Weather Alerts Issued for Deep East Texas, Forecasters Warn of Massive Hail

Forecasters are warning residents of Deep East Texas today and tonight of the possibility of huge hail, damaging wind gusts, isolated flooding, and a tornado or two.

Two Severe Thunderstorm Watches covering 4 states (Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) are now in effect, one until 7 p.m. and the other until 8 p.m.

East Texas Counties Included in Both Severe Thunderstorm Watches

Angelina, Cherokee, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler Counties are within the watches. This includes the cities of Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Center, San Augustine, Woodville, Livingston, Crockett, Groveton, Carthage, Jasper, Alto, and Henderson.

The watch area extends through all of northern Louisiana, extreme southeastern Arkansas, and central Mississippi.

 What To Expect Today and Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms have started developing late this morning across parts of the Pineywoods.

The atmosphere is ripe for more cells to develop, some of which should become severe. 

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The primary threats will include damaging straight-line winds, some with gusts to 70 mph; widespread hail events, with some isolated very large hail events to 3 inches in diameter; heavy downpours with isolated flooding; and a tornado or two can not be ruled out.

READ MORE: Where is the Updated Tornado Alley?

Dangerous Hail Appears to Be The Biggest Concern

Although all forms of severe weather are possible across Deep East Texas, the biggest threat will probably come from large hail events.

The red-hatched area in the map above is the region at the highest risk of large to very large hail events. Tennis to softball-sized hail could occur, especially in central Texas. This wide area includes Del Rio, Austin, San Antonio, Waco, Lufkin/Nacogdoches, and Tyler/Longview.

Anyone living in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.