Latest news with #CentralTexas
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Resources for Summer Food Insecurity
Waco, TX (FOX 44) – Many children in Central Texas don't know where their next meal is coming from without the help of school meals, but there are resources available near you. The Shepherd's Heart Pantry is serving families who are food insecure with its 19 locations across Central Texas. Executive Director Robert Gager says summer months are the hardest for food insecure children. 'There's a lot of people that we see coming to our food distributions or mobile food distributions that may be from middle income families that have three or four kids, and they've got two car payments, a house payment and all the other bills that go with four kids. And they're hurting. They're hurting, so I know that the need is out there for the summer' The Shepherd's Heart Pantry is partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank to serve even more children this summer than last year. With the food banks help, the pantry estimates serving up to 3,000 children per week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin weather: Bracing for summer heat, evening storm risk
The Brief Central Texas marks the start of meteorological summer Sunday with hot, humid conditions and high temperatures expected to reach the mid-90s. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this evening, mainly north and east of Austin after 4-5 p.m., bringing risks of hail and high winds. The upcoming week will see continued heat with more scattered rain chances mid-week, and a potentially wetter pattern in 8-14 days. AUSTIN - Central Texas is ushering in meteorological summer on Sunday with mostly sunny skies, hot and humid conditions, and the potential for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms developing in the evening, particularly for areas north and east of Austin. After a week that included some below-average temperatures and significant rainfall, Sunday marks a shift to more pronounced summer-like heat. Morning temperatures started in the low 70s across the region. With a southerly wind flow drawing in warm, moist air, highs on Sunday are expected to climb into the mid-90s. Residents are advised to stay hydrated due to the heat and humidity. While much of Sunday is forecast to be dry, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms could develop after 4 or 5 p.m., with the main window for activity likely between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The greatest chance for these storms is north and east of the immediate Austin area. Potential threats from any severe storms include large hail, gusty straight-line winds, and a low, though not zero, chance of an isolated tornado, forecasters said. Some weather models indicate the Austin area could remain largely dry. Looking ahead, rain chances are expected to diminish on Monday. Scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms, typical of convective summer patterns, are possible Tuesday through Thursday. The 8 to 14-day outlook suggests a trend towards wetter-than-average conditions, which could provide relief to areas experiencing drought. Temperatures throughout the upcoming week are forecast to be slightly above the seasonal average, which is typically a high of 91 degrees and a low of 71 degrees for this time of year. Highs are generally expected in the mid to upper 90s, with lows in the 70s. The Source Information in this article is from the FOX 7 Austin weather team.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Are snakes more active after rain? Why Central Texas may have more sightings this weekend
It's not just the rain. While it may seem like snakes suddenly appear during and after wet weather, the connection isn't as ssssimple as 'rain equals more snakes.' In Central Texas, more sightings are possible this weekend following several rounds of severe storms, but rain itself isn't the main reason for that. May is already an active month for cold-blooded creatures, as many reptiles emerge from winter brumation — a hibernation-like state — to begin mating. But the recent rain could have some influence this weekend. Remember, you're more likely to get bitten while attempting to kill a snake than if you simply leave it alone. In fact, you're five times as likely to die from a lightning strike as from a venomous snake bite — lightning strikes result in an average of 28 deaths annually, while venomous snake bites cause about five deaths, despite there being 7,000 to 8,000 bites each year. What to do for a venomous snake bite: Texas is home to 4 venomous snake species It's a common belief that snakes come out more after rain, but there's no clear-cut pattern — different species have varied habitats and prefer different conditions. The Raleigh News & Observer explored this topic after a significant spring downpour a few years ago, focusing on copperheads and their post-rain behavior. They are one of four venomous species in Texas. Jeff Beane, herpetology collection manager at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, told the Observer in 2022 that copperheads adjust their activity based on the weather. In hot conditions, they tend to be nocturnal, active at night; in cooler weather, they shift to being diurnal, active during the day. So if copperhead sightings spike, it may simply be because they're active when people are more likely to notice them. Beane also noted that copperheads often emerge when temperatures rise following a stretch of cooler weather. 