Severe storms, flash flooding threat returns to Hill Country on Tuesday

A stretch of active and potentially dangerous weather is forecast to return to the Hill Country beginning Tuesday afternoon, with the greatest threat arriving Tuesday evening and continuing into early Wednesday morning.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 of 5 (Slight) risk for severe storms across the Rio Grande Plains, with a Level 1 of 5 (Marginal) risk extending east into the Hill Country and along the Interstate 35 corridor. Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the primary severe weather concerns. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Tuesday itself should be mostly sunny with storms not expected to fire until after 4 p.m. The real activity ramps up Tuesday night, when an upper-level trough approaching from the west will generate storms over the Rio Grande Plains and northern Hill Country before they slide south and east across the region. An 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is in the forecast for Tuesday night, with rain continuing into Wednesday at a 50 percent chance.

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 of 4 (Slight) risk for excessive rainfall across south central Texas from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning, with 1 to 3 inches of rainfall likely and locally higher amounts possible. Flash flooding is a concern, particularly in areas that have already seen significant rainfall in recent weeks.

Residents are urged to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings — including wireless emergency alerts, a weather radio, or a trusted local news source — and to never drive through flooded roadways.

Drier and warmer conditions are expected to return by late week before rain chances increase again this weekend.