Severe storms could roil a.m.

Heavy rain, possible hail expected to leave behind cooler temps.

Flash floods, high winds and hail could greet morning commuters Tuesday as severe storms make their final push through the region.

A strong Pacific cold front, low pressure and moist Gulf air clashed to produce widespread showers and thunderstorms on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. A flash-flood watch and possibilities of hail and damaging winds are in effect Tuesday until noon.

“Even if we do get a lot of rain, just one even like this isn’t really enough to be a drought-buster,” said Aaron Treadway with the weather service. “We would need a prolonged period of rain of several inches to really have a big impact on the drought.”

The slow-moving line of storms hit the Austin area about 9 p.m. Monday, dumping up to an inch of rain in just a half-hour in some areas of Williamson County and north Travis County. Chances will remain high for rain until about 10 a.m. Tuesday. Most areas in the region could get between two and four inches of rain, with up to six inches in some places.

This month has been dry, according to the service. Although the recent bout of rain will not make a major dent in the drought, it will help.

As of Wednesday, Camp Mabry and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were each about a half-foot below normal rainfall for the year. More than 80 percent of the state is still in a moderate to exceptional drought, according to the service.

After the moderate saturation on Tuesday, unseason-

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ably cold conditions will blanket the area. The highs shouldn’t climb out of the 60s for most of the region and Wednesday should only get into the 70s. The average tem- perature for May in Austin is 75 degrees.

The daily records set on May 13 for the lowest high temperatures at Camp Mabry and at the airport are 65 and 66, respectively.

Temperatures will return to the 80s by Friday and remain through the weekend. Rain isn’t expected for the rest of the week.

“I wouldn’t expect this to be the norm, so bask in the last two cool days before it gets hot again,” Treadway said.