“If you’re in the risk zone, the sun is not your friend today,” said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. “The more sun … the hotter it gets … and the more explosive your atmosphere becomes.”
In contrast, a cloud cover of less severe storms can reduce the heat needed to feed Oklahoma’s afternoon storms and push out the worst of severe weather in North Texas.
“Every morning thunderstorm can … limit the advance of the warm front north through (Oklahoma) and the deployment of an effective warm front until this afternoon / early evening remains a source of considerable uncertainty,” the Storm Forecast Center said Wednesday.
“Numerous corridors and circles of potentially significant severe thunderstorms are possible,” the statement said.
Increased prospect of serious threat – level 3 out of 5 – covers northwest Texas in Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, the forecast center said, while a mild risk – level 2 out of 5 – surrounds the area and includes other settlements such as Tulsa in Oklahoma and Lubbock and Fort. Worth in Texas; Dallas is in the area with the lowest risk.
The higher the level of risk, the more confident weather forecasters are that the weather is likely to be difficult, including a tornado. This does not mean that a huge hailstorm or tornado will not occur in the lowest risk area, just that it is less likely based on weather conditions.
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Although it is not yet certain where the worst of Wednesday’s severe storms will be, “very variable afternoon and evening are forming for South Oklahoma and North Texas,” Myers said. “Ingredients are being collected for significant storms that will produce very high levels of hail, destructive winds and powerful tornadoes.
“The message is clear that hard times will happen tonight and tonight,” he added. “Some areas may even see several rounds of strong storms until Thursday morning.
The tornado returns south on Thursday
Thursday’s forecast is a little unclear about “setting the worst weather due to the storms that begin today,” Myers said on Wednesday.
“Wind damage, hail and several tornadoes are expected” in the south on Thursday, the forecast center said.
While rectilinear winds pose a greater risk, tornadoes can form in isolated storms before the main line of storms and then in it as it passes through the risk zone.
Increased risk of severe weather on Thursday – level 3 of 5 – covers most of Arkansas and parts of Louisiana and Texas. The area at low risk – level 2 of 5 – is much larger, stretching from Dallas to St. Louis.
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