Central Texas weather: Increasing chance of severe weather Thursday night, Friday morning

AUSTIN, Texas - It's a level 1 (marginal) out of 5 severe weather night.

A cold front coming in from the north will get some help from an impulse of energy coming out of Mexico to energize the atmosphere and provide enough lift to set-off late night storms.

The rain and storms will start to develop this evening in the Hill Country. The activity will start scattered but will merge into a complex of rain and storms that will advance eastbound toward Austin after midnight.

Since the storms are happening at night and most of the upper level energy is staying north, the severe weather threat will be low but can't be ruled out. 

Strong winds, loud thunder and small hail are possible late tonight.

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