Severe Thunderstorm Warning Tonight: Track the Storm, Timing, and Safety Tips for Your Area

Residents across central and southeast Texas are facing an active Severe Thunderstorm Warning tonight as a potent line of Memorial Day storms sweeps eastward, packing damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, hail larger than golf balls, and torrential downpours that could trigger flash flooding. Forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) extended a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that now covers the Houston metro area until 5 a.m. CDT Tuesday, warning that storms moving out of the Hill Country will retain their intensity well after midnight. At the same time, a separate warning remains in effect for portions of the Brazos Valley, College Station, and Bryan, where wind-blown debris and isolated power outages have already been reported. In Austin, the heaviest rain has temporarily eased, but meteorologists caution that additional storms redeveloping along the I-35 corridor could quickly reignite flooding concerns, especially in low-lying and urban areas. Meanwhile, Dallas–Fort Worth commuters endured rush-hour gridlock earlier after hail up to 1.25 inches blanketed sections of I-20 and I-30, prompting multiple spin-outs and stalled vehicles. Key impacts expected overnight • Damaging straight-line winds 60–70 mph capable of knocking down trees and power lines • Large hail from 1-2 inches in diameter that can shatter windshields and damage roofs • Rainfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour leading to flash flooding of creeks, bayous, and poorly drained city streets • Very low tornado risk, but any embedded rotating cell could briefly produce a quick spin-up Safety checklist while the Severe Thunderstorm Warning is active 1. Charge mobile devices and flashlights before potential outages. 2. Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and trampolines; loose items become dangerous projectiles in strong wind. 3. Park vehicles in a garage or under a sturdy carport to guard against hail damage. 4. Avoid driving through flooded roadways—just 12 inches of moving water can sweep away a car. 5. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on smartphones so you receive instant NWS updates. What happens after the line passes? Behind tonight’s storms, a drier westerly flow should arrive by late Tuesday morning, allowing skies to clear and temperatures to climb into the upper 80s. However, soil saturation will remain high, so additional rainfall later this week may renew flooding threats. Keep an eye on updated forecasts from the NWS and trusted local meteorologists for any new watches or warnings. Why this outbreak turned severe An upper-level trough diving across the Desert Southwest collided with Gulf moisture and daytime heating across Texas, creating extreme instability. Wind shear in the lowest 6,000 feet of the atmosphere further organized scattered storms into a solid squall line. When cold downdraft air surges forward faster than the storm tops, damaging “bow echoes” form—often responsible for the most intense straight-line wind events. How to track storms in real time • NWS website (weather.gov) offers radar loops and county-specific warnings updated every two minutes. • Local TV stations stream live Doppler radar coverage and ground reports during wall-to-wall severe weather breaks. • NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts 24/7 and is battery-powered for use during outages. • Social media: follow @NWSHouston, @NWSSanAntonio, and @NWSFortWorth for geo-targeted alerts. Insurance tip: Photograph your roof, siding, and vehicles before storms hit. If you need to file a claim, “before” pictures can speed up the adjuster’s process. Bottom line Stay indoors, away from windows, and be prepared to move to an interior room on the lowest floor if warnings escalate. This Severe Thunderstorm Warning covers a broad swath of Texas tonight, and the hazards—destructive wind, large hail, and flash floods—can be just as dangerous as tornadoes. Remain weather-aware, heed all official alerts, and revisit your family’s emergency plan now instead of during the height of the storm.