KATC StormTeam 3 Weather BLOG

A nasty, dynamic storm system is beginning to take shape this evening with rain, mixed with some sleet, already developing offshore and along the Upper Texas and SW Louisiana Coasts.  At 5:15pm some sleet was reported in Beaumont mixing in with the rain.  This will be a short-lived phenomenon as our very dry air slowly humidifies and warms later tonight.  Because over-running rains have already commenced aloft, the drier air below is allowing for evaporational cooling to freeze the light rain producing the embedded sleet.  Later tonight the front that swept through here yesterday will advance northward as a strong warm front which will produce enough lift for rain; some sleet early and then later embedded thunderstorms.  Hail bearing storms will be possible by the pre-dawn hours tomorrow.  As low pressure deepens in the Gulf tonight it will advance northeastward moving nearly overhead during the morning hours into early tomorrow afternoon.  An additional threat of severe weather will be likely, especially if the warm sector offshore moves inland.  A few discrete cells ahead of the main squall line that will form tomorrow could become tornadic or produce large hail.  Later in the morning into the early afternoon a strong squall line will advance from west to east producing very heavy rains and the possibility of damaging winds.  So be on the look out early tomorrow and keep it tuned to KATC for the very latest.  Activity will end quickly late tomorrow afternoon with chilly and dry conditions Friday through Saturday morning.  Milder weather will return for Saturday afternoon and we should be near 70 for Sunday.  Unfortunately it still looks quite unsettled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with scattered showers getting more organized as we near Mardi Gras.  It could get quite warm Monday with highs pushing well into the mid-70s and it may stay in the 70s for Mardi Gras, but today’s models are wetter and stormier for Fat Tuesday.