Hail, tornadoes threaten Memorial Day as severe storm risk increases in Texas

Nothing says holiday weekend quite like a chance of having plans rained out, huh? If you’ve got plans of seeing the sun on Memorial Day Monday, May 26, it might be a good idea to have back up plan. 

Chances of severe weather happening in South Central Texas have increased beginning on Monday and could continue throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service. “Strong to severe storms are possible on Memorial day and Tuesday (May 27),” the NWS said on Sunday, May 25. “Primary hazards being large hail and damaging winds. Locally heavy rain is possible. A wet pattern continues for the rest of the week with cooler temperatures.” The NWS added there’s also a threat for an isolated tornado in the region. 

Primarily on Monday afternoon into Monday night, there is a  level 2 of 5 severe risk across portions of the I-35 corridor, Hill Country, and Edwards Plateau, the NWS says. That then shifts to across the Southern Edwards Plateau on Tuesday through Tuesday night. There is a level 1 of 5 severe storm risk for the Edwards Plateau, Hill Country, Rio Grande Plains Sunday, the southern half of the area on Monday through Monday night, and the southeastern portions of South-Central Texas on Tuesday through Tuesday night. 

“Pockets of locally heavy rainfall expected with isolated instances of flooding possible this week,” the NWS says. About 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected through Thursday with locally higher amounts. There’s a level 1 of 4 excessive rainfall risk over at least portions of the South-Central Texas each day from Monday through Thursday. 

The impending storms could also bring down temperatures, although only mildly, as there’s still a chance some areas Southwest could still have a chance of hitting triple-digit highs on Monday. San Antonio is poised for a chance of showers between 1-4 p.m., then thunderstorm chances increase after 4 p.m. The chance of precipitation will hover around 30%. Heat indexes could climb to 103 degrees, despite wind gusts potentially reaching 25 miles per hour. 

Monday night, chances of storms and showers will increase to 40%, the NWS says. “Increasing clouds, with a low around 75,” according to the NWS. “Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.” Scattered showers and storms will remain in the forecast at 40% headed into Tuesday, but especially after 1 p.m. 

The rest of the week will have scattered shower chances hovering around 30-50% until next Sunday to start June. So pack those panchos, y’all.