LUBBOCK, Texas — The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Oklahoma and Texas until 10:00 p.m. Friday.

“Any thunderstorm that develops would be capable of producing large hail up to 3″ in diameter and strong straight line winds up to 75 mph,” the NWS website said.

Thunderstorm warnings were issued, starting at 6:51 p.m. (See the highlights before for more information.)

NWS released information earlier in the day Friday about the possibility of hazardous weather in the South Plains, Rolling Plains and the far Southern Texas Panhandle. The counties in the weather outlook included Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, Childress, Bailey, Lamb, Hale, Floyd, Motley, Cottle, Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, Crosby, Dickens, King, Yoakum, Terry, Lynn, Garza, Kent and Stonewall counties.

“Thunderstorms, some severe, will be possible across areas on the Caprock this afternoon and evening. The primary hazards associated with any storms that form will be hail up to the size of baseballs and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. Though low, the threat for tornadoes and localized flooding cannot be ruled out,” the NWS said.

  • Near Olton (Nexstar/Staff)
  • 2 miles South of Hart (Nexstar/Staff)

According to the National Weather Service, a wind advisory is in effect from 1:00 p.m. Friday through 1:00 a.m. Saturday.

“Strong winds out of the south are expected throughout most of today, with sustained winds between 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 50 mph possible across the Caprock and Rolling Plains,” the NWS website said.

According to the NWS, the dry and windy weather Saturday would lead to critical fire danger, so a Fire Weather Watch will be in effect from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. NWS data showed wind speeds could be near 30 mph for some areas.

Highlights

  • 5:55 a.m. Windy conditions will exist for much of Friday, with winds of 25-35 mph gusting to 50 mph expected. Thunderstorms will be possible Friday afternoon and evening, with large hail and wind up to 70 mph being the greatest threat, but tornadoes & localized flooding are possible.
  • 2:32 p.m. There’s a risk of storms tonight. While the chances decrease the further south one goes, any storm that forms can be expected to become severe. Watch for strong winds of 30-40 mph tonight too!
  • 4:04 p.m. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Oklahoma and Texas until 10 PM CDT
  • 5:25 p.m. Beginning to see a few storms developing between Amherst and Levelland. These storms should strengthen as we go into the early evening with the threat for large hail and damaging winds.
  • 6:51 p.m. Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Tulia TX, Olton TX, Seth Ward TX until 7:30 PM CDT
  • 7:29 p.m. Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Tulia TX, Happy TX, Kaffir TX until 8:00 PM CDT

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