Update: Austin and Central Texas are now under a severe thunderstorm watch. The region has already had a couple of tornado warnings today around San Antonio. But there's still the chance of damaging storms in Austin through the early part of the evening.
"Right now the Austin area remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 o'clock tonight, which is mainly for the possibility of large hail and damaging winds,” says Bob Rose, chief meteorologist for the Lower Colorado River Authority. “But sometimes you can get tornadoes even under a severe thunderstorm watch as well. So it's not totally out of the question because this is a very dynamic system."
Rose says some parts of Central Texas could get up to six inches of rain by tomorrow.
Original post: With rain already blanketing the city, a flash flood watch is coming online for Austin and the Hill Country early this evening, and is expected to last until noon tomorrow.
The National Weather Service writes:
A strong upper level disturbance will begin to impact the area today and continue through Friday, with the potential for severe thunderstorms and flooding rains.
There is a slight risk for severe storms across all of South Central Texas and the Hill country through tonight. The main threats will be large hail and damaging winds. Also, flash flooding is expected. Widespread heavy rainfall is expected. Rainfall amounts will average 2 to 4 inches, with isolated amounts over 4 inches possible.
The flash flood watch is currently scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the western half of South Central Texas until 1 p.m this afternoon.
