What Can East Texas Expect From The Upcoming Severe Weather Outbreak?

When it comes to severe storms in East Texas during the springtime, it's not a question of if, but when. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting the possibility of a long-term severe weather outbreak that is targeting Texas. That threat will start on Saturday in West Texas (Lubbock, Midland, Del Rio) and continue through early Thursday into north-central and East Texas (Dallas, Lufkin, Tyler, Texarkana).

Some areas will have several consecutive days of the heightened threat of severe weather, including Dallas, Abilene, and Waco. Damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes are all in the mix for this ominous weather threat. In fact, the probability of tornadoes seems to increase as we get deeper into next week.

What's In Store For East Texas?

First, the good news, the threat of severe weather should stay to the west of the Pineywoods from Saturday through Tuesday. The Interstate 35 corridor should act as the eastern boundary for any severe storms through April 14. However (the bad news), looking ahead to Wednesday through early Thursday, that's when East Texas will have the highest probability of severe weather.

It's uncommon for the Storm Prediction Center to issue a 15% yellow-shaded alert area when we are 7 days out, but numerous weather models are showing increasing confidence of this threat moving into East Texas next Wednesday.

How Should You Prepare?

Just use your common sense. Springtime severe weather is a certainty in East Texas, and so are changing weather forecasts. As we get closer to the middle part of next week, East Texas will get a better look at what will actually happen. If it looks like the risk of damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes is on the rise, plan accordingly. Click here for a great guide on best practices during nasty weather. Also, be sure to download our station app to have weather alerts sent to your smartphone.