Monday, December 19, 2011

Update on Severe Thunderstorm Potential for Texas Today...


Above is the latest severe weather outlook for today from the SPC in Norman, OK. Severe thunderstorms are possible within the yellow shaded area on the image, which includes the San Antonio-Austin corridor, the DFW Metroplex, and the Houston Metro areas.  Other, non-severe, thunderstorms are forecast within the green shaded area on the same image.

A strong upper level low pressure system is moving East/Northeast out of the southwestern U.S. this morning:


Showers and embedded thunderstorms are already breaking-out ahead of the system over much of West Texas and parts of Oklahoma this morning:


...and this trend will continue, while spreading Eastward, into the afternoon hours.

As upper level energy increases across the region this afternoon, a band of stronger thunderstorms is forecast to develop along and ahead of a weak surface cold front near I-35 by mid to late afternoon (mainly across central and northcentral Texas, from San Antonio on Northward).  This activity is forecast to move and/or develop to the East/Northeast into the evening hours, with large hail and strong, damaging wind gusts possible.  An isolated tornado also cannot be ruled out.

Meanwhile, ahead of the main line of storms, more isolated or smaller individual bands of storms may develop late this afternoon or early this evening across east-central or southeast Texas.  Large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible with this activity.  The tornado threat will be slightly higher in this area due to the fact that the thunderstorms are expected to be more isolated in nature and have a better opportunity to organize.

If you live across the severe weather threat area outlined in yellow on the 1st image of this post, remain alert this afternoon and evening and listen to local media for later statements and possible warnings for your area.


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