A rare mid-July cold front is barging into Texas on Friday, cranking up the odds of severe thunderstorms across the Panhandle and dropping pockets of heavy rain farther south. Forecasters say storms could fire from afternoon through overnight, packing large, damaging hail and strong wind gusts. Central Texas, baked by weeks of heat, may finally see multiple rounds of soaking rain, but that also means a higher risk of localized flash flooding in vulnerable spots. Officials are urging residents to line up more than one way to get alerts and to be ready to shelter quickly if watches or warnings are issued.
The National Weather Service office in Amarillo flagged the potential for another round of storms to congeal into a line this evening, with large hail and damaging winds topping the concern list. Forecasters specifically highlighted the central Panhandles as most at risk and noted hail up to roughly 1.25 inches - about half dollar size - in the strongest storm cores. Communities around Amarillo are encouraged to stay on top of local alerts and be ready to head indoors in a hurry. For the latest county-level details, check NWS Amarillo.
Regional coverage has underscored how out of season this setup is. CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco called the pattern "highly unusual by July standards," and local reporting has pinned the likely storm window at roughly 3 p.m. through 1 a.m., with a low tornado risk that still cannot be completely ruled out. The same coverage points to the possibility of several inches of rain in parts of Central Texas over the next few days. Read the full breakdown and quotes in MySA.
Large Rain Risk For Central Texas
The Weather Prediction Center's short-range outlook highlights boosted rain chances for parts of Central Texas, with forecast models suggesting pockets of around 1 to 2 inches of rain over a few days. That may be enough to trigger urban and small-stream flooding if storms keep training over the same neighborhoods. The combination of that rainfall signal and slow-moving storms is a key reason forecasters are stressing caution around low-lying roads and areas that flood easily. For national QPF maps and updates, visit the Weather Prediction Center.
Where The Threat Is Highest
For now, the most clearly defined hail and wind threat is focused on the Texas Panhandle and nearby South Plains. Storms that pop there could organize into damaging clusters that slide southeast. Central Texas is more likely to deal with heavy, training thunderstorms and localized flooding than with the biggest hail, although a few isolated hail reports are still on the table. Because small-scale features will shift the timing and narrow corridor of greatest risk, residents should lean on hourly forecasts tailored to their specific county.
How To Stay Safe
When severe storms are in the forecast, the National Weather Service offers a simple rule: "When thunder roars, go indoors." That means moving to an interior room away from windows and steering clear of driving through flooded or hail-covered roads. Keep a NOAA Weather Radio or trusted alert app close for real-time warnings, and follow the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" guideline if you encounter standing water on a roadway. Secure or bring in loose outdoor items and, when possible, park vehicles under cover, since large hail can dent metal and shatter glass. For more official preparedness tips, see the NWS severe weather safety page.
