Strong To Severe Weather Possible In East Texas Monday Evening

At the time of this posting: a Tornado WATCH is in effect until 6p for the following East Texas counties:

• Delta County
• Hunt County
• Kaufman County
• Rockwall County
• Titus County
• Wood County
• Van Zandt County
• Rains County
• Hopkins County
• Franklin County

East Texans will want to be weather-aware this afternoon and evening. A strong cold front moving through the area could cause a line of strong to severe thunderstorms.

Severe weather typically occurs during springtime in East Texas. However, there is a second severe weather season that we all must be aware of during the fall. As cold fronts slam into the warm, humid air that sits over East Texas, arriving from the Gulf of Mexico, the collision of these two weather phenomena has the potential to produce severe weather of all kinds.

This scenario will play out over East Texas this afternoon and again this evening, as we have the potential for two rounds of heavy rainfall and severe weather. Before that, though, we can expect mostly cloudy skies, windy conditions, and a few showers in the area.

Severe weather threats for East Texas for today include:

• heavy rainfall
• strong winds
• large hail
• flash flooding
• tornadoes

The Storm Prediction Center has the majority of East Texas under a slight risk for severe weather, whereas counties along I-30 are under an enhanced risk for the potential of severe weather this afternoon through early Tuesday morning. As the threat level goes up so does the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes.

However, if you are still in any risk area, you could experience any or all forms of severe weather. During this evening you'll want to remain weather aware and be able to receive weather alerts from your phone in the event of a severe weather breakout, we will interrupt our regular programming and join the First Alert Storm Team at KLTV 7 who will update us on the weather that is moving through.

East Texas could use the rain, just not the severe weather

All of East Texas is considered to be in 'severe drought' as of October 29th, according to the US Drought Monitor. Before Friday of last week, it had been nearly two months since East Texas saw any amount of measurable rain. Let's hope the rain we receive throughout the next few days is enough to lift some of these burn bans and our vegetation gets rehydrated.

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