Heavy Rain Threat Shifts Northward Overnight; Big Country Braces for Soaking

SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) — After initial forecasts predicted heavy rain across the Concho Valley, the weather outlook has taken a turn, with the bulk of precipitation now expected to drench the Heartland and Big Country regions overnight. The Concho Valley, along with other parts of the area, faces a low to medium chance (30-40 percent) of showers and thunderstorms early tonight. However, attention is drawn to the northern third to half of the area, where the main focus of rainfall is anticipated to occur, according to meteorologists.

Cloud cover will blanket the skies throughout the night, with overnight lows ranging from the upper 40s to lower 50s in the Big Country, and dropping to the lower 60s south of I-10 and in southeastern counties.

The heavy rain threat is expected to persist into Saturday and Saturday night, particularly across the Big Country, as a cooler airmass settles in with temperatures hovering in the 50s. Moisture streaming in from the Gulf of Mexico will collide with this cooler air, setting the stage for widespread showers and thunderstorms. Precipitable water values between 1 and 1.5 inches suggest significant moisture content, with rainfall amounts varying from around a half-inch to up to one and a half inches.

While the risk of excessive rainfall has prompted the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Marginal to Slight Risk for parts of west-central Texas, the potential for strong thunderstorms capable of producing locally heavier rainfall remains for the big Country and the Heartland. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and exercise caution, especially in flood-prone areas.

By Sunday morning, rain chances are expected to diminish as the mid-level trough axis shifts eastward out of our area.