Numerous tornadoes, damaging winds, hail: 25 million at risk

Dangerous storms will continue through the overnight hours across the ArkLaTex eastward into the Deep South's Delta region. More than 25 million people are still at risk for severe weather as storms rapidly move eastward today and tonight. A moderate risk, which is a threat level 4 of 5, is in place across north Texas eastward into southern Arkansas.

It is going to be a long night across the ArkLaTex. As our WeatherRadar show, storms will continue into the overnight hours. These storms could still produce tornadoes, so be sure to keep weather aware and have at least three ways of being alerted of storms.

Across north Texas, there are still about 275,000 customers without power.

Severe storms producing damaging winds swept through Fort Worth just after rush hour with Dallas getting hit right now.

Just north of Fort Worth, a wind gust of 80 mph was reported. wind gust as high swept through the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just after rush hour. Nearly 300,000 customers are without power from these storms.

The high winds have also caused traffic problems.

Hail accumulates across parts of Texas, causing hail fog to form. Below is a prime example:

Hail continues to be biggest dangers this afternoon across central and north Texas.

As our WeatherRadar shows, storms are still west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. However, that will likely change as the evening rush hour continues and we head into the overnight hours.

To the south, a new Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been posted across south-central Texas. this includes San Antonio and Austin.

Hail has been a major problem today across Texas as the severe weather gets underway. This video, from Mountain Springs, shows rain and hail cascading off roofs and down driveways.

In Decatur, north-northwest of Fort Worth, pea-size hail rained down on the center part of town.

JUST IN -- Tornado Watch has been posted across north Texas, southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas. This includes Waco, Fort Worth, Dallas and Denton, Texas, ,McAlester, Oklahoma, and Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas.

Across west Texas, high winds gusting in excess of 60 mph are creating dust storms. Below is video from Fort Stockton.

The day's first two watches has been posted. Both are a Severe Thunderstorm Watches that extend across central Texas into south-central Oklahoma. San Angelo, Abilene and Wichita Falls, are in them.

The afternoon is going be a stormy one throughout northern and north-central Texas. We are continuing to watch the WeatherRadar for the start of storm development.

Weather&Radar meteorologist Mary Mays will be live at 1 p.m. CT to give an update on the latest forecasts.

Severe storms on Wednesday left over 3 dozen preliminary wind reports and one tornado reported in Alabama. The severe storms that will develop on Thursday will be courtesy of the same system that brought heavy rains and snow to southern California and the Southwest earlier this week. Of course, the snow for the southern Plains and Deep South will not exist. Instead, severe storms will track along with the risk of damaging winds, large hail, and several strong tornadoes.

Our WeatherRadar shows the low-pressure system intensifying and becoming better organized in the late morning as its center moves over west Texas. By the early afternoon, there could be some isolated storms, possibly a couple of severe ones, moving over North Texas and the Metroplex area. As the afternoon progresses, the storms will likely become more intense and numerous. Areas from Dallas eastward will have the highest risk for the most intense and severe storms, many of which could produce strong tornadoes. Mesquite and Tyler in Texas, Shreveport, La., and other cities between I-20 and I-30 in the Arkansas-Texas-Louisiana area should be very weather-aware today. Residents should know where to go when a tornado warning is issued for their area.

If you live in a mobile home, today and tonight is not the time to be there. Mobile homes are especially dangerous when storms threaten. Strong damaging winds could cause similar damage as tornadoes.

The line of storms is set to lose speed during the afternoon and evening as it moves over the South. This slowdown will keep the risk for severe storms overnight still threatening Arkansas, but the main threat will shift east and threaten the Southeast on Friday. We will be closely monitoring these storms and bring you prompt updates on our app and social media channels.

There is a stationary front draped over northern Mississippi through northern Georgia and western Carolinas. This front is igniting heavy rainfall on Thursday. We forecast up to 3 inches to fall in some isolated spots. As the low-pressure system, the same one that’s bringing the severe threat to the Texarkana area, moves east it will continue to bring high rainfall amounts through the same region over northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and also across southern Tennessee. The flood-prone area should be especially vigilant, as also those near rivers.