Weather News

Extreme weather in North Texas: Look back at killer storms, heat waves, freezes

Stories by Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists, with AI summarization

Take a look back at Star-Telegram stories about some of the most memorable weather events we've endured, from deep freezes and floods to sweltering heat waves and a few tornadoes.

A 1949 flood in Fort Worth left 13,000 people homeless and 10 people dead.

IN FORT WORTH’S 1949 FLOOD, WEST 7TH WAS UNDERWATER

The Linwood neighborhood and what now is Crockett Row flooded back then, too. | Published August 29, 2017 | Read Full Story by Bud Kennedy

A layer of snow coats the ground in the Fairmount neighborhood of Fort Worth on Sunday, February 14, 2021.

WHO CAN FORGET THE AWFUL FEBRUARY 2021 TEXAS FREEZE?

With the arrival frigid temperatures, North Texans can’t help but remember the catastrophic winter storm of 2021. Look back at Star-Telegram photos from each day of the freeze. | Published January 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Amanda McCoy

Jan. 5, 1947: “Mrs. Margaret McVeigh shown with ice formation on broken pipe.”

FORT WORTH’S MOST HISTORIC & MEMORABLE WINTER STORMS

It doesn’t snow often in North Texas, but when it does — Lord have mercy! | Published February 2, 2022 | Read Full Story by Matt Leclercq

Damage on West Seventh Street in Fort Worth after a tornado hit the city on March 28, 2000.

THE 2000 TORNADO THAT RIPPED INTO DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH & ARLINGTON

It was just after 6 p.m. on March 28, 2000, when dark storm clouds started rotating over Fort Worth. The ensuing destruction changed Fort Worth forever. | Published March 2, 2023 | Read Full Story by Matt Leclercq

June 27, 1980: University of Texas at Arlington students attempt to melt 10-pound blocks of ice during a contest at the non-invitational belly flop and George Hamilton tan competition.

FORT WORTH’S NOTORIOUS 1980 HEAT WAVE

Who remembers 1980’s heat wave? It was so hot in North Texas, they made “I survived” shirts. These newly digitized Star-Telegram photos are seen for first time since that steamy summer. | Published July 6, 2023 | Read Full Story by Matt Leclercq

AT&T Stadium during a thunderstorm.

WHICH TEXAS COUNTY HAS THE WORST WEATHER? THE ANSWER IS CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU THINK

North Texas is home to county with the most severe weather in the state. | Published September 5, 2023 | Read Full Story by Dalia Faheid

Ice coats the branches of a tree on Magnolia Street in Fort Worth on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Temperature began rising above freezing on Thursday, helping to clear roads from ice.

AN ARCTIC BLAST KEPT NORTH TEXAS FROZEN FOR NEARLY 300 HOURS IN 1983

Cold, really cold and scary cold. During the 295 hours or 12.3 days stretch in 1983, North Texans felt temperatures as low as 5 degrees. | Published December 6, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brayden Garcia

A TXDOT crew works to clear ice from the southbound lane of I-35W Sunday, December 8, 2013. (Star-Telegram/ Richard W. Rodriguez)

THAT DAY IN 2023 WHEN ‘COBBLESTONE’ ICE FROZE NORTH TEXAS

A perfect storm of events created treacherous road conditions in North Texas. | Published December 7, 2023 | Read Full Story by Tom Johanningmeier

The story summaries above were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.