After Welcome Rainfall, Forecasters Warn of One More Round of Strong Storms in East Texas

A parched East Texas was blanketed with some welcome downpours before sunrise Saturday morning. Accumulated totals of a half-inch to an inch and a half of rain were rather common across the Pineywoods. Heavier amounts were reported in portions of Anderson, northern Cherokee, and Smith Counties.

But wait...there's more.

READ MORE: Lufkin's Most Likely Streets to Flood

Another Round of Storms Tonight

There's a high probability of widespread showers lingering across the Deep East Texas area throughout the day on Saturday, bringing another half inch of rain to some regions. However, about the time the sun goes down, a line of strong to severe storms will move through...MAYBE.

Meteorologists at the Storm Prediction Center give the area from Lufkin to Shreveport about a 70% chance of experiencing a line of thunderstorms between 7 and 11 tonight. However, they say it all depends on how much the atmosphere destabilizes this afternoon. The overnight rain has lowered the dynamics for more storms to pop up, but most models are showing enough potential energy will return and give strong storms the chance to evolve. Still, there is some uncertainty with that outlook.

As indicated in the map above, those storms will start to develop during the mid-afternoon hours from central Texas to the Brazos Valley. Then on Saturday night, as shown in the featured map, a squall line of thunderstorms should roll through Texarkana to Lufkin/Nacogdoches to Bryan/College Station.

What About Severe Weather?

There is a slight risk of severe weather across south-central Texas, southeast Texas, and portions of the Pineywoods.

Damaging straight-line winds will be the biggest threat with the storms; however, a tornado or two is possible. The highest risk of a storm producing a tornado will be along the upper Texas coast, including the Houston Metro.

Once this system passes, cooler air will filter in with a reinforcing blast of colder air expected on Tuesday. By mid-week, highs will only be in the 60s and lows in the 40s.