A tranquil Mother’s Day in Central Texas is expected to give way to a night of severe weather as an advancing cold front brings the potential for hurricane-force winds and large hail to the area.
The Storm Prediction Center has raised the severe weather risk for Sunday evening, designating much of the Hill Country with an “enhanced” risk level while Austin and its nearby regions are under a “slight” risk. Damaging wind gusts could exceed 75 mph, and hail larger than 2 inches is possible, alongside heavy rainfall that may lead to localized flooding.
As temperatures soar to a high of 91 degrees during the day, conditions are predicted to turn volatile after sunset. Residents are advised to have a safety plan in place as storms are expected to begin between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., with a line of storms moving from the northwest to the southeast across the Austin metro area.
Experts are particularly alarmed by the possibility of damaging straight-line winds, while a designated “hatched” area north of Austin indicates significant hail risks. Although the primary tornado threat is forecasted to remain north of the region, a brief “spin-up” tornado cannot be completely ruled out.
This shift in weather follows an unanticipated storm that produced a funnel cloud in Hutto and resulted in hail in Williamson County, highlighting how quickly conditions can change.
Once the cold front passes, temperatures are expected to cool significantly, with highs dropping into the lower 80s on Monday. The region is anticipated to warm back into the 90s later in the week, with another minor chance for rain expected on Saturday.
