Tornado Watch issued for Houston, Austin as Texas braces for potentially dangerous storms, flooding
More than 10 million people in cities such as Houston, Waco and Austin in Texas have been included in a new Tornado Watch as the region gets slammed by severe weather on Tuesday.
Houston included in new Tornado Watch as Texas, Louisiana brace for powerful storms on Tuesday
Cities like Houston, Waco and Austin have been included in a new Tornado Watch as the region get pounded by more rounds of severe weather. FOX Weather Meteorologists Kendall Smith and Stephen Morgan break down the latest forecast on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
DALLAS – A multiday severe weather and flash flood threat continues on Tuesday, with millions of people across Texas and Louisiana bracing for storms that could produce baseball-sized hail, strong tornadoes and potentially life-threatening flooding.
This image shows the scene of a search and rescue after a child was swept away by floodwaters in Brenham, Texas, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
(Brenham Fire Department/Facebook / FOX Weather)
The risk comes as search and rescue crews continue to look for a 10-year-old girl who was swept away by floodwaters, and as first responders raced to extinguish a fire after a home was struck by lightning.
(FOX Weather)
The severe weather threat continued overnight and into Tuesday morning, with Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Warnings issued in portions of Texas.
A Tornado Watch was issued for more than 10 million people in Texas, including cities such as Houston, Waco and Austin, and it will remain in effect until 4 p.m. CT.
(FOX Weather)
Forecasters with NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) believe the highest risk of severe weather on Tuesday will be found across a large swath of Texas and Louisiana.
Tens of millions of people have been placed in a Level 2 risk of severe weather on the SPC’s 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
This threat zone includes cities such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Arlington in Texas.
A Level 3 out of 5 risk includes nearly 4 million people in cities like Beaumont, College Station, The Woodlands, Bryan and Temple.
(FOX Weather)
Very large hail, strong tornadoes (EF-2 or higher) and damaging wind gusts are all possible within any storms that ignite on Tuesday.
Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app and enable notifications to be alerted to any watches or warnings issued in your area.
Potentially life-threatening flash flooding eyes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi
(FOX Weather)
Flooding is also a concern on Tuesday as powerful storms move across the southern Plains and along the Gulf Coast, putting millions on alert for potentially life-threatening flash flooding.
The highest flash flood threat will start by midday on Tuesday across portions of East Texas and Louisiana.
KNOW YOUR FLOOD TERMINOLOGY: WHAT FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS AND EMERGENCIES REALLY MEAN
FOX Weather's Robert Ray carries woman from submerged car in Dallas
FILE VIDEO - FOX Weather's Robert Ray helped rescue a woman from her submerged car in Dallas.
Storms will continue to pummel the area overnight across Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast into Mississippi. The strongest storms and heaviest rain are expected along the Gulf Coast by Wednesday morning, eventually extending into the Florida Panhandle.
Flash flooding is possible from the southern Plains to the Southeast on Tuesday. However, NOAA's Weather Prediction Center placed portions of East Texas, most of Louisiana, southern Arkansas and southern Mississippi in a Level 3 out of 4 threat.
This includes cities like Shreveport, Alexandria, Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana and Jackson in Mississippi.
STAY OR GO? TRUSTING YOUR GUT CAN BE LIFESAVING WHEN MULTIPLE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE ISSUED
(FOX Weather)
Cities and towns from the southern Plains to the Southeast are expected to pick up a few inches of rain. However, the highest totals will be found from East Texas through Louisiana and into southern Mississippi and Alabama.
Southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi could see 5-8 inches of rain with some locally higher amounts.