AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott directed state emergency management officials to activate response resources ahead of a severe weather threat expected to affect much of Texas through the coming week. CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco warns Central Texas residents to prepare for daily storm chances.
Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to place swiftwater rescue teams, urban search and rescue units, highway patrol troopers, game wardens and emergency medical personnel on standby.
The National Weather Service said storms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and possible tornadoes are expected across much of the state through early next week.
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“The State of Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary resources to help local officials respond to potential severe weather across the state,” Abbott said.
In Central Texas, Tomasco said the region faces daily storm chances through the week, though a clash between incoming systems and Gulf high pressure will keep coverage limited, with probabilities topping out at 30 to 40% and favoring areas along and east of I-35. Friday and Saturday both bring afternoon and evening storm chances.
The more significant concern arrives Saturday night, when storms pushing out of West Texas could clip the Hill Country with strong wind gusts. A level 1 out of 5 severe storm risk is in effect for the Hill Country through early Sunday morning.
A level 1 out of 5 severe storm risk is in effect for the Hill Country through early Sunday morning. (Photo: CBS Austin)
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Similar setups are expected to repeat through much of next week. Tomasco said storm chances are capped at 40% at most as it remains uncertain how many systems will survive long enough to affect the Austin area.