Big Thunderstorms Pepper Texas to Mississippi Gulf Overnight

Powerful thunderstorms will deliver plenty of headaches across the southern Plains to the Deep South and Gulf Coast throughout overnight. Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and an isolated tornado or two will be possible.

A complex, lumbering storm will continue to foster intense thunderstorms from the Texas Gulf Coast to southern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi throughout overnight.

Tornado Watches remain in effect from southeastern Texas to southwestern and central Mississippi. McComb and Jackson, Miss., Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Lake Charles, La., and Port Arthur, Texas, are included.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect across southern Texas, including Alice, Corpus Christi, McAllen, and Brownsville.

Golf ball to isolated instances of baseball-sized hail, scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, and a few tornadoes will be the byproduct of the most intense thunderstorms.
A few peppy thunderstorms cannot be ruled out as far east as southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle as well.

Heavy, drenching rain will be part of the storm’s makeup, too. One to 3 inches is expected, with locally higher amounts of 3 to 6 inches possible. Flood Watches remain in effect across southeastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Arkansas, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the western-most Florida panhandle. Remember, if you approach a roadway covered in water, follow a simple motto – “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!”

So far today, more than 90 severe weather reports have piled up from Texas to Louisiana, as well as from eastern Pennsylvania to far south-central New York. A possible tornado touched down near Bangor, Pa., and Greenwood, La., earlier this afternoon. Tree limbs were knocked down in Myerstown, Pa., where a thunderstorm gust was clocked at 64 mph.

Make sure to know the difference between a watch and a warning should they become issued. A “watch” means that conditions are favorable for severe weather to occur and to be on alert for any rapidly changing conditions. A “warning” means that severe weather is imminent, and you should act fast to remain safe.

The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water, and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's severe weather. Remember, "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!"