Texas braces for messy spring weather as storms line up

Texans should keep umbrellas handy this week. Storms are rolling in from the west, starting Wednesday, then ramping up Thursday, with another possible round by Saturday. The first shots hit West Texas on Wednesday afternoon—mostly small stuff like brief downpours and gusty winds, though a few cells could throw small hail. Thursday looks more interesting, especially north of the Red River, but if any storms pop near the Texas-Oklahoma line they might turn stronger, packing large hail or damaging winds. Saturday brings a third chance, especially if a stalled weather front decides to wiggle through North or Central Texas. The Dallas-Fort Worth metro could end up in the busiest zone depending on how the front drifts.Forecasters say the overall risk stays low, but when spring patterns get jumpy, one or two storms can spin up quick. The big question is whether any thunderstorm can tap into enough warm, moist air to get organized. If it does, pockets of the state might see severe hail or even an isolated tornado. Most years Texas sees about a dozen tornadoes in April, so it’s not out of the question, but the odds this week look slim. The real story might be the nuisance factor—gusty winds that knock down tree limbs and brief heavy rain that sends low-water crossings under in minutes.