Friday Morning (3/3) Update:
After Thursday night’s storms came to an end, gusty winds continued through the overnight hours. As of 9 a.m. Friday, wind gusts upwards of 20-30 mph were still a common theme found across South Central Texas.
Winds will continue to settle down after lunchtime on Friday, with plenty of sunshine in store. Drier air will make for a comfortable day as afternoon highs climb into the 70s.
Previous Update:
MAP: Current power outages in Bexar County
After a busy overnight, with large hail in spots across South Texas, quieter conditions have taken over Thursday. It’s this evening when a few more storms are forecast to develop along a front. The window for storms today will be between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. for the area. Here’s what you can expect over the next 24 hours:
Thursday Overview
- As of 5:30 p.m., the cold front has sparked up a line of storms capable of producing hail and strong wind gusts across portions of the Hill Country. This activity will continue to push eastward this evening. Plan for the front to arrive in the San Antonio area between the 7-9 p.m. timeframe, and then push through our eastern counties around 10 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for counties in yellow, running through 10 p.m. Thursday night.
- Strong, scattered wind gusts upwards of 70 mph and large hail will be the biggest threats to monitor with strong storms that form.
- After the front passes by, downright WINDY conditions take over Thursday night and Friday. Those winds could also filter in dust to portions of the area. More on that below:
Severe Weather Potential
- While the higher threat of severe weather is off to our north and east with this weather setup, isolated severe storms can’t be ruled out in South Central Texas
- As of Thursday evening, the Storm Prediction Center still has the Hill Country, northern parts of Bexar County, and areas along and east of Interstate-37 in a low-end 2/5 risk for that severe storm potential. More widespread severe weather is forecast for northeast Texas
- Gusty, strong winds and large hail will be the main concerns should a strong storm require a bit of extra attention, mainly between 5-9 p.m.
WINDY Conditions Arrive Behind the Front
- After the front passes through, a gusty northwest wind kicks up in its wake. Winds gusts upwards of 45-50 mph are possible Thursday night and into Friday morning, which could transport West Texas dust into portions of South Central Texas
- Before the front arrives on Thursday, it wouldn’t hurt to secure any loose items and make sure that trash cans are brought in close to the house
- These windy conditions are expected to continue through at least the first half of the day on Friday, before settling down a bit by lunchtime
- Dry air will also punch into South Central Texas behind the front, so elevated fire danger conditions will be in place Thursday night and Friday morning as well
- High Wind Warnings have been posted for those along the Rio Grande, with a Wind Advisory elsewhere. Meantime, A Red Flag Warning (High Fire Danger Warning) has been issued for the western half of the area from noon Thursday-3 a.m. Friday. Plan to avoid outdoor burning as any spark that catches could spread very rapidly
Temperatures into the Weekend
- After a stretch of 80 degree days this week, Thursday’s cold front looks to make for a few chilly mornings followed by comfortable afternoons into the upcoming weekend
- Jackets will briefly be needed by Friday and Saturday mornings with temperatures in the 40s, but afternoon highs should be able to climb into the 70s each day with plenty of sunshine
- Another warming trend does look to be just around the corner, with highs well into the 80s by Monday.
Weather-On-The-Go
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