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Storms poised to pummel Lone Star State

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By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Updated Apr. 3, 2020 2:00 AM Copied

A significant close-range tornado moved across US 431 and caused damage to power lines and structures in Eufaula, Alabama, on March 31.

Thunderstorms will threaten to bring severe weather as well as needed rainfall to portions of central and southern Texas before the end of the week.

The main threat of more widespread severe weather in Texas will come on Friday. As storms erupt during the afternoon hours over the north-central and northeastern counties as well as the Hill Country northwest of San Antonio, Texas, the main threats will be high wind gusts and large hail on Friday.

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“Winds, with gusts to near 60 mph in some cases, can be strong enough to cause localized property damage, knock down trees and trigger power outages,” Brett Anderson, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist said.

“Hail can become large enough to damage vehicles and break windows in the strongest storms,” Anderson added. The hail can be propelled by the strong winds in extreme cases.

Related: When does tornado season peak across the US?Coronavirus-canceled flights could affect weather forecasting at exactly the wrong timeHow to stay safe during a flash floodHow to prepare for severe weather in the age of social distancing

As with any severe thunderstorm, there is a remote chance of an isolated tornado, but an outbreak is not expected.

The storms forecast for the region on Friday can also bring beneficial rain to some communities, but also flash flooding to others. Rainfall will depend on the intensity, location and duration of thunderstorms that erupt and then move southward.

Soil conditions range from wet in north-central Texas to abnormally dry farther to the south and east, and extreme drought conditions are gripping the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Rainfall in Dallas has been plentiful, or nearly twice that of average during March. Meanwhile, rainfall in Brownsville, Texas, has only been 6% of normal for the month with a mere 0.07 of an inch.

The storms will tend to concentrate on the north-central part of the Lone Star State during the afternoon hours, but as the evening transitions into the nighttime, the storms will move toward the lower Rio Grande Valley and the South Texas coast, where they may weaken.

Downpours can flood streets and highways, as well as cause normally dry or gentle streams to become raging torrents for a brief time. Meteorologists advice motorists to avoid driving across flooded roadways or attempting to travel through low-water crossings when storms are in the vicinity or have recently moved by.

Showers, thunderstorms and perhaps localized severe weather will continue to pester central and southeastern Texas this weekend.

Additional heavy rainfall is likely as well as the risk of isolated flash flooding and damaging storms.

Rainfall from Friday through Sunday will average 2-4 inches with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 7 inches. The heaviest rain is likely to focus from Interstate 35 on west to the Hill Country.

This means that communities that dodged big rain on Friday could be hit hard with flash flooding on Saturday.

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Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

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Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.

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Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

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The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.

Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.

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City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

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The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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