Weather

Severe weather has gripped Texas this year — from tornadoes tearing through the South Plains to wildfires in the Panhandle and, most recently, deadly floods in the Hill Country. In Lubbock, where the city’s outdoor siren system was activated for the first time earlier this summer, emergency officials emphasize that layered alerts and personal preparedness remain essential to staying safe.

A GOP state lawmaker who represents Kerr County says he likely would vote differently now on House Bill 13, which would have established a grant program for counties to build new emergency communication infrastructure.

Centro San Antonio will host a vigil in Travis Park on Monday at 8:30 p.m. to mourn and honor the dozens of children and adults who died in Friday's floods.

NPR has compiled a timeline of when local, state and federal officials posted warnings on social media as well as the timeline of events as presented by local officials.

The Fourth of July in Lubbock will look different this year, with new organizers of the 4th on Broadway parade and a last-minute change in location after recent spurts of heavy rainfall. Police are reminding residents that fireworks are still banned within city limits, and public health officials are warning of increased mosquito activity.

As wildfires and floods impact New Mexico, our reporter Sean Ryan breaks down Texas's efforts to provide its neighbor with emergency management resources. Also, three new safe haven baby box locations for the South Plains were announced yesterday.

The City of Lubbock libraries have partnered with Reliant Energy to open Beat the Heat cooling centers. They will formally begin when the National Weather Service forecasts three or more days in a row above 104 degrees. The centers will be at all four of Lubbock's public libraries during normal operating hours. Our reporter Sean Ryan has more on what the centers have to offer.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has released preliminary survey results from last Thursday's storm. The survey confirmed eight tornadoes. Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has details on the supercell event. Meanwhile, across Texas, demonstrators are planning a new wave of protests this weekend. The Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez has more on the response to the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.

As the summer sun intensifies, so does the risk of skin cancer. Our student reporter Sean Ryan has advice from a dermatologist at Texas Tech Physicians about skin protection and early warning signs. Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is proposing a rule that would shift how emissions grant funding is distributed. KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports on growing criticism that the change would do little to reduce air pollution.

Lubbock’s outdoor warning system was put to the test for the first time as severe storms and tornado threats swept through the area Thursday night. The city’s Office of Emergency Management director recapped the cross-departmental response and gave recommendations for staying safe during future severe weather events.