Storms return to the Brazos Valley later this week. Here’s why we need to keep an eye on them
Overall severe weather concern is LOW but certainly not zero
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - After a light freeze and frost for some Monday and another cold 30-something° start for most Tuesday, there certainly is a winter feel in the Brazos Valley. As the next weathermaker links up with a deep slug of tropical moisture, a few bumps in the form of rain and thunderstorms are in store as we close out the month of November. These may even try to take on a spring-like feel as we monitor for a chance at a few strong-to-severe storms Thursday.
THE NUTS & BOLTS
A tight swirl was noted on satellite in the Pacific Ocean, due west of Northern California Tuesday. This is the next upper-level storm system that will swing across the Western United States to reach Texas by Thursday. It also kinks the jet stream into a favorable position to allow for rain and thunderstorms to lift and form west and on top of the Brazos Valley.
At the same time, a slug of deep tropical moisture is lurking in the far Southern Gulf of Mexico. This will be picked up by the upper-level winds and sideswipe Southeast Texas between Wednesday and Friday. This increase in atmospheric moisture will set the stage for the potential for heavy rainfall during this event.
STRONG-TO-SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT PROMISED, BUT CERTAINLY NOT RULED OUT
Rain and thunderstorms are possible as early as Thursday morning. Overcast skies and the chance of an early round of scattered showers will likely keep a “cap” -- basically limiting factors -- for thunderstorms to build and reach the greatest instability the atmosphere holds early in the day.
Breaks in the clouds by early afternoon will allow for temperatures to rise into the 70s and the atmosphere to destabilize. The high moisture content, combined with daytime heating and lift along the front, will provide some fuel for storms to develop. As winds increase and turn in direction with height, this will create “spin” in the atmosphere conducive for rotating and potential supercell thunderstorms. If storms manage to break past the limiting factors and tap into these dynamics, all types of severe weather would need to be monitored for, including:
- Damaging, strong wind in excess of 40-60mph
- Large hail between the size of a quarter and an egg in diameter
- Frequent lightning
- Minor street or low-lying flooding
- A tornado or two
As of Tuesday evening, the Storm Prediction Center had not included the Brazos Valley in any sort of severe weather risk for Thursday. That could change as new outlooks are issued Tuesday and Wednesday.
HOW MUCH RAIN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?
There is plenty of tropical moisture to tap into as this next rain event passes through Central and Southeast Texas. While rainfall totals are not expected to be uniform area-wide, 0.5″ to 1″ of rain very well could be common. Stronger thunderstorms could release a quick 1.5″ to 2″ as they race from west to east. These storms should be quick movers -- storm motion is currently forecast around 40 mph. Overall flooding concern is low, but the typical haunts when heavy rain falls in a short amount of time will need to be monitored.
Considering this weather maker is still split into two parts over two separate bodies of water, the forecast will need to be fine-tuned over the next 24 to 36 hours. Timing and severe potential -- or not -- will be better handled as high-resolution forecast models come into range of the rain event and this Pacific low moves over more data points in the Western US. Updates can be found as we have them here on KBTX.com, in your KBTX PinPoint Weather app, and on-air.
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