'A warm, sunny day after a long period of unseasonably cool, rainy weather might bring them out during the day because it could be their first chance to bask in the sun in a while,' Beane said. 'A relatively cool, sunny, or partly cloudy day is a good time to see a copperhead basking in an area exposed — or partially exposed — to the sun.' For other snake species, the answer is similarly nuanced. Sightings may increase after rain, not because the weather directly draws them out, but because flooding forces them to leave their dens or shelters in search of higher, drier ground. Sometimes, this means ending up near — or even inside — homes. At the same time, food sources like toads, frogs and other amphibians become more active in wet conditions, giving snakes more reason to move around. The days immediately following a storm can also bring a spike in sightings because snakes are eager to bask in the sun after cooler, damp weather. Some may also be mid-shed — and lingering moisture on damp grass and leaves helps to soften old skin and make it easier to slough off — while the humid environment helps reptiles stay hydrated. This reflects a broader trend in which reptiles exhibit increased activity during wet years compared to dry years. According to the San Diego Zoo, during dry weather and drought, reptiles 'often become inactive, staying deep underground where it is cool and moist.' This behavior not only helps snakes regulate their body temperature and maintain hydration, but it also coincides with many small mammals and other prey staying hidden underground during droughts, often causing their populations to decline. As a result, snakes remain underground to conserve both energy and water until conditions improve, since food is not guaranteed. 'In years of heavier rains, snakes are often more active than in dry years, staying closer to the surface where they can easily find food and mates while maintaining their water balance,' the San Diego Zoo notes. So, it's likely that snake sightings will increase over the next few days, especially in areas recently hit by heavy rain. But regardless of the storms, sightings tend to rise naturally at this time of year. Although there are more than 100 snake species and subspecies in Texas, there are only four groups of venomous snakes. If you can safely identify them, you have a better chance of avoiding bites. Copperheads have light-colored bodies with reddish-brown circular bands. They tend to live in rocky areas and wooded bottomlands that have ample moisture. They grow to be about 2 feet long, and their bites don't normally kill humans because of their short fangs and minimal venom. There are three subspecies of copperheads in Texas, and their patterns vary. Coral snakes have red, yellow and black rings around their bodies. They grow to about 2½ feet and live in woodlands and canyons. Their bites deliver one of the most lethal types of venom in North America. However, their behavior is typically more elusive, and unlike pit vipers, they will often retreat from any signs of danger rather than confront any potential threats. Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins because they tend to live in swamps, lakes and rivers, are usually dark brown, olive green or black, with wide, dark bands along their bodies. They grow to about 3½ feet long. If threatened, cottonmouths will display white tissue inside their mouths, from which they get their name. Rattlesnakes come in various forms. The most common throughout the state is the western diamondback rattlesnake, which has a brown body with dark brown, diamond-shaped markings down the middle of its back and black and white alternating rings near its rattles. They grow to about 4 feet in length, but they can reach 7 feet. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Are Texas snakes more active after storms? More sightings are possible
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
Cantaloupe-sized hail keeps bombarding Texas
