Residents of the Mid-South were warned on Wednesday to keep a close eye on the weather as a Tornado Watch was issued for a large swath of the region. Fortunately, the watch was later canceled; however, severe storms capable of producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are expected to move through the area.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued an enhanced risk, level 3 out of 5, of severe weather across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. The SPC cautions that wind gusts of over 70 mph, hail up to 2 inches, and a few tornadoes may be expected from the storms.

Heavy rain is already affecting residents in central and west Texas, with the main severe activity likely to develop midday and overnight. The concern for rotating storms capable of producing tornadoes and hail will move east throughout the evening and overnight, so those in the Houston and New Orleans metro areas should expect storms to roll through their regions in the afternoon and evening, respectively.

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a risk for flooding on Tuesday due to the heavy rainfall expected from the storms, and residents should prepare for rainfall up to a couple of inches, particularly in east Texas. So, while the region is no longer under a Tornado Watch, severe weather is still a risk and people should continue to monitor the situation and take necessary precautions.