8:45 p.m. update: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Travis County and other parts of South Central Texas until 4 a.m.

The tornado watch includes 29 counties, including Travis, Comal, Bastrop, Hays and Blanco counties.

Meteorologists said scattered wind gusts up to 75 mph and widespread apple-sized hail are likely.

3:30 p.m. update: The chance of tornadoes from South Texas to the Austin-San Antonio area has increased substantially, the National Weather Service said Saturday afternoon.

The weather service said the tornadoes pose the greatest threat in locations roughly between Del Rio along the Texas-Mexico border to the I-35 corridor from San Antonio to Austin. The weather service updated the areas at risk of tornadoes to include Austin, the northern half of Bexar County, the I-35 corridor, and much of the Texas Hill Country.

Chances of a tornado in the Hill Country and the Austin-San Antonio area will be higher Sunday between 3 and 8 a.m., the service said.

The weather service’s Storm Prediction Center said there’s potential for strong tornadoes measuring EF-2 or greater.

Tornadoes are measured on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Intensity scale, which rates the tornadoes by wind damage from zero to five. An EF-2 tornado has winds blowing 111 to 135 mph.

A night tornado threat could be very dangerous, the weather service said. Meteorologists encourage people to monitor weather radios and make sure they can be awakened overnight if warnings are issued for their location.

The weather service says scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are also expected, as well as hail and damaging winds of more than 60 mph.

Gov. Greg Abbott activated Saturday several resources across the state in anticipation of the severe storms.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management put Texas A&M Forest Service Saw Crews, Texas Parks and Wildlife Water Rescue Boats, Texas A&M Engineering and Extension Service Urban Search and Rescue and Swift Water Rescue Boat Squads, and Texas Department of State Health Services Ambulance Strike Teams on standby, according to the news release.

Abbott encourages Texans to stay indoors, avoid flooded areas and fast-moving water, be cautious of any water on or near roads, and stay informed by monitoring weather radios and news broadcasts about severe weather.

For additional safety tips related to severe weather, read more at http://ready.gov/severe-weather.

Earlier: Happy Saturday, Central Texas! Expect stormy skies as Austin and Travis County continue to enforce their Stay Home, Work Safe ordinance through Easter weekend, with all parks in the area remaining closed through Monday.

Saturday will be cloudy with a high near 75, according to the National Weather Service. There’s a chance of showers in the morning and thunderstorms are likely after 1 p.m., with some of them potentially severe, forecasters said.

South-southeast winds will be blowing 5 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.

Forecasters said the chance of precipitation is 60%. Rainfall is expected to be between a tenth and quarter of an inch with higher amounts possible with thunderstorms, the weather service said.

Forecasters said to expect showers and thunderstorms mainly between 4 to 8 a.m., with the possibility of some storms being severe. The chance of precipitation is 80% with possible rainfall amounting between a half and three quarters of an inch.

Temperatures will drop to a low around 68 with south-southeast winds blowing 5 to 10 mph.

"The greatest risk to the Austin area for this round is going to be large hail, but there will also be a damaging straight-line wind threat and an isolated tornado also cannot be ruled out with this event," said Keith White, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Large hail is 2 inches in diameter or greater, and gusts could blow as strong as 70 mph or more, the weather service said.

White said possible pockets of one to two inches of rain could cause minor flash flooding in Austin, but the rain appears to be fast moving, so there’s not much of a threat for significant rainfall. Low-lying areas are the most at risk for flash flooding, White said.

The storms overnight will initially develop in western counties, such as Val Verde and Edwards, and then move east towards Travis County.

Elevated fire weather conditions are expected in Travis County from Sunday through Friday, forecasters said.

The weather service has next week’s extended forecast below.

Sunday: 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly before 7 a.m., with possibility of some severe storms. Expected rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch and higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. High near 86 and west winds blowing 15 to 25 mph in the morning with some gusts as high as 35 mph during the day. Clear night with a low around 46. North wind blowing 15 to 20 mph after midnight with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Monday: Sunny with a high near 62 and north wind blowing 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph during the day. Mostly clear at night with a low around 45 and north-northeast winds blowing up to 20 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a high near 66 during the day. Mostly cloudy at night with a low around 44.

Wednesday: Partly sunny during the day with a high near 65. Partly cloudy at night with a low around 46.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high near 75 during the day. Partly cloudy at night with a low around 57.

Friday: Partly sunny with a high near 77.