Tornado watch in effect for all counties, parishes south of I-20 until 7 p.m.
Today is a First Alert Weather Day for the threat of widespread severe weather throughout the day. A Tornado Watch has now been issued for all counties & parishes south of I-20 until 7 p.m. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch continues for the northern portions of NW Louisiana, the southern counties of SW Arkansas and portions of NE. Texas until 3pm. Strong storm chances continue to increase throughout the morning hours, make sure you have a way to receive weather alerts.
A warm front will be lifting up to the I-20 corridor throughout the afternoon and low pressure system from the west will also be building in. These combined will create enough stability for the threat of widespread severe weather. The Moderate Risk was shifted to the southeastern portions of NW Louisiana and far southeast Texas. Shreveport-Bossier is not under the Enhanced Risk. No matter what severe weather risk you are under today, stay weather aware. Storms could form in any portion of our area today. Make sure to stay indoors, especially this afternoon. It could be dangerous to travel in these conditions.
What exactly does a Moderate Risk mean? A moderate risk is one of our more elevated risks of severe weather. Widespread severe weather activity, whether that be thunderstorms, hail, high winds, or tornadoes are possible. The difference between this threat is that if tornadoes were to form, they could strong, long tracking tornadoes. There is also a higher risk of seeing widespread damage due to severe thunderstorms.
The main threats continue to be high damaging wind gusts and tornadoes continue to be likely across the area. The entire southeastern half of the ArkLaTex has been hatched by the Storm Prediction Center. This means that there is a higher probability that if tornadoes form, they could be quite significant or a long-track tornado. The largest threat of seeing tornadoes would be associated with any supercells or strong storms that would be produced ahead of the cold front.
As far as timing, storms will start to impact E TX and SE OK after noon today. Storms will then push into NW LA and SW AR around 4pm and east of the area between 8-9pm. Although the severe weather threat will diminish later tonight, we still do have the chance of seeing scattered rain and thunderstorms.
Heavy rainfall continues to be a threat, especially in portions of SW Arkansas and E. Texas throughout the day. An additional 2-4″ could fall in the area over a shot amount of time. The Flash Flood Watch was extended to now includes most of E. Texas & all of NW Louisiana as well as all of SW Arkansas.
A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for all of the ArkLaTex until 9pm tonight. Strong gusty winds from the southwest are possible all day long & a severe thunderstorm could make them even higher.
Make sure you are prepared before storms hit your area with a severe weather plan in place. Also make sure you know where the safest place is in your home: lowest level, most interior room, & no windows.