Possible Severe Weather Headed To Austin Area

AUSTIN, TX — Here comes the rain again. National Weather Service officials said a weak cold front will move into Central Texas and the Hill Country Wednesday evening, bringing a chance of showers and storms to the region.

The forecast for Austin calls for a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon, with some of storms possibly severe. The afternoon is mostly cloudy, with a high near 88 degrees. Wind gusts as high as 20 miles per hour coming in from a southern direction accompany this front.

It's on Wednesday night when things get dicey. Showers and thunderstorms likely, forecasters said, mainly after 7 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe, weather officials added. It will be mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 73 degrees. South/southeast wind blowing at 5 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour will descend, becoming east northeast after midnight.

The chance of such local precipitation is 60 percent, according to the forecast. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible, according to forecasters.

Here's the forecast through the weekend:

• Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Northeast wind 5 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour. Thursday night calls for a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The evening will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 71 degrees. Wind coming in from the east/northeast will be negligible at 5 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour.
• Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88 degrees. East wind around 5 miles per hour. Friday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. East wind will be around 5 miles per hour, becoming calm after midnight.
• Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90 degrees. South/southeast wind will be around 5 miles per hour. By nightfall, it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 73 degrees. South/southeast wind will be around 5 miles per hour.
• Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92 degrees. South wind will be around 5 miles per hour. Sunday night calls for partly cloudy skies, with a low around 73 degrees.

After severe weather over the last 12 days, more is headed to Texas and beyond, Yahoo News reported, with an estimated 85 million people in the path of severe weather through Wednesday night. The biggest threat for tornadoes Wednesday will be from Texas into southeastern Oklahoma and into western Arkansas in an area that includes the Dallas metro area, according to the report.

Shortly after the forecast was issued, a tornado was reported to have touched down south of Kemp, Texas, located east of Dallas.

The threat of severe weather heightens concern in Central Texas and other parts of the state especially vulnerable to tornado formation. Already in the past few weeks, Texas towns have been decimated as tornadoes have touched down.

Related stories:

Town Of Franklin, Texas, 'Like War Zone' After Tornado

Texas Cities Sustain Heavy Damage From Powerful Storms

Texas Could See More Tornadoes In 2019: AccuWeather

Here's how NWS forecasters call it: "A widespread threat of severe weather is expected today from the southern Plains and Mid Mississippi/Ohio Valleys into the Mid-Atlantic. These storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, possible tornadoes and heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding. Two areas of concern extend from St. Louis to Dallas and from Pittsburgh to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C."

Local weather conditions are part of that broader (and massive) front that carries the risk of tornadic activity. The U.S. already has had 352 reported tornadoes in 22 states from California to New Jersey, Yahoo News reported. "In fact, this May has been the most active month for tornadoes since April 2011, when there were more than 800 reported tornadoes," the news site added.

Ready.gov offers tips to prepare for severe weather. For more information, click here.