Large hail, damaging winds possible in North Texas. Here’s when severe storms arrive Wednesday
Severe storms will bring a chance of large hail and damaging winds to North Texas on Wednesday, March 12.
A “potent” weather system will enter North and Central Texas on Wednesday, steering the development of a dryline, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. A dryline is the boundary separating dry and moist air masses, where severe thunderstorms often develop.
The dryline will move east across the region through Wednesday afternoon and a few thunderstorms are expected to develop near and east of it, the NWS said. Storm timing will be from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday.
There’s potential for these storms to become severe and be capable of producing large hail and damaging winds. While the tornado threat is low, the NWS said they can’t rule out an isolated tornado.
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Strong winds to increase fire danger
A red flag warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday for several western counties, including Palo Pinto, Young, Jack, Stephens and Erath counties.
This warning is issued when there are critical fire weather conditions are happening or about to happen, according to the NWS. The warning doesn’t mean there is an ongoing fire, just that conditions will be extremely dry and windy.
Strong winds with gusts up to 35 mph are expected to develop late Wednesday afternoon west of the dryline. Relative humidity values will be between 10-15%, resulting in dry fuels like wildland vegetation (grasses, shrubbery) rapidly drying.
Gusty winds, dry fuels and low relative humidity, will produce fire weather conditions along and west of U.S. Highway 281, according to the NWS. Containing the fire will be difficult, due to the strong winds.
The fire and severe weather threats will both end Wednesday evening, as relative humidity increases and storms shift east out of the region.
