Dangerous weather will rumble across southeastern Texas and Louisiana into western and southern Mississippi through tonight. A potent thunderstorm may be on the weather menu in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New York as well.
A pair of complex weather systems have fostered dangerous thunderstorms today across the southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley, as well as across eastern Pennsylvania and far southern and south-central New York. While activity will weaken early tonight over eastern New York, warm, humid air ahead of the eastern Texas storm will lead to organized, intense thunderstorms throughout tonight.
Tornado Watches remain in effect from southeastern and eastern Texas to much of central and western Louisiana, as well as southwestern to central Mississippi. Houston, College Station, Port Arthur, and Lufkin, Texas, as well as Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Lake Charles, La., and Jackson, Miss., are included.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect from eastern Pennsylvania and most of northern New Jersey into south-central New York. This includes Trenton and Morristown, N.J., and Monticello, N.Y.
Golf ball to isolated instances of baseball-sized hail, scattered damaging wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph, and a few tornadoes will accompany the most intense thunderstorms, especially across southeastern Texas and Louisiana. A few tornadoes may be intense here.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk for potentially organized severe thunderstorms across eastern and southeastern Texas and west-central Louisiana. Beaumont, College Station, and Lufkin, Texas, and Alexandria, La., western suburbs are included.
Other cities such as Shreveport to New Orleans, La., will need to keep a watchful eye to the sky for threatening weather tonight as well.
Heavy, drenching rain will be part of the storm’s makeup, too. One to 3 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts of 3 to 6 inches possible. Flood Watches remain in effect for far southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama and the western-most Florida panhandle. Remember, if you approach a roadway covered in water, follow a simple motto – “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”
Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A “watch” means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A “warning” means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.
The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water, and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's severe weather. Remember, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!"
