HARLINGEN — A cold front headed into the Valley late this afternoon and evening could bring isolated severe thunderstorms, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service in Brownsville has issued a special weather statement alerting residents of Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo and Starr counties of the potential for strong storms in some areas.
Scattered to numerous showers and isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible along the front. Forecasters say the stronger storms will slide south over northeast Mexico, but the upper steering flow could direct some of the deeper storms east along the front into the county warning area.
The first sign of the front’s weather impact will occur across the Upper Valley west of U.S. 281 and I-69C and will continue through late this evening.
The front will continue to push slowly south and east into the Lower Valley in the early morning hours.
“Occasional cloud-to-ground lightning, strong, gusty winds, small hail and isolated locally heavy downpours will be possible late this afternoon through late this evening, especially across the ranchlands and brush country, and extending farther south into Starr and western Hidalgo counties,” forecasters said.
The threat of damaging winds for the Upper Valley and Mid Valley tonight is assessed at about 5 percent.
Also in the mix is a 10 to 20 percent chance of flash flooding in inland areas, especially in the Upper Valley.
Locally heavy rains associated with the slow-moving front could result in three to four inches of rain in isolated areas.
