Tornado Watch Austin: Live Updates, Storm Timeline & Safety Tips

Updated Monday, May 26 2025 — A tornado watch is in effect for Austin and the broader South-Central Texas region until 10 p.m. CDT, covering Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell and surrounding counties, as the first significant severe-weather outbreak of the season targets the I-35 corridor. What the National Weather Service says • The watch, issued at 2:36 p.m., signals atmospheric conditions are now favorable for tornadic supercells, destructive hail up to golf-ball size and wind gusts topping 70 mph. • Forecasters note a potent dry-line and upper-level trough sweeping in from West Texas will spark storms that could rapidly rotate as they tap 70°–75° dew points pooling over Central Texas. • The greatest tornado risk is expected between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. along and east of I-35, including downtown Austin. After sunset, the primary hazard shifts to damaging straight-line winds. Counties under the watch Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Lee, Fayette, Burnet, Llano, Blanco, Comal and Guadalupe. Neighboring San Antonio is also included, highlighting the regional scale of the threat. Safety checklist for Austin residents 1. Move to a small, windowless interior room on the lowest floor when warnings are issued. Mobile-home residents should relocate to a sturdy shelter now, before storms fire. 2. Keep multiple alert methods active: NOAA Weather Radio, the NWS EWX Twitter feed, local TV outlets such as KVUE’s live severe-weather stream, and wireless emergency alerts on your phone. 3. Charge phones, gather flashlights and fresh batteries; power outages are likely as 70-mph gusts threaten the grid. 4. Secure patio furniture and lightweight outdoor items to prevent them from becoming airborne debris. 5. Avoid low-water crossings after dark. Torrential rainfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour could trigger flash flooding in creeks and low-lying roadways, a perennial Central Texas danger. Storm timing & impacts • 3–5 p.m.: Isolated supercells ignite west of Fredericksburg, quickly tracking into the Hill Country. • 5–8 p.m.: Peak risk for tornadoes as storms move through Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Austin. • 8 p.m.–10 p.m.: Line of storms congeals; widespread 60–70 mph winds possible from San Marcos to Lockhart and Giddings. • After 10 p.m.: Severe threat diminishes as activity shifts toward the Brazos Valley, but lingering downpours may cause flash-flood emergencies. Context: Memorial Day climatology May is historically Austin’s most active tornado month, with the infamous Jarrell F5 striking on May 27 1997. Today’s setup is not as extreme, yet rotational parameters are strong enough to spawn brief but dangerous twisters. What happens next If tornado warnings are issued, sirens will sound; treat them as an immediate call to shelter. The NWS will reassess conditions this evening; if storms fail to develop, the watch could be canceled early, but residents should plan for the full duration. Stay weather-aware, keep your safe room ready, and monitor trusted local outlets until the National Weather Service clears the watch area.