Mammoth hail keeps pelting parts of Central Texas. Cantaloupe-sized hail — approximately six inches in diameter — was recovered following a series of rotating supercell thunderstorms earlier this week. One of the stones that fell in Menard, Texas, was 5.87 inches across, and was picked up by a team of researchers conducting a hail study field mission. While it just missed this threshold, the technical term for six-inch hail is 'gargantuan' (yes, really). A year ago this week, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Lubbock issued the first-ever 'DVD-sized hail' warning, corresponding to stones at least 4.75 to 5 inches in diameter. Hail that large is difficult to detect on radar. Unless forecasters receive real-time reports from storm chasers or the public, most warnings are usually for softball-size (4.00 inches in diameter) or grapefruit-size (4.50 inches in diameter) hail. Sunday's biggest hailstones fell in Afton, Texas — about 70 miles east-northeast of Lubbock. The storm chasers who found them estimated they weighed nearly a pound and a half each. On April 24, storm chaser Adam Lucio posted on social media that he recovered a 5.22-inch hailstone near Cedar Hill, Texas. And on April 29, I found a 4.74-inch 'DVD-sized' hailstone during a storm in nearby Guthrie, Texas. The vicinity of Dickens County, Texas, had three 'DVD-sized' hailstorms in 33 days. And it's roughly the same area where a 7.25-inch stone fell on June 2, 2024. (That one hit the rural settlement of Vigo Park, Texas, and was approximately the size and shape of a pineapple.) The National Weather Service has implemented a standardized lexicon for talking about big hail. 'Baseball-size' hail is 2.75 inches in diameter, for example. Three-inch hail is 'teacup-size,' and 3.5-inch hail is 'large apple-size.' Meteorologists hadn't really thought of anything past DVDs given the rarity of six-inch hail. Now, storm chasers have gravitated toward 'cantaloupe-size.' Why is so much of this huge hail being produced in this part of Texas? The spring months feature something called a 'dryline' in west Central Texas. That's the border between bone-dry desert air to the west and moisture-rich Gulf air to the east. Those clashing air masses, which wage regular battles near Interstate 27 from Amarillo to Lubbock and then south to Midland-Odessa, spark rotating supercell thunderstorms that can produce massive hail. But east of Lubbock, there's also another factor at play — the presence of Palo Duro Canyon and the Caprock Escarpment. It's the transition zone between the lower-elevation rolling terrain to the east and the elevated high plains of the Llano Estacado, situated at more than 3,000 feet elevation, to the west. The rocky, uneven terrain of the Caprock makes for uneven heating, with sunshine on some features and shade falling on others. That can induce local circulations and air currents that frequently generate the first storms of the day. And whichever storm sprouts first often has access to the greatest supply of undisturbed storm fuel. The world record (and national record) is an 8.00-inch diameter hailstone, which was logged during an extreme storm in Vivian, South Dakota, on June 23, 2010. It weighed 1 pound 15 ounces, and left a crater in the ground.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
LIVE BLOG: Tornado on ground southwest of Mason
AUSTIN (KXAN)– Severe weather is possible across Central Texas on Monday. A Tornado Watch is in effect for most of the area until 10 p.m. Potentially dangerous tornado hits ground southwest of Mason County, heading into Gillespie and Llano counties. Mason County Sheriff's Office urges community to take shelter. Large to very large hail continues to be a risk, plus the potential for flash flooding. This afternoon into the evening, we're looking at an increasing risk for supercell thunderstorms to bring a tornado threat, very large hail, strong wind gusts, and frequent lightning. 6:40 p.m.: The National Weather Service said it will discontinue the tornado warning and switch it to a severe thunderstorm warning at 6:45 p.m. 6:32 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning for Llano and Gillespie counties, includes golf ball-sized hail. 6:12 p.m.: The Central Texas Electric Cooperative said it is experiencing a transmission outage affecting the Steeter and London areas. The provider is aware and taking steps to resolve the issue. 6:13 p.m.: Very large hail just west of the Hilda area, and strong enough winds to potentially cause a tornado. 6:07 p.m.: The National Weather Service said a tornado warning is in effect until 6:45 p.m. for Gillespie and Llano County. 'A dangerous storm is moving southeastward from Mason County into the warned area. The storm has a history of strong, damaging winds and very large hail as well.' 6:01 p.m.: Slow-moving tornado hits ground in Mason County, moving off to south southeast near the Hilda area. Also, a threat of golf ball-sized hail. 5:50 p.m.: 'New Tornado Warning for Mason County. Very strong rotation indicated on radar, so a tornado that could produce considerable damage is likely ongoing or imminent. Take shelter if you are in central or southern Mason County,' The National Weather Service said in a Facebook post. 5:46 p.m.: 9 outages reported in Mason County. 5:44 p.m.: Tornado watch still in place for Gillespie County. 5:33 p.m.: 'Warning sirens have been activated in the City of Mason. Please take cover due to inclement weather,' the Mason Volunteer Fire Department said. 4:48 p.m.: Tornado warning for Mason County Watches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is made Live Central Texas radar Central Texas rainfall totals Traffic map Download KXAN Weather App Sign up for KXAN daily forecast newsletter and severe weather alerts newsletter Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
