East Texas can expect multiple rounds of storms, some severe, to make their way through the region through Saturday, the National Weather Service says. (Contributed Photo)

East Texas can expect multiple rounds of storms, some severe, to make their way through the region through Saturday, the National Weather Service says.

Meteorologist Armani Cassel provided a special weather briefing on Tuesday afternoon, noting all severe weather hazards are likely this week, especially on Wednesday, including large hail, damaging winds, a few tornadoes and heavy rainfall, which may cause flooding on area waterways.

Wednesday’s changes of severe weather are at the “enhanced” level (three out of five) for most of East Texas. This includes the possibility of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds. Wednesday’s storms are expected to start arriving late afternoon through 7 p.m.

The severe weather risk on Thursday is “slight” (two out of five) for most of East Texas, with storms again expected in the late afternoon and early evening.

Northern East Texas are at a “slight” risk of flash flooding, while more southern areas of the region are at a “marginal” risk Wednesday and Thursday. The risk of flash flooding is expected to increase on Friday and Saturday as the area sees accumulated rain totals.

The NWS said the highest rainfall amounts this week should be north of Interstate 20, and especially north of Interstate 30. Heavy rain could lead to flooding of low-lying areas, rivers, creeks and roads.

Between Wednesday and Monday, NWS is forecasting between 4 and 6 inches of rain for Mount Pleasant, 3 to 4 inches of rain for Longview and Marshall, 2 to 3 inches of rain for Tyler, Henderson and Carthage, and between 1.5 and 2 inches for the more southern areas of East Texas.

A flood watch is in effect Wednesday night through Sunday morning for parts of Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas, around the Texarkana area. But the NWS said heavy rain could lead to flash flooding and significant river and lake flooding even in areas not under the watch.

Expansion of the flood watch is also probably, the NWS said.