When does severe weather season end in Texas? It’s sooner than you think

In May alone, the state produced 431 reports of severe hail, in which the hail measured at least an inch in diameter. That’s 24% above average for the entire month, and we still have a full week to add to that total. Additionally, the weather service noted 111 reports of hail of at least 2 inches, the largest hail report on record in the month of May, according to the data set presented by L. State University. ‘Iowa.

If you’re tired of the weather, you’re not alone and we have some good news for you. With summer quickly approaching, Texas is already entering the end of the severe weather season. Here’s a look at when storms typically slow down.

Extreme weather in Texas requires two things to come together. First, we need a warm, humid, unstable atmosphere, typically provided by the Gulf of Mexico. Second, we need weather disturbances, such as cold fronts and low atmospheric pressure, to interact with the warm, unstable air mass. When these elements come together, thunderstorms often result.

In April and May, these extreme weather ingredients come together most often. But as we get closer to summer, the upper-level jet stream begins to move farther north, and Texas finds itself with far fewer atmospheric disturbances that can help trigger thunderstorm formation.

For this reason, severe thunderstorms begin to slow down in Texas in early June. That being said, storms can still occur and produce large hail and tornadoes, especially during the first two weeks of the month. After June 15, the risk of severe thunderstorms decreases even further.

Here are some numbers to back that up. Over the past 18 years, Texas has averaged 347 cases of severe hail in May. By the time June rolls around, that number drops by more than 50%, to 157 reports of severe hail. Most of them occur in the first half of the month.

In July, Texas averaged just 16 reports of severe hail statewide. This is because high atmospheric pressure typically dominates the forecast in Texas during the summer months and does not allow organized thunderstorms to develop.

It’s even more drastic when you look at the tornado numbers. Unsurprisingly, May usually has the most tornadoes, with an average of 44 during the month. In June, that number drops to 10. Then, there is only an average of three tornadoes each July throughout Texas.

It’s important to note that large hail and tornadoes can occur year-round in the Lone Star State, but after the next few weeks it won’t happen as often.