Why has it been stormy in Fort Worth lately? Blame an omega block
A weather pattern shaped like a Greek letter is to blame for the various rounds of stormy weather in North Texas of late.
Severe storms are possible in the Metroplex, but mainly Central Texas, on Tuesday, May 6, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. Tarrant and Dallas counties are under a flash flood warning Tuesday.
An omega blocking pattern is described as an area of high pressure between two areas of low pressure, NWS meteorologist Juan Hernandez said.
The pattern is called this because of the shape the jet stream makes, which resembles an omega symbol (Ω). See an image of what an omega block looks like below.
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What is an omega block?
Areas in the high pressure zone are likely to stay dry, while areas in both low pressure zones will see stormy weather.
Currently, the omega block is sitting on states in the Midwest such as Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota, according to the Star-Telegram’s media partner WFAA-TV.
This means that the western low pressure zone is sitting on areas in the southwest such as Oklahoma, New Mexico and North Texas. On the flip side, the eastern low pressure zone is hovering over areas in the Great Lakes region and further east.
How long will the omega block last?
North Texas will remain in an active weather pattern for the rest of the week.
A break in storms is expected over the weekend and first half of next week, Hernandez said. Beyond that, the Metroplex could see a return to an active weather pattern in the second half of next week.
Stormy conditions will continue Tuesday afternoon as weather moves east across the region.
Low storm chances are in the mix late Wednesday, May 7, and for much of Thursday, May 8, according to the NWS. Similar weather is in store for the region on Friday, May 9, ahead of conditions transitioning to sunny and rain-free over the weekend.
