AUSTIN (KXAN) — Clouds increase today ahead of a western storm that will bring rain, isolated thunderstorms, and a low-end tornado risk to parts of Central Texas on Thursday.
Today, gray skies will keep temperatures down. We’ll be lucky if we clip 60º this afternoon. As clouds lower and thicken late in the day and the atmosphere moistens, drizzle, mist and light fog develop this evening, but generally we should stay dry during the daylight hours today.
On Thursday, we are expecting a low risk of severe thunderstorms in our eastern communities, including the possibility of a brief, weak tornado.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms Thursday morning through early afternoon may begin to rotate, mainly east of I-35, potentially leading to an isolated, weak tornado similar to what Caldwell County saw in late October.
NEW this morning, the severe weather risk has increased to a 2 out of 5 for areas just east of Austin and now an “Enhanced” risk (3 out of 5) for some of our eastern counties where the tornado risk is highest.
Any potential tornadoes that are able to develop are not expected to be strong nor widespread, but residents near and east of Austin should stay tuned to KXAN and download the First Warning Weather app for severe weather updates. If a tornado warning is issued in your area, seek shelter away from windows and inside of a sturdy building.
The highest risk for a quick tornado to develop would be from mid-morning through early afternoon on Thursday.
After 0.10″-0.50″ of rain on Thursday, sunshine comes out late Thursday and we settle into a warmer and drier period this weekend and into next week.
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