COUNTY LIFE
Stormy weather may arrive Easter weekend
Forecasters are closely monitoring the developing weather pattern and the potential for severe thunderstorms to ignite and tornadoes that could be spawned across portions of the southern and eastern United States during the upcoming Easter weekend.
A slow-moving storm will continue to crawl through the Southwest states this week, and the forward movement of that storm will be a key factor in determining whether severe weather erupts or mostly benign thunderstorms pop up instead by Saturday and Sunday.
“Should the storm move steadily across the Deep South late this week and this weekend and join up with a second storm that is forecast to drop southeastward across the Midwest, then a violent outbreak of thunderstorms could result with the full spectrum of severe weather possible,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
This more grim outlook appears to be more likely at this time as opposed to a much more suppressed thunderstorm event limited to the Deep South.
Colder air will sweep through much of the Central and Eastern states prior to the end of this week, but it will not hold on long enough to limit the return flow of warmth and high humidity levels for this weekend.
“Instead, the rebound following the blast of cold air could make matters worse in terms of tornado risk,” according to AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
The setup could produce everything from several tornadoes to damaging wind gusts, large hail and flash flooding.
The first storms are likely to erupt in portions of central and eastern Texas to the Mississippi Delta region on Saturday afternoon and evening.
The storms on Saturday are likely to be just the beginning of what may end up being one of the more significant severe weather and tornado outbreaks of 2020 in the South.
The main severe weather threat day is likely to be on Easter Sunday. This day, the storm threat will be advancing slowly across the lower Mississippi Valley and perhaps the Tennessee Valley areas.
The storms are likely to then continue eastward across the southern Appalachians during Sunday night and may continue to produce severe weather for a time on Monday along part of the southern Atlantic seaboard before being swept out to sea.
The risk comes around the peak time of year for tornadoes in much of the Southeast states.
AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to keep an eye on the evolving weather pattern and update the severe weather risks in the coming days.
Spring storms have been creating dangerous conditions for the past two weeks, and Mother Nature continues to douse North Texas with rain this week.
For January through April the City of Bowie water plant staff recorded 14.56 inches of rain, including a whopping 11.76 inches in April alone. For the first six days of May the rain has totaled 1.55 inches.
Nocona received a bit more rain for this period, a total of 19.28 inches according to Texas Mesonet. In April it recorded 9.89 inches and in March 3.25 inches. For the first six days of May 4.36 inches was recorded.
Lake Amon G. Carter is still more than 100% full and threatening to go
over the emergency spillway when it reaches 927 msl. The lake is considered full at 920 msl and as of May 6 it was 924.47 msl.
Last week, the city sent out flood warnings for those downstream in the path of water that could flow out of the lake across this spillway. One month ago the lake was full at 920.06
City Emergency Management Coordinator Kirk Higgins said Monday as of now no water has come out of the spillway, but he does not expect that to continue if the rain does not stop. The lake continues to be closed due to flooding.
Lake Nocona was at 828.44 msl on May 6 and is considered full at 827.5 msl. Just one month ago the lake was 88.4% full at 825.60 msl. Its boat ramps were closed briefly last week due to flooding, but have since reopened.
Last week’s heavy rainfall continues to plague city streets and low-lying areas. While not unexpected the creek that flows in the Nelson Street area east toward Pillar was raging full of storm water last week topping the creek bed going into the streets and under nearby houses.
Public Works Director Stony Lowrance said a section of Rock near Pillar has been closed, although Pillar remains open. A section of the curb and road on the creekside has broken away and fallen into the ditch creating hazardous road conditions. A small part of the street had been coned off as a small section had caved in last month.
Lowrance said they are keeping a close eye on this area as rains continue, noting this is not an unexpected problem as the Rock and Pillar Street has been debated in the city council as being the next major capital project for the city. Nearby Nelson Street drainage was completed in late 2024 and while it alleviated flooding issues in that area, it also is sending more water down to an intersection where the culverts are in the same deteriorated and eroded conditions as those were under Nelson Street that were replaced.
Top photo: A section of the curb and street near Pillar and Rock has collapsed into the creek bed following last week’s rains. (Photo by Rosie Cole)
Nocona is saddling up for the 73rd annual Chisholm Trail Rodeo May 9-10 at the rodeo grounds in Nocona.
The rodeo will be nightly at 7:30 p.m. with a parade on Saturday at 3 p.m. Rodeo gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance.
Along with the traditional rodeo events including bareback riding, saddle bronc, ranch bronc, bulls, ladies barrels, tie-down roping, ladies breakaway roping, steer wrestlers and team roping, there will be a calf scramble nightly for ages 8 and under and 9-12. Winners receive buckles. Friday night there will be an FFA calf scramble benefiting participating FFA chapters.
Mutton bustin’ will be conducted for those age eight and under at 7 p.m. nightly. The top five are back to performance. Enter onsite by 6:30 p.m. each night. Entry fee is $20 with buckles to the winners.
Read the full story and meet the rodeo queen and princess candidates in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 12.
A brief agenda of business awaits the court in its regular session.
The court will consider approving the Law Enforcement Support Office application.
Consider applying to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a scrap tire facility permit.
Discuss precinct one removing excess dirt and debris from bar ditches and giving it to Gary Brewer, Rickey Joyce and David Steadham.
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