Multiday severe weather risk to unfold across Texas
Dallas and other major metropolitan areas will be in the path of repeated thunderstorms, some of which will turn severe and persist well into the night.
A moisture-packed storm will emerge from the Rockies before tracking into the southern Plains, delivering much-needed rainfall and triggering multiple days of severe weather.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that a slow-moving storm could produce days of severe thunderstorms across parts of the southern United States this week, including drought-stricken communities in need of rain and many areas that have been pummeled by rounds of severe weather this season.
The potent storm will emerge from the southern Rockies before tracking into the southern Plains, triggering multiple days of severe weather this week.
"A one-two punch of severe weather is in store across the southern Plains both Tuesday evening and Wednesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
Thunderstorms that erupted on Tuesday afternoon from northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado through the Oklahoma Panhandle then spread to the southeast into central Texas and southwestern Oklahoma during the evening hours. The storms packed torrential downpours, strong winds and large hail.
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Much of the same area will be at risk for severe thunderstorms again on Wednesday, but there could be more numerous thunderstorms.
"A potent, upper-level swirl of energy is expected to move into the area Wednesday. This will help to bring more widespread thunderstorm coverage across southern Oklahoma and northern Texas during the day," Buckingham warned.
Travelers in Dallas and along portions of Interstates 20 and 35 should be on alert for slow travel, as these storms could produce ponding on roadways and reduced visibility for motorists.
On Monday, AccuWeather meteorologists boosted their concern for severe weather by adding a moderate risk zone smack in the middle of the overall threat for severe weather.
Buckingham also explained that the threat of severe weather is likely to spread southward across Texas after the sun goes down on Wednesday evening. People in San Antonio, Austin and the northern and western suburbs of Houston should be prepared by having a reliable way to receive warnings, especially through Wednesday night.
The thunderstorms Wednesday and Wednesday night could produce the same hazards as those on Tuesday, including damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes. Thunderstorms could also more easily bring flooding issues Wednesday since several downpours will accompany them.
The repeated storms over the same area could saturate the ground more quickly, leading to flash flooding concerns, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas. Most of the severe thunderstorms are set to miss the most drought-stricken areas of the Plains.
However, parts of central Texas remain in moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. It may be counterintuitive, but communities facing more extreme levels of drought may endure flooding issues more quickly due to the arid ground being unable to absorb moisture. On the other hand, any precipitation where flash flooding does not result will likely be welcome.
The storm system will bring some much-needed rain to portions of the southern Plains with downpours falling under a region experiencing excessive drought.
Much of the zone at risk for severe thunderstorms through Wednesday night has been hit with repeated rounds of severe weather already this spring. As recently as last week, a plethora of hail and wind reports were reported across Texas.
As the storm igniting the severe weather moves east later this week, drenching downpours and additional severe thunderstorms are expected to follow, hitting another weary part of the country.
More sporadic severe weather is possible south of the storm's track, from the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana to South Carolina. Aside from cloud-to-ground lightning, the most widespread threats with these storms will be drenching downpours, reduced visibility, flash flooding and locally strong wind gusts.
Damaging winds were reported in mass along the Gulf coast on April 15, with wind gusts as high as 75 mph causing tree and structure damage from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Meanwhile, some cities such as Jackson, Mississippi, and Columbia, South Carolina, have already had a month's worth of rain so far in April, with another week of potential rain left to go.
AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor this storm and the impact it may have on the eastern U.S. later this week and through the weekend.
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