Severe Weather A Threat Overnight

The bottom line here is that the threat for damaging storms is much less then the outbreak we had last week. However, considering the atmospheric ingredients in play, I will keep my guard up just in case changes occur.

As of earlier this afternoon the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma issued a Tornado Watch for north Texas and southern Oklahoma.

This area will be under a watch until 8pm CST. So far no tornadoes have been generated from these storms, but hail has been reported to golf ball size.

Several storms have cropped up here across the Brazos Valley this afternoon, and have mainly been heavy rain makers with flashes of lightning. However, severe weather remains a threat for our future. The crucial time period for this area will be between 12AM - 6AM Saturday, as a cold front approaches.

As far as damaging storms with wind gusts over 60mph, large hail and isolated tornadoes.....the greatest threat will be to our north.

Typically when severe weather is being forecasted, many players are involved such as; instability, heat, moisture, wind speed, wind direction, wind shear...etc. One of the more important roles in creating a rotating super-cell thunderstorm is wind shear. Basically wind shear is the difference in wind direction and speed from ground level to the elevations above the surface. This type of phenomenon has the best potential close to the parent low pressure center within the warm sector (between the cold and warm front), highlighted in yellow.

Last week, when we had the tornado outbreak, the center of low pressure was just to our northwest. This time, the low is well to our north. Therefore, the threat for tornadoes here is much, much lower.

Biggest threat for us will be isolated flash flooding and strong straight line winds as the cold front approaches the region. Exact Trac indicated that the heaviest storms will be in place over the heart of the Brazos Valley around 3AM, with western counties seeing the heaviest storms around 1AM.

Once the cold front moves by, much cooler air will filter in and the air will become more stable, erasing the threat for severe weather early Saturday morning.

Overall this will not be a significant storm for us, but if you hear thunder, best advice is to stay inside and let the storm pass.

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Also, our Twitter feed: @KAGSweather.

During the severe weather you can use our new interactive radar on the homepage. Have a great night.