Severe Storms Threaten South Plains Through Memorial Day Weekend

People living in the South Plains should prepare for more hot and stormy weather before Memorial Day weekend. Hailstorms are expected from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, and there may be more than one round of bad weather.

The first wave of scattered storms will hit on Friday evening. They will start in the late afternoon and last all night. Some storms could get bad, with big hail and strong winds being the main dangers.

Storms will likely worsen on Saturday, especially in the late afternoon and evening. Much of the area, including Lubbock, will still be at risk for hail up to 2 inches across and wind gusts over 60 mph.

Sunday will bring another round of storms that could be very bad. The conditions are better for very big hail (1 to 3 inches), and there is a chance of a few tornadoes. Storms are expected to start around noon and last until the evening, mainly in the central and eastern parts of the area.

Meanwhile, it will still be very hot on Saturday, with highs near 100°F in Lubbock and in the upper 90s elsewhere. On Sunday, a weak cold front moves into the area, bringing high temperatures to around 90°F and giving people a break from the extreme heat.

Highs each day will be in the low to mid-80s, and the weather will stay cooler through next week. The rain chances will decrease by Monday night, but there may still be a few showers at the beginning of next week.

As always, people should pay attention to the weather and the area forecast, especially if they have plans to be outside over the holidays. Get weather reports in multiple ways, and review safety measures for hail and tornado threats.