Fireworks may not be the only thing lighting up the sky across Texas this Fourth of July. Strong thunderstorms are expected to develop later Saturday, with large hail, damaging wind gusts and heavy rain possible in parts of the state.
The National Weather Service says the greatest threat is expected around Amarillo and Lubbock from the afternoon into the evening as many Texans head outdoors for holiday celebrations. While not everyone will see storms, those that develop could quickly become severe.
In the Amarillo area, storms are expected to develop Saturday afternoon and evening, with the greatest threat between about 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. The strongest storms could produce wind gusts up to 75 mph, hail up to 2 inches in diameter and heavy downpours. While hail and damaging winds are expected to be the primary hazards, the Storm Prediction Center also includes a low tornado risk for parts of the Texas Panhandle…