East Texas Braces For Severe Weather Threat Thursday and Friday

A cold front will be pushing into the Pineywoods on Thursday, bringing with it the chance of showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters are advising residents that strong to severe storms for East Texas and the ArkLaTex are not out of the question. There are still several variables in play regarding the threat of severe weather on Thursday and Friday. Still, there's enough risk that forecasters at the Storm Prediction Center have classified much of the northern half of East Texas as having an increased risk for severe storms.

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What To Expect on Thursday and Friday

It will be breezy throughout the day on Thursday with south winds gusting to near 25 mph ahead of the cold front. Rain chances will increase to about 40% by midday on Thursday. However, there remains quite a bit of uncertainty about how any severe weather may play out.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) believes there exists enough of a severe weather threat on Thursday afternoon and evening to place much of east and northeast Texas in the 'marginal' threat of severe storms. The SPC also shows the biggest threat of severe storms to happen on Friday in northern Louisiana.

The official forecast from the National Weather Service (as of this posting) shows that East Texas will experience the highest probability of thunderstorms and possible severe weather on Friday as the cold front finally progresses through the Pineywoods. Thursday should mainly bring showers to the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area, according to the National Weather Service.

What Kind of Severe Weather Is In Play?

If any of the storms in East Texas do reach severe limits, the biggest threat will be damaging straight-line winds, some areas of hail, and a possible tornado or two. Meteorologists will issue further comprehensive updates overnight, and hopefully, we will have a better picture of what to expect.

We will keep you updated.