Powerful Storm System

Good Sunday afternoon everybody. Surface low pressure over the Texas Panhandle is allowing for breezy southerly winds across the area. Those southerly winds are increasing the moisture levels across the area in advance of a stronger upper level low pressure system and its attendant WINDY frontal boundary that will blast through the area overnight. We are currently up to 72ºF here in Austin with a southerly wind gusting to 22 mph.

Surface Low Clearly Visible on High Resolution Wind Map: http://hint.fm/wind/

The front and low pressure system are still located west of El Paso right now, however, winds ahead of the system are now gusting over 40 mph in El Paso with blowing dust. Those winds may gust as high as 70 mph in El Paso later this afternoon!

 Ahead of this system there is a SLIGHT RISK of SEVERE WEATHER overnight tonight for the northwestern Hill Country and points north towards the Oklahoma Border. As the front slams into the increasing moisture over central Texas, a skinny line of showers and storms will form and move through the area overnight. Storms northwest of central Texas have the potential to produce hail and gusty winds.

Risk Area:

 High Res Forecast Radar:

 High Res 500mb winds and vorticity (18,000 feet aloft):

High Res 850mb pressure (5,000 feet aloft) Closely positioned black lines over Texas indicate very tight pressure gradient which means very windy conditions:

Behind the line of rain (the frontal boundary) winds will abruptly shift direction to the west northwest and sustain themselves between 20-30 mph for Monday with gusts as high as 45 mph possible. The National Weather Service has placed all of of central Texas, south Texas, and north Texas under a WIND ADVISORY and a RED FLAG WARNING for high fire danger. Behind this system (the cold sector) in the Panhandle, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Blizzard Warnings will be in effect. As much as 14 inches of snow may fall across the Texas-Oklahoma Border! Wow!

Watches and Warnings across the State of Texas:

Here's a look at how much snow the National Weather Service in Amarillo is forecasting to fall: