Infographic courtesy of the National Weather Service
Severe Weather Risk Threatens Area
The first severe weather chance of 2020 is expected this Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service has put Northern Hays County in the enhanced risk area, with an increased chance for numerous thunderstorms and strong winds.
NWS Austin/San Antonio Meteorologist Bob Fogarty said a cold front will arrive today with storms lining up in front of the system.
“There’s a cold front which is moving toward the area (Friday, Friday night,),” Fogarty said. “Ahead of the cold front, we’re in this southerly, southeasterly flow, so we have a lot of warm moist air that’s moving in from the Gulf right now and that’s going to be in place before the front comes through. When the front comes through, we think it’ll generate thunderstorms and because of all the warm, moist air and the colder air aloft that’s coming in with the front, it’s a situation where some of those storms could get to be strong to severe.”
According to the NWS, the area of concern is along and east of Highway 281 with the greatest threat being east of Florence to Austin to Luling. The weather threat is expected to bring damaging thunderstorms with high winds and the chance of an isolated tornado and large hail.
“At this point, the most likely impacts from these storms, we think the most likely thing would be damaging wind gusts possibly as high as 70 mph and there is a chance of isolated tornadoes as the front comes through. There’s some risk of hail but it’s probably the least possible of the three,” Fogarty said.
With the first threat of dangerous weather of the year, Fogarty said being aware of the forecast and warnings will be important.
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve had anything like this so people should just be aware that the weather could get bad (Friday),” Fogarty said. “There’s also the threat of lightning and thunderstorms. So, be prepared for lightning and strong winds. There’s the possibility of a tornado. If you have tornado warning make sure you know where to go and what to do.”