CENTRAL TEXAS — A significant Mother’s Day severe weather threat is unfolding across Texas today, with a Level 3 Enhanced Risk in place primarily for very large hail up to baseball size and straight line winds reaching up to 75 mph as a linear storm system develops. The severe weather window runs from 1 PM to 10 PM today, with storms expected to become uncapped by 12 to 1 PM this afternoon before progressing southeastward and potentially forming a dangerous storm complex through the evening hours.
Primary Threats Today
Very large hail up to baseball size is the headline hazard for today’s Mother’s Day severe weather event across Central Texas. The hail threat will be greatest along and south of the Interstate 20 corridor across Central Texas, where the Level 3 Enhanced Risk is concentrated covering communities from Abilene and Brownwood through Waco, Austin, Bryan, and extending toward Houston and San Antonio.
Straight line winds up to 75 mph will develop once more of a linear storm system forms later in the event, making damaging winds the second major hazard for the afternoon and evening hours across the Enhanced Risk zone.
Tornado Risk Exists But Remains Limited
A brief tornado is possible today, particularly near Interstate 20 across West-Central Texas, but the overall tornado risk remains very low given the outflow-dominant nature of the expected storm mode. The conditional maximum tornado intensity is capped at EF-1, meaning any tornadoes that do develop are not expected to be particularly strong or long-tracked.
However, meteorologists noted that a tornado remains possible given any favorable outflow and storm merger scenario that could develop during the afternoon and evening storm window, keeping residents across the broader region on alert for rotating activity alongside the dominant hail and wind threats.
Storm Timing Throughout the Day
Today’s severe weather event is described as an early afternoon type of setup, with severe storms possible through the morning hours before the atmosphere becomes fully uncapped by 12 to 1 PM. Once uncapped, large amounts of storm fuel will be available to sustain and intensify storm development across Central Texas throughout the afternoon.
Storms will then progress southeastward through the afternoon and evening, potentially organizing into a larger storm complex as they track through the Level 3 Enhanced Risk zone between 1 PM and 10 PM today.
Who Needs to Be Weather Aware Today
Residents across Abilene, Brownwood, Waco, Dallas, Tyler, Austin, Bryan, Houston, San Antonio, Shreveport, and surrounding communities across Central and East Texas are urged to stay weather aware throughout the entire afternoon and evening. Secure vehicles under cover before storms arrive, avoid outdoor Mother’s Day activities during the 1 PM to 10 PM threat window, and be ready to take immediate shelter if severe thunderstorm warnings are issued for your specific county. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates.
Leave a Reply