Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2003

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Fort Worth, TX

April 5, 2003Dallas County, Texas

NWS Fort Worth, TX issued this flash flood warning at Apr 5, 2003, 8:16 PM CST for Dallas County, Texas. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Apr 5, 2003, 8:16 PM CST (02:16 UTC)
Expired: Apr 6, 2003, 12:15 AM CST
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Fort Worth, TX
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Dallas County, TX

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:16 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 43 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 640 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 896 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 101 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 353 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 3.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WGUS54 KFWD 060215
FFWFTW
TXC113-060615-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
816 PM CST SAT APR 5 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  DALLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

* UNTIL 1215 AM CST

* AT 816 PM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE 
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAINFALL MOVING INTO 
NORTHWEST DALLAS COUNTY. THIS STORM WILL MOVE ACROSS DALLAS COUNTY 
THROUGH 10 PM PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS AND ALONG 
STREAMS AND CREEKS.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE ADDISON...CARROLLTON...
  COPPELL...DALLAS...FARMERS BRANCH...GARLAND...IRVING...MESQUITE...
  RICHARDSON...ROWLETT...SACHSE AND SUNNYVALE

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS
IMMINENT. MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS...OR OTHER LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS
THE ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL
ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 3299 9703 3275 9702 3271 9654 3297 9653

$$

BUNTING

2 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS74 KFWD 060321
FFSFTW
TXC113-439-060515-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
918 PM CST SAT APR 5 2003

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR NORTHERN TARRANT COUNTY UNTIL 
1115 PM AND FOR NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTY UNTIL 1215 AM CST...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN SECTIONS OF 
TARRANT AND DALLAS COUNTIES AT 918 PM CST. THE STORMS ARE PRODUCING 
RAINFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES AN HOUR...AND THE RAINFALL RUNOFF 
WILL LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING IN CARROLLTON...RICHARDSON AND 
SURROUNDING AREAS IN DALLAS COUNTY... AND IN THE MID CITIES AREA IN 
NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT. KNOW YOUR
LOCATION IN RELATION TO STREAMS...RIVERS OR CREEKS THAT CAN BECOME
KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH RISING WATER.
DO NOT CROSS AREAS WHERE WATER IS FLOWING...EVEN ON FOOT. RAPIDLY
FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR AT NIGHT. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT
NIGHT SINCE IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLASH FLOODS.
USE CAUTION IN AND AROUND STREAMS...CREEKS OR DRAINAGE DITCHES. TAKE
THE SHORTEST PATH TO REACH HIGHER GROUND...BUT DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH
RISING WATER.

MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY OR PAST POLICE BARRICADES.
RAPIDLY RISING WATER CAN ENGULF A VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS AND SWEEP
THEM AWAY. IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS IN THE WATER...ABANDON IT
IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK HIGHER GROUND.

LAT...LON 3298 9656 3271 9657 3271 9752 3299 9752

$$

000 
WGUS74 KFWD 060509
FFSFTW
TXC113-439-060545-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1106 PM CST SAT APR 5 2003

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING CANCELED FOR TARRANT AND DALLAS 
COUNTIES...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT PROMPTED THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAVE 
MOVED OUT OF THE WARNING AREA...AND THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR 
TARRANT AND DALLAS COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELED.

EARLIER...SEVERAL ROADS IN NORTHERN DALLAS COUNTY WERE REPORTED TO 
BE UNDER ONE FOOT OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER...BUT THE HIGH WATER HAS 
RECEDED.

