A couple quick notes as we head into the mid-afternoon hours.

We’re out chasing so this may be our last update for the duration of the event.

A tornado watch will be issued soon for the Big Country and western North Texas. This watch may approach I-35.

Storms are firing in the Big Country. Some of these storms will be severe with a risk of giant hail larger than the size of a baseball. The highest tornado risk will be in Oklahoma and Kansas, but a few tornadoes are not out of the question. Damaging straight-line winds over 70 MPH are also possible with any organized line segments.

The “enhanced” level 3 risk now includes all of the Big Country, Northwest Texas, and the western half of North Texas including the D/FW Metroplex. Expect the best chance of storms to be 2 PM through about 10-11 PM (western areas first, spreading east). The highest storm threat for I-35 (including D/FW) will be 4 to 7 PM.

For the full forecast for today and tomorrow please see our detailed blog posted earlier.