Storm Prediction Center issues Lubbock Weather watch until 10 p.m. Friday

The Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Lubbock weather and the South Plains until 10 p.m. Friday. A severe thunderstorm warning was also in effect until 6:30 p.m. for E Hockley, Lubbock, NE Terry and N Lynn counties as storms moved from west to east.

Storms could produce gusts to 70 mph, and a storm west of Lubbock in Hockley County might contain up to 1 inch hail. Lightning strikes could start wildfires, and a fire weather warning remained in effect until 9 p.m. Friday for Lubbock and the South Plains.

Lubbock and South Plains

The dry line had mixed well east of Lubbock this afternoon, leaving dew points in the 20s and 30s and temperatures in the upper 90s and even triple digits off the Caprock. Relative humidity was below 15%, a setup that kept the fire weather warning active while thunderstorms developed on the South Plains.

The main threat from the storms was damaging wind gusts. The watch covered the region through 10 p.m. Friday, and the warning for E Hockley, Lubbock, NE Terry and N Lynn counties stayed in place until 6:30 p.m. as the strongest cells tracked east.

Friday Storm Timing

The storm chance will be lower this weekend, but an isolated storm cannot be ruled out. Cooler days with a chance for rain and thunderstorms are forecast next Wednesday through Friday, giving the region a break from the Friday setup but not a full end to storm chances.

For people in the watch area, the immediate step is to keep a close eye on the stronger storms already moving through and the counties still under warning. The evening window is the one to watch most closely, with wind, hail, lightning and dry-air fire risk all in the same forecast area.