Tornado watch in North Texas as severe weather threatens Dallas-Fort Worth
Severe thunderstorms in which there were at least two tornadoes bashed cities outside Dallas-Fort Worth on Monday, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a tornado watch for the region.
Storms loaded with large hail, forceful wind and heavy rain punched towns across the metropolitan area.
In Jack County, a fire department reported extensive damage at Jacksboro High School, according to the weather service. At U.S. Highway 380 and Wesley Chapel Road, firefighters reported damaged mobile homes. The roof collapsed on a house near downtown Jacksboro.
Near Bowie in Montague County, authorities reported damage at a gas plant and other structures.
Tarrant and Dallas are among the North Texas counties covered in the tornado watch that is in effect until 10 p.m.
The weather service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 21 counties west of Fort Worth. The watch area covers Archer, Baylor, Callahan, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Cottle, Eastland, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Jack, Knox, Montague, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger and Young counties. The watch will be in effect until 9 p.m.
About an inch of rain is expected in the Fort Worth area, said Jason Godwin, a meteorologist at the weather service’s Fort Worth office. There is a low risk of flooding.
The rain may help tame wildfires that have burned in the state in the last several days.
The threat for significant severe weather will remain until about 9 p.m., the weather service said. Rain will fall again on Tuesday, and severe weather is not expected.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
