As San Antonio and the Hill Country brace for severe weather, thousands who gathered for a glimpse of the solar eclipse could find themselves stuck in less than stellar conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) has put out a heads-up for potential hail, damaging winds, and lightning Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. Reports by KENS 5 indicate that hail the size of quarters and winds over 58 mph are serious risks, with even the possibility of tornadoes being thrown into the chaotic mix.
While the eclipse itself should occur within a window relatively clear of severe weather, the excitement could easily to get dampened with storms expected to whip up shortly thereafter. The NWS has issued a Level 2 risk for San Antonio and the Hill Country, marking a slight increase in the confidence that storms could, indeed, wreak havoc. "There is another risk for isolated to severe storms with a window of 3 a.m. to 8 a.m," as per KENS 5, hinting at a prolonged stretch of precarious weather on the horizon.
Neighbors in Austin aren't out of the woods either, with a Level 3 risk hanging over parts of Central Texas. "Hail as big as two-inches in diameter is possible," warns MySA. Storm chasers and weather buffs will likely be monitoring the skies for these potentially severe conditions slated to hit mainly post-eclipse, from 2 to 8 p.m. on Monday.
The aftermath of the celestial spectacle and storms continues to give concern, as the risk for isolated severe weather stretches into the early hours of April 9. "Large hail is the main threat along with cloud to ground lightning," confirms MySA, without sugarcoating the gravity of the potential danger. Subsequent storms are still on the table, coming from 8 a.m. Tuesday through 3 p.m. for all of South Central Texas, as per NWS alerts.
The storm saga doesn't quite stop there, as Wednesday morning adds yet another chapter to the tale. Central Texas, not content to sit out the severe weather spotlight, might witness its own share of strong to severe thunderstorms. Individuals, especially those returning from eclipse events, are advised to stay vigilant and abreast of the latest weather updates as these tumultuous conditions make their way through the state.
