Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued: Damaging Winds & Large Hail Threat—What You Need to Know Tonight

Residents across south-central Texas and parts of the southern Plains are bracing for another round of dangerous weather after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a fresh severe thunderstorm warning overnight, forecasting hail up to golf-ball size, wind gusts topping 70 mph, and torrential rain capable of triggering flash floods. According to the Storm Prediction Center’s Day 2 Convective Outlook, a broad swath from the Hill Country through the Rio Grande Valley sits under a “slight risk” category, while surrounding areas—including portions of the Northern Rockies, High Plains and Upper Midwest—face a marginal risk for isolated severe cells later today. Forecasters warn that any storm clusters moving along the stalled frontal boundary could quickly intensify, producing damaging straight-line winds strong enough to down trees and power lines. POWERFUL CELLS ALREADY FIRING Short-lived supercells erupted west of San Antonio just after midnight Wednesday, prompting multiple warnings and generating radar-indicated hail cores nearly two inches in diameter. Localized flooding shut down low-water crossings in Bexar and Comal counties as hourly rain rates topped three inches. Emergency managers reported at least 8,000 customers briefly without power before crews began restoration efforts. THREATS SHIFT SOUTH AND EAST BY EVENING As daytime heating builds, the thunderstorm complex is expected to sag toward the Gulf Coast, maintaining the potential for: • Wind gusts 60–70 mph • Hail 1–2 inches in diameter • Isolated, quick-spin tornadoes—especially where outflow boundaries intersect the main front • Flash flooding in urban corridors with poor drainage Farther north, energy diving out of the Rockies may spark widely scattered storms across Montana and the Dakotas late this afternoon. While coverage will be lower, any storm that develops in these regions could become severe thanks to steep lapse rates and ample mid-level shear. WHAT TO DO IF A WARNING IS ISSUED • Move indoors immediately, staying away from windows. • Secure outdoor furniture, grills and lawn equipment that could become dangerous projectiles. • Avoid driving through flooded roadways; just 12 inches of moving water can float a vehicle. • Keep cell phones charged and enable Wireless Emergency Alerts. • Monitor a NOAA Weather Radio or trusted local media for updates. POWER OUTAGE PREP Have flashlights, fresh batteries and a fully charged backup battery pack ready. Residents relying on medical devices should verify that generators are fueled and operational. LOOKING AHEAD Models suggest the stubborn storm corridor may finally shift southward by Thursday, allowing drier, warmer conditions to build into central Texas and the South Plains later this week. Until then, officials urge vigilance: “Warnings mean severe weather is happening now—take cover and stay informed,” the NWS reiterated in a late-night bulletin, reminding the public that just 10 percent of the 100,000 thunderstorms the United States sees each year reach severe criteria.