Severe Big Country storms recap; what to expect the next few days

ABILENE, Texas (BCH Weather) – Tuesday’s storms developed as expected in the northwestern part of the Big Country, becoming severe around 4:00 p.m. in Kent County, and pushing into Fisher County around 6:00 with high winds and hail.

Just before 6:00 p.m., The storm strengthened and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued as the storm contained wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour and half dollar size hail.

Meteorologists at the NWS office in San Angelo did receive a confirmation from the Texas Division of Emergency Managment (TDEM) that the train derailment in Trent was due to strong thunderstorm winds.

WITNESS FOOTAGE: High winds derail train near Trent

This storm continued to push southeast and split into two storms, which is why there were two severe thunderstorm warnings at once. The first one was issued just before 8:00 p.m. for west central Callahan, southeastern Nolan, northwestern Runnels, and Taylor counties. The second warning was issued at 8:15 for northwestern Callahan, southeastern Jones, northeastern Taylor, and southwestern Shackelford counties. Both storms had wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and quarter size hail.

Both storms weakened shortly after that. One of the warnings were cancelled by the NWS shortly after 8:30 p.m. and the last warning was allowed to expire at 9:15. Here’s what we can expect over the next several days:

For Wednesday, we are expecting a similar play out with the development of storms in the area. If storms are able to develop, they will form out to the west and move east into the area. Coverage is expected to remain isolated meaning, once again, not everyone will see storms in the Big Country.

Some positive news is that the latest model runs aren’t too confident in storm development for Wednesday. The cloudy conditions are prohibiting daytime heating, which would give storms a shot at developing.

Make sure you have multiple ways to receive updates if we see storms start to form.

For Thursday, thunderstorms are expected to develop west of the area along the dryline Thursday evening, as lift increases ahead of the shortwave trough. Thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage across West Central Texas mainly after midnight, as the dryline-Pacific front advances eastward.

Ample low level moisture, coupled with strong deep layer shear, will support some severe storms well into the overnight hours with the greatest threat expected from the Concho Valley northward into the Big Country.

Large hail and damaging winds will be the primary hazards, although a couple of tornadoes will be possible as low-level shear increases with a strengthening low-level jet. Thunderstorms are expected to end early Friday morning as storms move off to the east.

Another upper level trough will develop over the Desert Southwest early Saturday and is forecast to lift northeast into the central-southern Plains late Saturday night and early Sunday.

This system will bring a chance of thunderstorms to the area Saturday into early Sunday, along with another threat for some severe storms.

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