Valentine’s Dinner Plans? Brace For Severe Weather Tonight

A line of storms that may produce tornadoes and damaging wind gusts could put a major hitch in Valentine's Day dinner plans tonight. A cold front is expected to be the catalyst for widespread severe weather and heavy downpours. Here's how forecasters expect this to play out in the Pineywoods.

READ MORE: Tornado Narrowly Misses Buc-ee's

Timing Of Saturday's Storms

A few scattered showers will pop up this morning through the early afternoon across parts of the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area. A couple of isolated thunderstorms could occur in Deep East Texas by mid-afternoon. However, the squall line of widespread strong to severe storms is forecast to hit the Pineywoods between 6 p.m. and midnight.

Severe Weather Expectations For Deep East Texas

Winds gusting in excess of 50 mph, heavy downpours, and a few tornadoes are the biggest threats for the Pineywoods from this severe weather event. The threat of severe weather will also encompass the Houston Metro. A tornado watch will likely be issued across East Texas by mid to late afternoon.

The greatest risk of flooding will happen in the ArkLaTex. Still, areas of Deep East Texas could get up to 2 inches of rain in a short period of time.

Preparations To Make