A tornado warning for Brazos, Burleson, Robertson and Milam counties expired at 5:45 p.m., the National Weather Service said. Those counties have been under a severe thunderstorm warning as of 5:15 p.m., the NWS said.
At 5:17 p.m., the NWS said a powerful thunderstorm that could produce a tornado was located near Hearne.
At 5:27 p.m., NWS said a severe squall line capable of producing both tornadoes and straight line wind damage was located 8 miles south of Hearne.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Central Texas through midnight Thursday. Flash flooding is possible in low-lying and poor drainage areas Wednesday into Thursday.
One and a half to 2 inches of rain with isolated higher amounts of 4 to 6 inches is expected. Don’t let your guard down. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon into the evening.
Large hail, damaging wind gusts, minor flooding, and isolated tornadoes -- mainly south -- are primary threats.
TIMELINE
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to move east from 8 a.m.
We will be watching a slow – moving cold front and a strong upper level low ignite showers and thunderstorms over much of the state. More rain will blossom over West Texas and move in our direction late-morning into mid-afternoon. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will then linger into the evening hours.
Our environment is still favorable for severe thunderstorms after noon to 6 p.m.
Most of Central Texas is included in a level 2 “slight risk.”
CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS
Killeen Independent School District students were kept inside Wednesday and several events were postponed or canceled due to weather.
- Shoemaker High School softball playoff game against Rockwell in Waco has been postponed from tonight. The teams will play a double header at 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and a final game on Saturday at 2 p.m. if needed.
- All Middle School soccer games canceled today and rescheduled for the same times on Friday.
- Patterson Middle School PTO meeting at 6 p.m. canceled.
- Willow Springs Elementary School Talent Show scheduled for tonight has been postponed until May 7.
- Fowler Elementary School canceled all after-school clubs today.
TRAFFIC CENTER | Keep a check on traffic
Peebles Elementary School canceled its after-school tutoring Wednesday due to weather, according to a tweet by the school district.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Showers and thunderstorms along a slow–moving cold front dumped heavy rain in areas from Midland to Dallas-Fort Worth. Downpours caused flooding at Dallas Love Field and parts of Collin County in North Texas received in excess of 7 inches of rain since Tuesday afternoon.
Chief Meteorologist Andy Andersen said softball-sized hail was reported Tuesday afternoon in areas of Sweetwater, TX.
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Hail and heavy rain up to 2 inches in some areas will continue to be a possible threat as the storm system moves through Central Texas, Andersen said.
It will be noticeably cooler with temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. It will be breezy at times with wind gusts up to 20 mph.
Lingering spotty showers continue into Thursday morning then rain will dry out and we'll see a clear Thursday afternoon.
Sunshine expected Friday through next Monday with highs in the low to mid-80s.
Be sure to prepare your safe place in your home or at your job in case of a weather emergency.
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