Severe Weather For This Weekend

Following some powerful storms on Wednesday, there will be yet another round of severe weather that will begin to make its way into the Central states on Thursday afternoon into Thursday night.

By the end of the week, a strong storm system will spin over the Rockies and push a waft of dry air into a field of moisture over the High Plains. This will be the main trigger for the storms, and the area that it will be concentrated in will be from Southwestern Nebraska to Central Texas.

Because there is an upper-level low, the jet stream will pull in moisture and will create warm temperatures in the Plains. This makes the perfect conditions for severe thunderstorms.  The storms that will occur on Thursday will more than likely outnumber, as well as outperform, the storms that ripped across the region and brought downpours, hail, and even some funnel clouds.

As we continue on into Thursday evening, the areas that will be at highest risk for the most severe conditions will be western Kansas, Oklahoma, and south-central Texas. The conditions associated with this system will be localized flooding, hail, damaging winds, and there is even a possibility for some isolated tornadoes if the conditions are favorable.

Traveling will be a hassle and a little bit of a risk, especially during the evening hours when these storms will be at their highest power. Interstate 20, I-40, and I-70, along with all state and local roads in between could possibly have delays and a lot of slow travel.

SUV’s and trucks will be the most susceptible to these gusty winds. Also, blinding downpours will bring many issues for drivers as this means visibility will be slim to none.  On Thursday, there is a slight chance that some very gusty winds will kick up dust before the thunderstorm hits and can cause a period of zero-visibility for drivers.  If you have any outdoor activities planned, you may want to reschedule them to move them to a time earlier in the day where the risk of thunderstorms won’t be as high. It is important to plan accordingly when there is a risk for severe weather.

The severe weather threat will continue in the west and the hardest hit areas will be Dallas and Oklahoma City metro areas into Thursday night. During severe weather, it is always important to stay alert and updated. Having a weather radio on hand with fresh batteries is a good preventative measure to take.

Fortunately, this storm will begin to weaken on Friday morning, but with the storm hovering over the Rockies, another storm may move into the area later in the day on Friday.

This severe weather threat will extend from south-central Nebraska, western and central Kansas, western Oklahoma, and into central, southern, and coastal Texas. The biggest risk will be throughout the lower Rio Grande Valley where there will be straight-line winds, downpours, and an isolated tornado or two. The Gulf Coast will also bring a large threat for flooding by the end of the week.

For more information on the weather in your area, be sure to check in with your local weather authority or The Weather Channel for continuous updates!

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