Timeline: Tornado Watch in effect for several Houston-area counties until 9 p.m.

HOUSTON — Even though we woke up dry this morning we are still expecting widespread rain, along with gusty winds and hail, this afternoon as a cold front makes its way to the Houston area.

The counties north and west of Harris County, like Austin, Montgomery, and Polk, are more likely to see the worst of the severe weather and could get as much as 2 inches of rain Friday evening.

There is currently a Tornado Watch in effect for Brazos, Chambers, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Washington counties until 9 p.m. 

Other areas should anticipate half an inch to an inch of rain, which is much needed after the drought-like conditions we have been experiencing. 

No widespread flooding is expected but some areas may see some standing water from fast-falling rain.

There is a 90 percent chance of rain starting Friday afternoon. 

• Friday 2 p.m. – The rain starts to pick up ahead of the cold front making its way towards the Houston area, specifically in the counties north and west of Harris County. Some of these areas could even see large, damaging hail and gusty winds. Signs of rotation are possible with any of those storms, but the chance of seeing a tornado develop are low for Harris County. North and east of Houston, there is a higher change of seeing storms with the capacity to produce a tornado.
• Friday 9 p.m. – More widespread rain expected as the cold front pushes through the area. 
• Saturday 7 a.m. – Rain clears out quickly. Should see sunny skies for Saturday.

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