East Texas, Louisiana Severe Storm Threat for Saturday Increases

Forecasters with the Storm Prediction Center are warning residents in the southern U.S. of a dangerous severe weather outbreak that could materialize Saturday through early Sunday morning.

Damaging winds gusting to 60+ mph, large hail, and intense tornadoes are all possibilities, especially in the brown-shaded 'enhanced' region on the map above.

Tornado Threat

Let's start with the tornado outlook.

Twisters are a possibility from east Texas all the way to Tennessee and Georgia. However, the greatest tornado risk will exist from Memphis southward along the Mississippi River Basin through north-central Louisiana.

The yellow hatched area represents the location with the greatest chance of strong tornadoes (EF2 or greater).

Wind Threat

The map below shows the areas with the highest threat of damaging straight-line winds in excess of 50 knots (57 mph).

The likelihood of damaging winds is expected to occur in a boundary from Shreveport to Memphis to Birmingham and back through central Louisiana.

Timing of the Storms

East Texas can expect the formation of scattered storms in the late morning hours. More widespread storms should occur during the early to mid-afternoon hours.

By the time the sun sets, almost all of the thunderstorms should have moved eastward into Louisiana.

Extreme Cold is On The Way

An Arctic air mass is expected to move across east Texas on Tuesday night. Freezing precipitation could fall from the Texas Hill Country to north-central Texas and towards the ArkLaTex.

Cold rain is the forecast for East Texas, but we will need to closely monitor any changes. Regardless, by Wednesday night, the forecast shows the Lufkin/Nacogdoches area dipping into the teens, with wind chill readings into the single digits.

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