 
Intense thunderstorms developed over the northern Texas panhandle and 
produced prodigious amounts of hail in Dallam County. The Texas 
Highway Patrol reported "two" tornadoes in Dallam County. The AMA 
WSR-88D detected a persistent mesocyclone with rotational velocities of up 
to 45 knots with the Dallam County storm.

Convection developed over the high terrain of southeastern New Mexico 
around noon and moved toward the east-northeast into Texas west of 
Lubbock. One of the storms exhibited a rotating updraft in New Mexico, 
but the rotation dissipated as the storms moved into less favorable flow. 
Other storms developed farther south  in southwestern Texas, and a tornado 
was reported south of Iraan. Softball-sized hail also accompanied that 
storm. Mid level winds were substantially stronger over southwestern 
Texas and southeastern New Mexico, but weak low level flow persisted 
throughout the day. In addition, rain-cooled outflow advanced westward 
late in the afternoon and assisted in the death of the storms west of Lubbock 
before sunset.

A convective complex developed during the nighttime hours over eastern 
New Mexico with increasing southeasterly low level flow after sunset.

Ruthi/Leduc