Severe thunderstorms threaten Texas and Louisiana, delaying holiday travel

On By Littum

DALLAS (AP) – Parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas were under severe weather early Friday as the National Weather Service predicted a storm system in the Gulf of Mexico could bring strong winds, hail and possible tornadoes to the region.

“Heavy showers and thunderstorms continue to race across Louisiana and Gulf waters at this time, with SETX on watch for the rest of tonight. Stay safe everyone,” the weather service’s office in Lake Charles, Louisiana, wrote on the social platform X shortly after 11 pm on Thursday.

The weather service issued a tornado warning late in the afternoon for parts of Texas northeast of Houston, meaning weather radar indicated a tornado was in the area. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

After a series of thunderstorms began moving across parts of Texas, more than 100 were flights were delayed and dozens more canceled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Delays and thunderstorm-related cancellations were also reported at Dallas’ Love Field and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, according to FlightAware, an airline that tracks flights worldwide.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated the state’s emergency response resources due to the increased severe weather threat.

“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin to travel after the Christmas holidays, it is critical that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, create an emergency plan and follow the guidance of state and local officials,” Abbott said in a statement.

The greatest weather risk was forecast for a stretch of Texas east of Dallas, between Houston and parts of southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.

“It looks like the possibility of one or a few tornadoes with this risk, but the biggest risk will be with strong winds and hail,” Hurley said, adding that he expected gusts generally between 60 and 80 mph (96 to 128 km/h. ), and hail 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter or more.

The storms would likely push into southern Arkansas and western and northern Louisiana after dark, posing a potentially dangerous situation for vacationers, Hurley said.

“People don’t see a whole lot and maybe aren’t as weather aware,” he said.