Thunderstorms in Texas; Oklahoma tornado damage; heat is on in Pacific Northwest: Friday weather
Thunderstorms are expected to hit western and central Texas on Friday, while parts of Oklahoma are recovering after a series of tornadoes was reported Thursday night and damaged buildings.
There won’t just be “the usual scattered thunderstorms” in Texas, said Bob Larson, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “We’re talking about widespread significant rains leading to rises in streams and rivers.”
Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest will see potentially record-breaking high temperatures on Friday. People in Seattle and Portland, Oregon and the rest of the region will have to bust out the fans and air conditioning, with unusual temperatures as high as the 90s.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s weather:
Stormy in Texas; flood watches issued
Severe thunderstorms in Texas on Friday bring the potential for flooding, particularly in the San Antonio region and south of Midland, AccuWeather reported.
The storm is slow-moving and could bring persistent rain into the weekend. Southern parts of the state could see as much as 8 to 12 inches of rain Friday to Sunday, AccuWeater forecasted.
On Friday, the Northern Plains, including Sioux Falls, Omaha, Des Moines and St. Louis also are expected to see storms, though to a lesser extent than Texas, Larson said.
The National Weather Service issued flood watches stretching from Texas' southern tip to its northern border with Oklahoma, some of which begin Friday and last into Sunday.
Oklahoma tornado damage
Tornado warnings around the Oklahoma City metro area produced several brief tornadoes Thursday evening.
Those in Oklahoma posted updates throughout the night about damage, primarily in Norman. Damage included leaning power poles and debris on the ground, as well as damaged buildings in Noble, according to the Oklahoman, part of the Paste BN Network.
FOX 25 reporter David Chasanov also posted footage of firefighters cutting a tree that was blocking a neighborhood in Noble. Firefighters had to use a chainsaw to cut the tree after the tornado.
Unseasonable heat
Meanwhile in the Pacific Northwest, Portland could see temperatures in the 90s on Friday, and the heat is expected to continue for days. That's about 20 degrees higher than normal, Larson said.
It's going to be hot in the entire region, as well. Seattle is expected to be in the 80s.
The National Weather Service called the heat in the region "dangerously hot."
"Temperatures will be slow to cool at night, especially in urban areas and the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area," the weather service said. "Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors."
Young children and pets also should never be left in vehicles alone, especially "when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes," the weather service said.