Scattered thunderstorms are possible across western sections of Texas this afternoon and evening; with storms moving into the Big Country, concho Valley, and Hill Country tonight and early Wednesday morning. The most intense storms may produce hail up to the size of tennis-balls, localized damaging wind gusts over 65 MPH, and a brief tornado can’t be ruled out.
Scattered thunderstorms are forecasted to develop across the Permian Basin and West Texas this afternoon, with activity expected to pick up after 3 PM. The initial storm formations are likely to occur west of Fort Stockton, which is situated about 70 miles south of Odessa. This area is prominently recognized as a hotspot for thunderstorm development during favorable weather conditions like those predicted for today.
As the afternoon progresses, additional thunderstorms are expected to ignite around 5 PM, with storm cells gradually migrating northward into the West Texas region. These individual storms will be on a trajectory moving east and southeast throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours.
Residents should be aware of the potential hazards these storms may bring, including large hail, localized damaging winds, the creation of blowing dust, and the risk of lightning-induced fires. While the likelihood of tornadoes remains very low today, it’s important to remain vigilant, as the risk is not entirely absent.
As night falls, one or more clusters of thunderstorms may begin to organize and move east and southeast across areas such as Northwest Texas, the Big Country, the Concho Valley, the northern Edwards Plateau, and the scenic Hill Country. This nocturnal convective activity has the potential to unleash heavy rainfall, powerful wind gusts, substantial hail, and intense lightning into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Depending on the specific development and path of these storms, there’s a possibility that a complex of weakening thunderstorms could approach urban centers like Austin and San Antonio by around 4 AM Wednesday.
Moreover, we have a team of dedicated storm chasers heading toward Fort Stockton to capture live footage and observations of these developing storms. We will share their updates and insights with you later today, providing a front-row seat to the action as it unfolds. Stay tuned for more information! You can watch our Texas Weather Center live stream here. You can also track the weather with the free Texas Storm Chasers Mobile App.