Strong storms are expected in North Texas overnight

During dinner in Texas, things will remain mostly calm in the thunderstorm department. We had isolated thunderstorms moving northeast across portions of the Ark-La-Tex this afternoon. Otherwise, we observed thunderstorms north of the Red River in Oklahoma. Some of these storms produced damaging winds and hail. Our air mass south of the Red River remains “overcast” or without storms. We expect that to change after 10 p.m. as a cold front moves southeast into Texoma, North Texas and the eastern Big Country.

By late evening, thunderstorms or unzip thunderstorms will develop in a line from north to south. These storms will occur on the leading edge of a cold front. Storms may be difficult to organize, but we expect at least a few hours of stronger storm potential this evening into the early hours of Thursday as storms move east/southeast across North Texas. These storms will move into the D/FW Metroplex around 1-3am. The stronger storms can be severe, with damaging winds and quarter-sized hail. A tornado cannot be ruled out, but the overall tornado threat will be low.

By 7 a.m. Thursday, showers and storms will spread from northern Edwards Plateau, Hill Country, Central Texas, into Northeast Texas and Ark-La-Tex. We may also see isolated showers and storms off the border in East Texas. The cold front will slowly move southward Thursday morning and eventually bring cooler, dry weather to the northern two-thirds of Texas Thursday evening. The third quarter of Texas may experience scattered showers and storms on Thursday evening, but these are unlikely to be widespread or completely washout.

Rain chances will return to northwestern parts of Texas Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Several waves of thunderstorms are expected, which can trigger heavy rain. We need the rain! This storm probability expands to the eastern two-thirds of Texas on Monday and Tuesday.