Big hail, damaging winds Friday in North Texas, followed by rainy Memorial Day weekend
North Texas residents are in for a Memorial Day weekend full of rain and potential flooding, but before then began seeing severe storms with damaging winds and hail up to golf-ball size or larger late Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. A tornado touchdown was reported in Montague County.
A severe thunderstorm watch was issued just before 7 p.m. Friday continuing until 2 a.m. Saturday for counties including Collin, Denton, Parker, Wise and other areas north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth, and warnings were issued in those areas throughout the night.
Large hail and winds over 60 mph capable of damaging roofs, siding, windows, vehicles and trees have been reported with some of the storms.
The Fort Worth Office of Emergency Management tweeted just before 11 p.m. Friday, “The OEM team & @NWSFortWorth continue to monitor the storm to our north as it slowly moves to the southeast. It has the potential to bring gusty winds, hail & possible flooding rains (arrival ~2 hrs). Please have multiple ways to receive weather alerts & stay prepared.”
In Montague County, trained spotters reported damage to buildings, trees and power lines, according to the weather service website. The Bowie area of Montague County was apparently hit by a tornado, followed by flash flooding from the slow-moving storm, Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported. Initial reports didn’t include any injuries or deaths, according to WFAA.
Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Friday night that he has deployed resources including Texas Task Force 2 “to the North Texas area following severe weather and a tornado touchdown that has caused damage in Montague County.”
The fire department told WFAA that about 25% of the roof was ripped off a Best Western hotel in Bowie, and cars in the parking lot were damaged by flying debris, including one hit by the hotel’s sign. The Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Bowie next to the hotel had roof and flooding damage, and roof damage to homes also was reported.
Flooded roads and fallen trees were reported in Wise County, the weather service said.
Reports of hail as big as baseballs or softballs came in on social media in Clay and Wichita counties.
The line of storms developed west of the Dallas-Fort Worth region along the Red River on Friday afternoon. The storms were expected to maintain their strength as they approached DFW, bringing severe threats including hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter, winds as fast as 60 to 70 mph and even the potential for tornadoes, according to Patricia Sanchez, a weather service meteorologist.
The storms were expected to be at their most severe between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., tapering off in the early morning hours.
There was expected to be a low tornado risk mainly along or north of the I-20 corridor, Sanchez said.
“So we cannot completely rule out that chance,” she said Friday morning.
There could be some rain mid-morning Saturday into Sunday, Sanchez said, but “there’s a good chance it might stay dry.”
On Sunday, she said, rounds of showers are expected to begin sometime after 1 or 2 p.m. and continue off and on through Monday, potentially leading to flooding in low-lying areas, creeks and rivers. There should be “widespread heavy rain” on Memorial Day, according to the weather service forecast.
Sanchez said people should keep an eye on the latest warnings and alerts “as they enjoy the holiday weekend that will be a little bit wet.”
She also advised North Texas residents to be cautious approaching roads flooded with water and noted it’s “better not to cross” those spots.
A hazardous weather outlook from the weather service warns thunderstorms will be possible every day from Saturday through Thursday this upcoming week. The biggest threat will be heavy rainfall, according to the alert, and flooding could begin as early as Sunday or Monday.
The weather service forecast includes at least a 50 percent of rain every day between Sunday and Thursday. There’s a 30 percent chance of rain Saturday.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
