SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE: Tornado Watch for Houston and East Texas

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch effective until 9 p.m. for portions of the Pineywoods and all of southeast Texas.

Texas counties included are Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, and Tyler.

A Tornado Watch was issued earlier this morning for Angelina, Nacogdoches, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, and Panola Counties. This watch is in effect until 7 p.m.

Trinity, Houston, and Cherokee Counties are NOT included in the watch area, but residents should remain alert to weather alerts and changing conditions.

Severe storms are expected to develop this afternoon initially across east, northeast and southeast Texas, before progressing into Louisiana and Arkansas this afternoon and evening.

A moist/unstable environment will support the potential for all severe hazards,
including tornadoes.

Primary threats include tornadoes, a few of which could be EF2 or better. Scattered damaging winds gusting to 70 mph are possible along with large to very large hail events.

The greatest threat for widespread severe weather is once again in eastern Arkansas and western Tennessee.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 70 statute miles east and west of a line from 75 miles north of Port Arthur, TX to 25 miles south of Houston, TX.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

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