Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
475 ACUS02 KWNS 301711 SWODY2 SPC AC 301709 Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1209 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026 Valid 011200Z - 021200Z ...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PARTS OF SOUTH TEXAS INTO THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST AND PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL/EASTERN GULF COAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated severe thunderstorm development is possible across parts of South Texas and middle Texas coastal areas, parts of southeastern Louisiana, and the western Florida Panhandle Friday afternoon through Friday night. ...Synopsis... Broad cyclonic flow aloft will persist across much of the U.S. east of the Continental Divide on Friday. A shortwave trough will dig through the central Plains into the Southeast through the period. Within the subtropical jet, another shortwave trough will begin the day in the Trans-Pecos and move eastward roughly along the Gulf Coast. These two features will eventually phase by late afternoon into the evening. The mid-level jet will increase in intensity in response. At the surface, a stalled boundary will be positioned from South Texas and eastward along the Gulf Coast. As the southern stream trough progresses east, a weak frontal low will develop and perhaps allow some inland advancement of upper 60s/low 70s F dewpoints. ...South Texas/Middle Texas Coast... Rich moisture will exist south of the surface boundary. Southward progression of the boundary will determine how much risk of surface-based convection there will be. Given the amount of precipitation north of the front, there may be a tendency for most storms to be undercut except closer to the coast. With 60+ kts of effective shear, supercells will be possible despite modest buoyancy/mid-level lapse rates. Where storms can remain surface based, damaging winds and perhaps a tornado would be possible. Large hail could occur even with storms that become slightly elevated. ...Southeast Louisiana into Florida Panhandle... Severe potential along the central/eastern Gulf coast hinges on the degree of inland moisture advancement. The expectation is for low-level warm advection to increase with time and eastward extent. This would suggest slightly higher confidence of near-surface/surface-based storms in parts of the Florida Panhandle to the Apalachicola vicinity. A mix of linear and supercell structures appears possible. Damaging winds and large hail may occur with the strongest storms. The tornado threat is more conditional, but nonzero. This threat would be maximized with any discrete storms that develop and move inland. ..Wendt.. 04/30/2026 $$