Level 3 out of 5: Severe storms could hug part of Gulf Coast

Severe weather threatens much of the northern Gulf Coast this Tuesday. The storm is the same system that's emerging from northern Mexico, increasing the threat for severe storms throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours from Texas through the far western portion of Florida’s Panhandle.

There is an enhanced risk, level 3 out of five, of experiencing severe thunderstorms that could bring damaging winds and tornadoes near the middle to upper Texas coast late this morning into the afternoon. The storms will continue to move eastward, ahead of a cold front, and threaten the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and northwestern Florida.

For Texas, the most active storms will remain focused along the coast, but cities about 50 -70 miles in, such as Houston, could see some isolated severe storms too. New Orleans should start experiencing severe conditions late Tuesday afternoon into the evening.

This is also part of the same system bringing rounds of heavy snow across parts of the Ozarks on Tuesday but the southern portion of the system, closer to the low-pressure center, will remain very close to the coast allowing the temperatures to stay well above freezing, at least for the meanwhile. The winds will directly hit the coast ahead of the storm and bring an influx of moisture which will feed the thunderstorms, many of which will be turning severe.

In the upper levels of the atmosphere, there are also very strong winds rushing in through this same area which will bring the chance for tornadic storms as the winds will be rotating with height. Central Mississippi and Alabama should be aware that the threat of tornadoes is possible as there could be more moisture and wind shift with height in this area this evening and into the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday.

Make sure to have at least three ways of receiving weather alerts. This is the time to know where you would go to seek shelter if a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is in effect for your area.

The risk for severe storms, more isolated in nature will move east on Wednesday and likely affect parts of North Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.