Parts of the Panhandle, South Plains and Big Country will experience an elevated risk for severe storms Thursday afternoon and evening, continuing an active weather week in west Texas and eastern New Mexico.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center forecasts an increased risk — a level three out of five risk — of severe weather Thursday for an area encompassing Lubbock, Plainview, Levelland, Abilene and Big Spring.
Amarillo, San Angelo, Midland-Odessa and Wichita Falls are included in the slight risk zone, or a level two out of five severe storm risk.
“Scattered severe storms with large hail up to baseball size, damaging winds of 60 to 75 mph and a few tornadoes are expected this afternoon through this evening from west to central Texas,” reads a convection forecast release from the Storm Prediction Center. “More isolated severe storms will be possible today from the Red River Valley into East Texas and Southwest Texas.”
NWS Lubbock predicts that local heavy rain associated with Thursday’s thunderstorms could also cause flash flooding in some areas, particularly in eastern portions of the Southern Plains and Rolling Plains.
Severe weather continues through the weekend and into next week
Thursday’s storms will follow an already destructive week of storms across west Texas and eastern New Mexico.
A straight-line wind event associated with an early morning thunderstorm Wednesday brought wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, destroying buildings and infrastructure in and around Levelland and Tahoka.
More: Levelland and Lynn County assess damage after powerful storms
A supercell produced large hail and a possible tornado just before midnight MDT Wednesday near Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis in Curry County, New Mexico.
NWS Lubbock forecasts severe weather to continue through the weekend across the South Plains and West Texas.
“The risk of thunderstorms will continue through the weekend and early next week. Saturday currently appears to be the day with the highest risk of widespread severe weather,” a statement said.
This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: The Southern Plains and Big Country could see hail, wind and tornadoes Thursday.
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