WFAA-TV

There's a moderate risk of severe weather in North Texas in the highlighted area.

The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded parts of North Texas to a moderate risk of severe storms this afternoon.

The moderate risk area starts around Bridgeport and Decatur then stretches east of Interstate 35 into east and northeast sections of North Texas.

All of North Texas remains in a slight risk for severe storms this afternoon, said WFAA-TV meteorologist Meghan Danahey. The dryline is bulging eastward, and with an hour or two more of daytime heating, we expect storms to fire up along this feature, she said.

With favorable upper level winds and plenty of available moisture, the strongest storms will likely produce large hail and damaging winds. Isolated tornadoes are possible, especially across the moderate risk area.

"The strongest storms will be able to produce dime to tennis ball-sized hail, 40-80 mph wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes," Danahey said.

Stay tuned for weather watches and warnings from now into the evening rush hour.

"As we head toward midday into the early afternoon, that's when I think the showers and storms should begin to intensify across North Texas," said WFAA-TV meteorologist Greg Fields. "We'll certainly have to keep a close eye on things then."

Tuesday morning’s rush hour ended up a slam-bang affair, with rolling thunder, vivid lightning and heavy rains creating the inevitable fender-benders as commuters splashed their way to work.

Tuesday’s storms rolled across the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the morning, dumping more than a half-inch of rain.

Lightning was believed to have caused two house fires — one in the 8800 block of Granite Path and another in the 3100 block of Aldersyde Drive, according to a Fort Worth dispatcher. No injuries were reported.

The Tuesday storm then headed east, reaching Dallas about 8 a.m.

Friday’s highs will flirt with 90 for the first time this year.

“If we don’t get it on Friday, we will get it on Saturday,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Nick Hampshire.

WFAA-TV meteorologist Meghan Danahey and DallasNews.com contributed to this report.