Although there are currently no severe weather watches or warnings in place as of Thursday morning, North Texans will want to stay weather-aware as the day progresses, as forecasters have predicted the possibility of severe storms later in the day.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon hours ahead of an approaching cold front from the northwest. As the cold front breaks through the warm air cap over the region later in the evening, more severe storms could erupt, possibly with large hail and damaging wind gusts, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteorologists also noted a potential for isolated tornadoes to form, primarily to the northeast of the DFW metroplex, but the chances remain low for now.
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms will make their way across the region through Saturday. Some of these storms on Friday afternoon could also be strong to severe, with large hail and gusty downbursts of wind.
Approximately 80% of the metroplex will see precipitation Thursday afternoon and overnight, dropping to 50% rain coverage of the area on Friday and Saturday, according to First Alert Weather.
Residents planning to attend the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Dallas on Saturday may want to take along their raincoats and umbrellas in case another shower rolls through town during the day.
Temperatures on Thursday will reach the upper 70s ahead of the cold front, but highs on Friday and Saturday will only reach the mid-60s.
North Texans planning to travel northward over the next few days should take note of an enhanced risk of severe weather across Eastern Oklahoma, Northwestern Arkansas, and Southern Missouri.
Skies will begin clearing on Sunday, with pleasant weather ahead for the beginning of next week. The forecast for the early part of the week calls for partly cloudy skies, with high temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s and overnight lows in the upper 40s and low 50s.
Tuesday, March 19, marks the vernal equinox — the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south — and the astronomical beginning of Spring in the northern hemisphere.
