South Plains updated severe weather outlook
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Scattered thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening. As has been the pattern, some of these storms may become severe. Have a plan in place for you and your family in case severe weather threatens.
What will everyone do? Where will everyone go? How will you contact each other? What’s the plan if there is no cell service? Put your plan together when the weather is calm, before severe weather may hit.
Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, and again Friday and Friday night, may produce wind gusts greater than 60 mph, hail up to around 2 inches, and flooding downpours. An isolated tornado or two is possible. The main threats are flooding and hail.
Rain chances will drop Saturday, but storms and rain will still be possible. Scattered storms remain throughout our 7 Day Forecast.
Outside of storms and showers, it will be mostly cloudy, a little breezy, humid, with highs continuing below average. Temperatures will peak in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees through the weekend. The first weekend of June.
Watch for forecast updates and watches and warnings which may be issued. You can keep up with storms, watches, and warnings, 24-7 here on our Weather Page and in our KCBD Weather app - it’s free in your app/play store.
Use our free KCBD Weather app to keep up with the latest forecast and any watches or warnings which may be issued. Turn on notifications. If a watch or warning is issued for your location the app will alert you. Even if it is not running (if you give it permission). Notifications are under Settings in the app menu (three horizontal bars in the upper left).
Watches and Warnings
In advance of anticipated severe weather, the National Weather Service (NWS) may issue a WATCH. In the case of a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch, this will cover a large area, many counties and perhaps portions of multiple states, and a long time, generally from one to six hours.
A WATCH is your heads up that the type of weather noted is possible during the watch time. Make a plan for you and your loved ones. Plan what you can do to prepare for the possible weather and what will you do if it heads your way.
Once severe weather is imminent or occurring, the NWS typically issues a WARNING. In the case of a severe thunderstorm or tornado, it will cover a small area, a portion of one or several counties* for a short amount of time, generally from 20 to 60 minutes.
A WARNING is your call to action. Put your plan into action. You need to have that plan before the weather turns severe. There likely won’t be time to make a plan and execute it once severe weather is on your doorstep.
*This is why you need to know what county you are in and the counties around you, and in what direction.
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