BREAKING – Tornado Threat Rising for East Texas Today

The Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma has just released its latest guidance on today's severe weather potential. The bad news is that the risk is rising across much of southeast Texas and parts of the Pineywoods.

The brown, enhanced portion of the map is the area of the biggest concern. Earlier today, portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were included. Now, it has been extended westward to include portions of southeast Texas.

A closer look shows that Houston, Galveston, Beaumont and portions of southern Polk, Tyler and Jasper Counties are included in the highest probability of severe weather.

Damaging straight-line winds, hail, and tornadoes are all possible. Some of the tornadoes could be EF2 or stronger (111+ mph). So, make sure you have shelter plans in place for home or work should they be needed.

Although the highest probability of severe weather is south of Lufkin and Nacogdoches, thunderstorms are expected throughout Deep East Texas.

These thunderstorms are expected to develop across the red area throughout the remainder of the day. Some of the thunderstorms could reach severe limits.

As of 10 a.m., the Storm Prediction Center did not believe that a severe thunderstorm watch would be issued within the next several hours for the area shaded in blue, however, this is a rapidly changing weather situation.

Winds not associated with thunderstorms are expected to gust to 35 mph or higher over the next 24 hours.  The winds will be coming from the south today and then shift to the west overnight.

As always, download our station app to keep up with the changing weather and to have alerts sent to your smartphone. 

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