11:25 PM 1:05 AM FRIDAY UPDATE:
****ALL WATCHES AND WARNING HAVE EXPIRED FOR EAST TEXAS AS ALL STORMS HAVE MOVED WELL EAST OF THE AREA***
****MAJOR TORNADO DAMAGE IN DDWNTOWN SHREVEPORT***DRIVING INTO DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT IS NOT RECOMMENDED DURING THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS PARTS OF THE CITY ARE WITHOUT POWER AND THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND SOME RESCUES ARE UNDERWAY****
****TORNADO DAMAGE ALSO EARLIER IN THE EVENING IN CASS COUNTY WITH 10 BUILDINGS DAMAGED IN HUGHES SPRINGS. HAIL UP TO TENNIS BALL SIZE ALSO FELL IN THE ATLANTA AREA AND AN OIL RIG WAS BLOWN OVER IN THE LINDEN AREA***
****WIND DAMAGE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO ALSO OCCURRED IN HALLSVILLE IN HARRISON COUNTY EARLIER IN THE EVENING****
****DRIER AIR IS NOW MOVING INTO EAST TEXAS AND FRIDAY WILL BE SHAPING UP TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY****
The next storm system will approach on Saturday and clouds will increase and rain could begin by sometime Saturday night. That storm system will come barrelling across Texas on Sunday. Easter Sunrise Services will have cloudy skies and possibly some light to moderate rain...then heavier showers and thunderstorms will move through curing the afternoon. The potential seems to exist for 1 to 3 inches of rain with this system and possibly even 3-5 inches in some areas. Severe weather is also a possibility with some of the stronger thunderstorms. This would mean strong, gusty winds and scattered hail. The tornado possibility may be relatively small because the storm is taking a more southern track than normal, and therefore, heavy rain on the east and north side of the storm may keep temeperatures too low for tornado-producing, supercell thunderstorms to form. However, it's early so stay tuned! Right now the main threats would appear to be flooding rains, frequent lightning, brief strong winds and some scattered hail on Easter Sunday.
FORECAST DETAILS:
OVERNIGHT: Partly cloudy and mild, but turing cooler towards daybreak. Low near 52. Winds SSW 10-15 mph becoming NW towards daybreak.
DURING THE DAY FRIDAY: Mostly sunny and a little cooler. High near 72. Winds N 15 mph.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy and cool....Low 49, High 69. Winds ENE 10-15 mph. Some rain may arrive Saturday night (30%).
EASTER SUNDAY: Rain and thundestorms (90%). Some of the rain will be heavy, possibly briefly causing flooding of some streets and low lying areas. A few storms may be severe with strong winds and some scattered hail. Rain amounts from the storms may reach 1 to 3 inches or more. Low temperature early Easter Sunday morning near 58. High during the afternoon near 70. Winds SE 20 mph, but with much stronger gusts in thunderstorms. Winds becoming W 20-30 mph durng the evening.
MONDAY: Partly sunny, breezy and seasonable. Low 55, High 75. Winds NW 10-20 mph.
TUESDAY: Sunny and very nice. Low 53, High 79. Winds: Light and variable.
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy and warm with a 20% chance of showers or thunderstorms. Highs near 80 on Wednesday and near 75 on Thursday.
Scott Chesner