Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Live Updates on Storm Path, Damage Reports & Safety Tips

East Texas residents are waking up to an active sky as the National Weather Service has issued multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings ahead of a potent late-November system pushing across the state. The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of central, eastern, and southeast Texas under a Level 2/5 “Slight Risk,” signaling an elevated chance for damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes this afternoon through tonight. What areas are under the warning? • Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex to College Station, Tyler, Lufkin, Austin, and Houston. • Counties highlighted so far include Tom Green, Sterling, Irion, Crockett, Milam, Robertson, Brazos, and Harris. Check your local alert service or NOAA Weather Radio for county-specific updates. Timing and storm evolution • 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Discrete cells pop along and east of I-35 from Waco to Austin. • 1 p.m.-6 p.m.: Storms organize into broken lines across the Brazos Valley and Piney Woods, producing 60-70 mph wind gusts and hail up to quarter size. • 6 p.m.-midnight: A solid squall line races toward the Sabine River and coastal counties with brief embedded tornadoes possible before pushing offshore overnight. Primary threats • Damaging straight-line winds capable of downing trees and power lines. • Large hail that can dent vehicles and roofs. • Isolated tornadoes, especially where storms remain discrete in the warm sector. • Torrential rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour could trigger flash flooding in low-lying or urban areas. Thanksgiving week forecast Behind tonight’s front, cooler, drier air arrives Tuesday, but a secondary disturbance on Wednesday may bring light showers north of I-20. Thanksgiving Day itself currently looks sunny and cool statewide, with morning lows in the 40s and afternoon highs in the 60s for most of East Texas. Safety and preparedness tips 1. Charge phones and external batteries now; scattered outages are likely. 2. Identify your safest interior room on the lowest floor—preferably a small bathroom or closet. 3. Secure outdoor holiday decorations and patio furniture before storms develop. 4. If driving, never attempt to outrun a storm. Pull over in a sturdy building; avoid seeking shelter under overpasses. 5. Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Only six inches of moving water can sweep a vehicle off the road. Bottom line Today’s Severe Thunderstorm Warning is not business as usual. Treat all warnings as if a tornado were imminent, stay weather-aware throughout the day, and have multiple ways to receive alerts even if you lose power. Quick action now can keep your family safe and your Thanksgiving plans on track.