SEVERE STORM RISK: Worst still to come

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The risk of severe thunderstorms continues to increase as the Storm Prediction Center has an Enhanced risk for much of Lampasas, northeast Burnet, northern Williamson and much of Milam Counties.

Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms across most of Central Texas, increased to a level 3 out of 5 risk for northern counties

Watches

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the majority of Central Texas, including the Austin metro counties, until 10 p.m.

Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for Lampasas County and north until 10 p.m.

A Tornado Watch in effect until 10 p.m.

For now the Austin metro and our eastern counties have not been included in any watches.

Timing

A strong Pacific cold front will move in from the west early to mid-afternoon with numerous showers and thunderstorms ahead of it. Below is an hour-by-hour estimate of the timing of this front:

Storms move into the Hill Country around 4PM-5PM

Future radar ~6PM

Storms approach the Austin-metro area 6PM-7PM

Storms passing through the eastern counties 7PM-9PM

The showers and thunderstorms are out of here by 10 p.m.

Threats

Here are the threats for this severe weather potential tomorrow.

Regardless of the risk in your area, all residents should be weather-aware Thursday. Having the KXAN Weather App is an easy way to get potentially life-saving severe weather information.

The upper low and the cold front will be east of our area late Thursday night. A northwest-to-west wind coming in behind the front will gust in excess of 30 to 40+ mph. These strong will last until early Friday afternoon. There is a Wind Advisory that will be in effect from 3 p.m. until midnight Thursday for west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph.

Wind Advisory in effect today (Thursday) 3PM to midnight

Stay with First Warning Weather both on-air and online for further updates.