Severe Storms Possible Tonight, Very Windy Tomorrow

From Chief Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

There was quite a bit of cloud cover across the region for most of the day. This helped us to have cooler temperatures with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s. Breezy south winds were also experienced.

It is possible for us to see some strong to severe thunderstorms tonight. A cold front will overtake a dryline that is to our west and move across the area. Combine that with plenty of moisture and a strong upper level trough and you have the ingredients needed to see showers and thunderstorms. We could see some damaging winds, large hail, and maybe a few isolated tornadoes with any severe thunderstorms that develop. In fact, Knox, Stonewall, Haskell, Throckmorton, Fisher, Jones, Shackelford, Stephens, Eastland, Callahan, Taylor, and Nolan counties are under a Tornado Watch until 6 a.m. Saturday morning. It will be windy with winds from the south at 20 to 30 mph. Stronger gusts are expected. Lows look to be in the upper 40s to low 50s.

Very strong winds will be likely Saturday. Sustained west winds should reach 30 to 45 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph. With winds this strong, we have a high wind warning in effect for most of the viewing area. Also, the air behind the cold front is very dry. Critical fire weather conditions will be met, so most of the area is also under a Red Flag Warning for Saturday. Please be very careful and do all that you can to prevent fires. This includes not throwing cigarette butts out of the window, putting off any welding you had planned, and not parking in grassy areas. If you are in a high profile vehicle, be very careful on the road especially those that are going north-south. Areas of blowing dust are possible tomorrow as well. Highs should be in the mid to upper 60s.

Sunday through Tuesday look dry with mostly sunny skies. Highs should range from the low 60s for the second half of the weekend to the low 70s by Tuesday.

A cold front is expected to move through the area late Wednesday bringing cooler temperatures to the area for Thursday and Friday. There is a slight chance for rain on Wednesday.

Have a super and safe Saturday!