Tornado Watch Issued for Portions of Deep East Texas
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Tornado Watch for portions of the Pineywoods until 8 p.m.
The watch includes Nacogdoches, Angelina, Cherokee, Rusk, San Augustine, Sabine and Shelby Counties. Polk, Jasper, Houston, Trinity, and Tyler Counties are not included in this watch. Forecasters believe that a few tornadoes may develop in the watch area with a couple intense tornadoes possible as well. Widespread damaging wind gusts of 70 mph around thunderstorms could also cause some damage in and around the watch area. Quarter to golf ball sized hail is also possible in the region.
Lufkin and Nacogdoches are on the south-western most edge of the watch area. While severe storms are still possible in this area, the best chances of widespread severe storms are expected to happen around the Toledo Bend Reservoir region and then eastward into northern Louisiana. The Tornado Watch area is quite extensive and includes all of the Ark-La-Tex and most of Arkansas up to the Missouri border. As of 1:30 pm, a strong squall line was started to form just to the west of the watch area.
The threat of severe weather and strong storms in the Pineywoods is expected to diminish by nightfall, but another round of severe weather is expected by Friday evening in the area.
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