Severe storm risk with main threats strong winds, small hail
AUSTIN, Texas - Rain and stormy start to the week! All the ingredients are coming together later today and tonight to see numerous showers and storms.
A cold front is on a collision course with all the warm and humid air that is in place. We will get two rounds of rain.
The first one will arrive late morning to early afternoon and then the second round pushes through this evening.
The second round could consist of a line of strong to severe storms.
The Storm Prediction Center has put much of the area under a slight risk (Level 2) of severe storms.
The main threat will be damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph.
The rain will be in and out quickly so rain totals will stay below flooding criteria with half to one inch of rain.
A few of those storms could produce strong winds and some small hail. A tornado is possible in the strongest storms, though the potential is not particularly high.
Flash flooding is not expected to be an issue given how dry the area is and the quick movement of the storms.
Stay weather aware because the weather is changing. Behind the front tomorrow the sunshine returns along with the Autumn chill.
Timing of the storms
Showers and thunderstorms will start the day. Showers are likely right around sunrise with scattered light rain expected through the afternoon.
In the evening more potent thunderstorms will be possible.
The strongest storms could form in along the Travis/Bastrop, Hays/Caldwell county lines and move east. That should mean the worst of the storms will be well east of Austin.
A location to watch for will be southern Hays County and western Caldwell County where there is the potential for storms to develop and become strong to severe.
Finally, a line of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms are expected to move through central Texas as a final cold front drives through the region.
The rain should be done with our viewing area by midnight to 1 am Tuesday.
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