Stormy Tonight - Cooler Tomorrow!

By Gene Norman
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WHOA!!  Hold on to your hat! And that steering wheel, especially if you're headed east and west across town.  Very gusty southerly winds are blowing in advance of the cold front that's already spawning severe weather in the Southern Plains and Mid-Mississippi River Valley.  You can check recent severe weather reports here  The strength of these low-level winds has upped the ante for some severe weather closer to Houston than previously thought.  So, what does that mean for you?  Well, if you have to drive later this evening, be weather aware.  Know what you'd do if the winds picked up or there was a tornado.  It is possible that isolated tornadoes may develop, especially north and east of Houston.  

Here's the newest outlook from the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma:

The main difference between yesterday and today is that more of Southeast Texas is defined to be in the Slight Risk (yellow) category.  That means more of us could see storms producing gusty wind, hail and isolated tornadoes.  The threat is greatest from 8 pm until the pre-dawn hours Wednesday.  By then, some much colder air will move in on gusty winds from the opposite (northwest) direction.  How much colder?  Well take a look at how much colder it will be across the state by Wednesday morning:

We've been averaging 63° for the past week, so 50° will be a big change.  And it will get even colder tomorrow night.

Check my twitter and Facebook feeds for warnings as they're issued tonight and stay safe!

TONIGHT: Cloudy with showers and stronger thunderstorms from 8 pm until past midnight.  Some storms could be severe with gusty wind, hail and isolated tornadoes.  Temperatures in the low 70s early, then falling rapidly through the upper 50s as the storms move through.  Gusty southerly winds 20-25 mph, then becoming northwest 20-25 as storms move in.

NORMAN NUMBER FOR WEDNESDAY: 7
WEDNESDAY: Early morning rain exits, skies rapidly clear.  Much cooler and windy.  Highs in the low 60s.  Northwest winds 20-25 mph, diminishing by early evening.

NORMAN NUMBER FOR THURSDAY: 8
THURSDAY: Chilly morning, then becoming more seasonable with plenty of sunshine.  Lows in the morning in the mid 30s, close to freezing in far northern neighborhoods.  By afternoon, highs settle in the mid 60s.  West winds 5-10 mph.

In Houston this Saturday? Join me for Ground Hog Day at the weather museum 5104 Caroline

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