Voting in Texas today? Severe weather to hit during runoff election

• Severe storms with hail, wind and isolated tornadoes threaten Texas on May 26 as voters head to the polls for statewide runoff elections.
• The highest severe weather risk is forecast from West Texas into the Hill Country and parts of South-Central Texas during the afternoon and evening.
• Storms may overlap with peak voting hours, creating hazardous travel and potential brief disruptions at polling locations in western and central Texas.
• Additional rounds of storms on May 27 could bring heavy rain and localized flash flooding, especially in urban and low-lying areas across Texas and the Gulf Coast.

Severe thunderstorms are forecast across parts of Texas on Tuesday, May 26, as voters participate in statewide runoff elections. The risk includes large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes during the afternoon and evening hours.

"Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of southwest into south-central Texas," the Storm Prediction Center wrote. "Large hail, severe wind gusts, and a couple tornadoes are possible through this evening."

Among the most closely watched contests on Tuesday, May 26, is the Republican U.S. Senate runoff between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a high-profile race that has drawn national attention and highlighted divisions within the GOP. Texans are also voting in congressional, local and municipal races across the state.

Where and when Texas storms will be strongest on May 26

A weak upper-level disturbance moving east from New Mexico into West Texas is interacting with warm, humid air across the state, according to the Storm Prediction Center. An upper-level disturbance is a region of lower pressure in the atmosphere that can trigger rising air and storm development.

While early-day storms have cooled parts of West Texas, forecasters expect instability to rebuild farther east and south as temperatures increase.

The greatest severe weather risk is forecast from West Texas into the Hill Country and parts of South-Central Texas. These regions are expected to see the most favorable conditions for storm intensification during the afternoon and evening.

Large hail is more likely in isolated, stronger storms, while damaging wind gusts may increase as storms organize into clusters. A limited tornado risk exists if discrete supercells develop, which are rotating thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.

Storms are expected to begin as isolated cells during peak heating before evolving into clusters or complexes that move eastward.

Texas runoff voting collides with severe storms risk today

Storm development is expected during the late afternoon and evening, overlapping with peak voting hours across Texas. Polling locations in western and central areas may experience impacts first, followed by eastern regions as storms move across the state.

Heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds could temporarily disrupt voting or create hazardous travel conditions. Local officials typically manage polling site safety, but weather conditions may still affect accessibility.

Storm chances continue into midweek

Additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms are forecast across Texas on Wednesday, May 27. The lingering boundary refers to a stalled weather front that can focus repeated storm development over the same areas.

While the severe threat may be lower on Wednesday, heavy rainfall remains a concern. Repeated storms over the same locations can increase the risk of localized flooding.

Flash flooding is possible in urban and low-lying areas across Texas and the Gulf Coast region. Flash flooding is rapid flooding that occurs when heavy rain falls faster than the ground or drainage systems can absorb it.

The broader storm system is expected to continue influencing the southern United States through midweek, keeping rain chances elevated across the region.

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, but those who are in line beforehand can continue to vote.

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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at [email protected]. Find her on Facebook here.