Severe weather is expected to impact portions of Texas and the northern Gulf Coast this week due to a powerful cross-country storm system. The storm, which is expected to bring heavy snow to the Southwest and Rockies, will also generate severe thunderstorms across parts of Texas and along the Gulf Coast.
The FOX Forecast Center has issued alerts for the region, as the storm’s movement to the east will draw in warm, humid air, creating favorable conditions for strong thunderstorms. While the severe weather threat was initially low on Wednesday due to cloud cover and limited atmospheric energy, the situation is expected to intensify on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
According to FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin, the primary factors contributing to this severe weather are low-level wind shear—changes in wind speed and direction close to the ground—and available atmospheric energy, which is typical of this time of year in the Southeast, Texas, and Louisiana. Wind shear often contributes to tornado formation in these regions, particularly during this season.
The storm is expected to bring hail, damaging wind gusts, and the possibility of tornadoes in parts of Texas and Louisiana. Torrential rainfall may also result in flooding, extending from Texas all the way to Kentucky. More than 20 million people, including those from eastern Texas to the lower Mississippi Valley, will be at risk of severe thunderstorms on Thursday.
This storm follows closely behind a historic blizzard that affected the same areas, underscoring the dramatic weather changes the region is experiencing. As the storm continues to move east, it remains a significant weather event to monitor for those in its path.
