High winds and large hail could hit Houston this afternoon

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 6 p.m., with possible high winds and large hail between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. this afternoon. Although winds could reach 60 to 75 mph, the storm is not expected to be as intense as the derecho that hit Houston nearly two weeks ago.

“It is possible to see isolated strong wind gusts and another round of showers and thunderstorms that will spread late tonight into early tomorrow morning,” said National Weather Service forecaster Jimmy Fowler. .

“It all depends on how bad the storms are this afternoon,” he said. “These afternoon storms could absorb a lot of the fuel and energy that the storms need this evening.”

However, if this afternoon’s storms eventually die down before reaching Houston, Fowler said there is a greater chance of storms this evening.

Where do these storms come from?

Storm clouds formed near Dallas this morning and gusty winds created thunderstorms over the Piney Woods area. These storms will move south toward Houston this afternoon. High pressure over the East Coast caused moist air to flow toward southeast Texas and the Southern Plains, providing fuel for thunderstorms to develop.

The heat index reached 115 degrees around the Houston area on Monday, preparing the atmosphere for severe weather and thunderstorms.

Fowler said the Gulf of Mexico would likely fuel future storms. Ocean temperatures have been unusually high – with one sensor in Galveston Bay reaching 90 degrees. Evaporation from the ocean is transferred to the air, so storms crossing the ocean attract water vapor and heat, increasing their intensity.

These temperatures aren’t typically seen in the ocean until much later in the summer, Fowler said.

“All of this shows how much energy is available to power these storms,” he said. “Area residents should prepare for severe weather throughout the day and be ready if a thunderstorm warning is issued.”

Nearly a million utility customers lost power across the Houston area after a severe derecho ravaged the city about two weeks ago, killing eight people. Winds reached up to 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service, toppling trees, blowing out windows and littering streets and driveways with debris.

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