Toxic cloud and wildfire threat

[Gabby Hayes]

Texas authorities are closely watching a strong cold front approaching West, TX, because of the possibility the wind shift could send a toxic cloud and wildfires toward the Waco metropolitan area, located 20 miles to the south. At 3:30 a.m. (Central) weather service radar was indicating a wind shift line just ahead of a line of thunderstorms about 100 miles northwest of Waco. The line was moving southeast, but again the wind shift is just ahead of the thunderstorms.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Live updates on Guardian link here :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/18/texas-explosion-fertiliser-plant-live

[Gabby Hayes]

2. Excellent. Thanks.

We are getting mixed reports in Central Texas, but it seems certain that a lot of people are dead and the situation is still extremely unpredictable due to the chemical containers sitting in the fire. The wildfire threat is also of great concern because the region is an industrial minefield and a serious drought is in progress. Just noticed that a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for some of the storms approaching West. Lot of lightning in those storms. The weather service is reporting the storms have slowed but the wind shift is pushing along. Right now, the Waco weather service is reporting southerly winds gusting to near 30 mph. Those winds will shift abruptly to the NNW over the next couple of hours. My fingers are crossed.