Severe Storms Ignite Across Oklahoma, Texas
Feb 3, 2012; 7:17 AM ET
Thunderstorms erupting from south-central Kansas to northwestern Texas were just the start of the latest severe weather outbreak Thursday night into this morning.
The risk of damaging storms will progress eastward today and into the weekend.
The main threats with these storms will be large hail, high winds and flash flooding. However, there is the potential for a few tornadoes with the strongest thunderstorms.
On the cold side of the storm, heavy snow and strong winds will produce a blizzard in portions of Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. On the warm side, damaging severe thunderstorms will roll across west-central Texas and west-central Oklahoma.
The severe weather risk includes the potential for a few tornadoes as well.
As the storm system continues to press eastward, the threat for severe thunderstorms will shift into eastern Oklahoma, central and northeastern Texas, western Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana today.
The main threats will be similar to Thursday night's powerful storms, with damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding the most likely impacts. However, as is with the case of any severe thunderstorm, a tornado is possible.
In addition to severe thunderstorms, a heavy, drenching rain will fall along the Gulf Coast. Too much rain in a short amount of time can lead to flooding problems, especially in urban and poor drainage areas.
A few gusty, drenching thunderstorms can swing northward into southeastern Kansas and southwestern Missouri.
Despite flash flooding concerns, many places in Texas and along the Gulf Coast are still in the grips of severe drought. Any rain that falls in these areas will certainly be beneficial and help ease the strain of drought-induced hardship.
By: Mark Miller, meteorologist
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 100° | Smyrna, TN |
| Low | 15° | Sunset Crater, AZ |
| Precip | 3.99" | Wadena, MN |
WeatherWhys®
Hail is much more common during the months of May and June compared to July and August. The main reason is the fact that the freezing level is usually higher during July and August as pockets of cold air in the upper atmosphere are less common as the jet stream weakens and retreats farther north.
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