After several days of unrelenting, sweltering heat across Texas, storm clouds likely spinning off the tropical storm sweeping Texas are about to block the sun and wet the ground. But in some parts of Texas, these clouds spell severe storm risks.
Texas Panhandle towns have been stuck in a heat advisory for days, sweating it out in triple digit afternoons. But storms are moving in quickly, and thunderstorm odds are on the rise. By Friday, July 24, the National Weather Service has cities from Dalhart to Amarillo under a hazardous weather outlook warning of heavy rains and damaging winds.
“Chances of showers and thunderstorms continue Friday with potential to see some strong to severe thunderstorms that afternoon and evening,” the NWS warning state, adding that the heat will send those thermostats climbing again once the gloomy days pass.
The National Weather Service defines “severe storms” as any thunderstorms that produce hail 1 inch in diameter or larger, damaging wind speeds of 58 mph or more, or a tornado. In the latest, the agency said a threat of half-inch hail, 60 mph wind gusts and a very low tornado risk.
While temperatures are slightly lower Friday, dipping into the upper 90s from 103 Thursday afternoon, forecasters say lingering cloud coverage could send these highs dipping even further. But that remains to be seen.
Either way, the last day of the workweek up in the Texas Panhandle will be grayer than the rest of the time clocked in. But It’ll be short-lived blip on an other scorcher of a weekend.