A tornado watch has been issued until 2 a.m. Central Time for western and central Louisiana and far southeastern Texas by the Storm Prediction Center. The watch covers areas such as Lake Charles and Alexandria in Louisiana, and Port Arthur in Texas. Severe thunderstorms are expected to move from Texas into Louisiana on Thursday evening, bringing the continued risk of tornadoes and strong winds.
The Storm Prediction Center stated, “Thunderstorms will continue to present a threat for tornadoes this evening and overnight as they move east-northeastward into parts of western and central Louisiana.” The Center also mentioned the possibility of damaging winds up to 60-65 mph and isolated hail.
Over 4 million people in southeastern Texas, including Houston, are under a level 3 of 5 severe storm threat on Thursday afternoon according to the Storm Prediction Center. The Center is cautioning of several tornadoes, including a strong tornado or two, and large hail moving from east Texas into Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and far west central Mississippi overnight.
Governor Abbott instructed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate state emergency response resources ahead of the severe weather threat across the eastern portion of the state. He emphasized the importance of monitoring road conditions, creating an emergency plan, and following the guidance of state and local officials.
The severe storm threat is anticipated to intensify across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi River Valley by Thursday afternoon and extend into the evening as a low-pressure system strengthens in the region. Cities such as Houston and Austin could experience severe wind gusts, damaging hail, and a few tornadoes.
A lesser severe storm threat extends from central Texas to central Arkansas, western Mississippi, and southern Louisiana, encompassing cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock, and Baton Rouge. The total population under some form of severe storm threat on Thursday surpasses 20 million people.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the severe storm threat is predicted to diminish across the South on Friday but escalate again on Saturday. The Storm Prediction Center warns that all severe-weather modes and hazards, including large hail, damaging wind, and tornadoes, could occur as storms develop east-northeastward on Saturday afternoon and night.
Cities like Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Birmingham, and Montgomery may see a lower chance of storms on Saturday. These storms could impact the East Coast by Sunday, potentially causing delays for holiday travelers returning home.
According to AAA, a record number of travelers are expected to travel from December 21 to January 1, with 119.3 million people projected to travel 50 miles or more from home. This is 3 million more than the same period last year.
On the West Coast, a highly active weather pattern is bringing coastal rainfall, gusty winds, mountain snowfall, and dangerous waves as travelers head home for the holidays. High wind alerts are in place for the lower elevations of the Northwest and Northern California, with winds reaching 40 to 60 mph and isolated gusts even higher.
Wind speeds of more than 65 mph are anticipated to impact various regions, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a warning regarding potential hazards. The service cautioned that these damaging winds could result in the toppling of trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages. Travel conditions are expected to be challenging, particularly for high-profile vehicles.
In addition to the wind concerns, high waves are being amplified along the majority of the West Coast. Consequently, a series of alerts have been put in place for high surf and coastal flooding. Winter weather alerts are also active in portions of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and Rockies due to ongoing moisture impacts in the region. Snowfall ranging from 6 to over 18 inches, coupled with gusts potentially exceeding 70 mph, may result in reduced visibility, near-impossible travel conditions, and damage to vegetation and power infrastructure.
A subsequent atmospheric river-driven storm is on the horizon, poised to deliver another round of rainfall to coastal and valley areas, along with snowfall in mountainous regions. Gusty winds and high surf are also expected to accompany this system as it traverses the West on Friday. Further storms are projected to potentially affect the region over the weekend.
