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Today Marks Official Start to Nation's Secondary Severe Weather Season

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

An outbreak of potentially damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes looms for the southern Plains today, marking the official start to the nation's secondary severe weather season.

"While spring is by far the most active time of the year for severe weather and tornadoes, there is a second severe weather season that develops in the fall," stated AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Heather Buchman.

That latter season will kick off in full force this afternoon across west-central parts of Oklahoma and Texas, after a couple of hail-producing thunderstorms rattle the same area in the morning.

Numerous violent thunderstorms will erupt this afternoon, each capable of unleashing damaging winds and pounding hail. Destructive tornadoes touching down are also a serious concern.

This afternoon's greatest threat zone includes the cities of Lawton, Okla., and Abilene and Wichita Falls in Texas.

The powerful thunderstorms will press eastward tonight with Tulsa and McAlester, Okla., as well as Dallas and Austin, Texas, becoming targets.

Also at risk is the epicenter of Saturday's record-setting earthquake in Oklahoma.

The potency of the thunderstorms may wane late tonight into tomorrow morning, but will increase once again tomorrow afternoon with the threat zone stretching from central Missouri to East Texas and Louisiana.

While the risk to lives and property concerns AccuWeather.com meteorologists the most, there is one positive aspect to the impending severe weather-beneficial rainfall.

Much of Texas, Oklahoma and western Louisiana continues to suffer from an exceptional drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.

The same storm system sparking the violent thunderstorms will also return snow to Denver for the third consecutive week.

Following this potent storm, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Andy Mussoline stated that "much quieter and cooler weather will settle into the southern Plains."