Texas Weather Forecast

There are many ways to obtain reliable information on Texas weather. The National Weather Service’s website offers a map of the state, along with all hourly reports, forecasts, and climatic data. The site offers a great deal of information related to Texas weather and its history.

Another valuable source for forecasts is Weather Underground. This site features current weather and forecasts by city. For conditions in North Texas, Longhorn Weather offers detailed forecasts, and Dry Day predicts precipitation for the next several months for the entire nation.

When severe weather strikes, Texas residents are alerted by local television and radio stations. The two primary entry point (PEP) stations, WBAP-AM in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and KTRH-AM in Houston. WBAP, KTRH, and WOAI in San Antonio also serve as relay stations, providing updated notices to broadcasters.

All major metropolitan areas in Texas are well covered by affiliates of the three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) and cable or satellite television. The primary stations established by NOAA are generally the first to receive severe weather alerts. Some of these are WBAP-AM and KSCS-FM in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, KNCN-FM and KZFM-FM in Corpus Christi, KGNC (AM and FM) in Amarillo, KLBJ-AM and KASE-FM in Austin, and KLAT-AM and KUHF-FM in the Houston area.

Most of the larger newspapers, and many of the smaller ones, offer current weather conditions and 5-day forecasts on their websites. The Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle not only feature local weather, but the Houston paper also offers information on developing hurricanes when relevant.

Texas has a large number of storm trackers within its boundaries. Some are employees of television or radio stations, others are associated with universities, and still others are volunteers. Anytime severe weather threatens, the network is dispatched to provide eyewitness information on thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other dangerous weather.

The National Weather Service, or NOAA, bears the primary responsibility for tracking developing weather, forecasting, and issuing severe weather alerts when needed. Local offices are in Amarillo, Austin (which also covers San Antonio), Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston (and Galveston), Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and San Angelo. Each location has a website that has forecasts, radar and satellite images, and storm data.

Another excellent source of weather information in Texas is provided by the state’s department of public service. Their website contains up to date information on weather forecasts and road conditions throughout the state.

Almost all municipalities in Texas have cable and/or satellite television. By law, they must relay messages from the Emergency Broadcast System, and these include severe weather alerts, as when a tornado has been spotted. But perhaps more importantly is the availability of stations such as The Weather Channel that can provide up to the minute information on current conditions, as well as forecasts and travel advisories.

Texas is a large state, and much of the land is scantily populated. In the more rural areas, the best source of weather information is often personal observation. Hail storms can appear from nowhere, and while these usually produce only pea-sized stones, golf ball, softball, and grapefruit size hailstones are relatively common. The larger hailstones can shatter automobile windshields and cause severe injury to humans and animals caught in the open.

Tornadoes can also drop from the sky with little warning, and many systems in Texas produce multiple funnels. Thunderstorms, especially in the spring and summer months, are common in almost every area of the state and may form quickly. Lightning poses a very real hazard to anyone caught in an open area during a storm, and heavy thunderstorms can lead to localized flash flooding.

So while the state has an excellent network of forecasting and warning methods, nothing can be more accurate than what the individual is seeing where he or she is.