LAT...LON 3298 9656 3281 9654 3279 9751 3299 9750

$$

07/BB

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Apr 5, 4:43 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 4:43 PM CST, 3 hours 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
440 CST SAT APR 5 2003

PUBLIC DISCUSSION...
ZONES UPDATED FOR TORNADO WATCH.  59

THE 21Z SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE WARM FRONT EXTENDED
FROM ABOUT 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF ABILENE...TO DFW...TO TYLER LINE...
WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 60S IN THE WARM SECTOR...AND IN THE 40S
AND 50S IN THE COLD SECTOR. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY
DEVELOPED ALONG THE WARM FRONT NORTH OF ABILENE. SEVERE WEATHER
OUTBREAK SEEMS TO BE ON TRACK FOR TONIGHT....AND A CHANCE ACROSS
THE EASTERN HALF ON SUNDAY. THE RAIN WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST
DURING THE DAY SUNDAY AS THE DRY LINE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. #58

FCSTID =   58
DFW   60  80  49  71 /  50  40   0   0
ACT   63  81  51  75 /  30  30   0   0
PRX   63  77  48  70 /  60  70   0   0
DTO   59  79  46  70 /  60  40   0   0
TKI   61  79  48  71 /  60  50   0   0
DAL   61  80  50  72 /  60  40   0   0
TRL   63  80  51  73 /  50  50   0   0
CRS   64  80  52  74 /  30  50   0   0
TPL   63  82  52  76 /  20  30   0   0

.FWD...NONE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 3:40 PM CST, 4 hours 36 minutes before

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-061200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED SPOTTER ACTIVATION INFO.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
340 PM CST SAT APR 5 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...
THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT FOR AREAS
NORTH OF I-20 AND WEST OF I-35. THIS INCLUDES EASTLAND...BOWIE...
SHERMAN...PARIS...GREENVILLE...AND THE DALLAS FORT WORTH METROPLEX.
THE REMAINDER OF NORTH TEXAS IS UNDER A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE
PRIMARY THREATS. HOWEVER...THE CURRENT LOW-LEVEL VERTICAL WIND
PROFILES CONTINUE TO SUGGEST THE POTENTIAL FOR SUPERCELLS AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH TEXAS
SUNDAY...PRIMARILY EAST OF I-35. THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL BE LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY WEST OF A NOCONA...WEATHERFORD...
CISCO LINE AFTER 5 PM.  ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED WEST OF A
SHERMAN...DALLAS...KILLEEN LINE AFTER 8 PM.  SPOTTERS EAST OF I-35
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION AFTER MIDNIGHT.

ROBBINS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 5, 6:50 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
650 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    3 N ELIASVILLE            TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   YOUNG                          REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

BUNTING

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:08 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
708 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0705 PM    5 E PEASTER               TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   PARKER                         REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

0706 PM    5 E PEASTER               TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   PARKER

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:26 PM CST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
726 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0723 PM    SPRINGTOWN                TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   PARKER                         REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:44 PM CST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
744 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0743 PM    2 E EAGLE MTN LAKE        TX   1.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   TARRANT                        REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:45 PM CST, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
745 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0744 PM    3 ESE EAGLE MTN LAKE      TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   TARRANT                        REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.

Local storm report, Apr 5, 7:54 PM CST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
754 PM CST SAT APR 05 2003

TIME(CST)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0752 PM    FORT WORTH                TX   2.75 INCH HAIL
04/05/03   TARRANT                        REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATOR.  NEAR
                                          INTERSECTION OF I-35
                                          AND NORTH LOOP 820.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Fort Worth, TX issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 5, 6:29 PM CST	Tornado Warning	FWD	Palo Pinto, Parker	61 min
Apr 5, 6:34 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Jack, Young	56 min
Apr 5, 6:52 PM CST	Tornado Warning	FWD	Parker, Tarrant	53 min
Apr 5, 7:20 PM CST	Flash Flood Warning	FWD	Tarrant	4 hr
Apr 5, 7:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Jack	50 min
Apr 5, 7:44 PM CST	Tornado Warning	FWD	Parker, Tarrant	61 min
Apr 5, 8:09 PM CST	Tornado Warning	FWD	Dallas, Tarrant	51 min
Apr 5, 8:20 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Parker, Wise	55 min
Apr 5, 8:46 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin	59 min
Apr 5, 8:59 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Dallas, Rockwall	46 min
Apr 5, 9:06 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Denton, Tarrant, Wise	54 min
Apr 5, 9:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Montague	65 min
Apr 5, 9:32 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hunt	58 min
Apr 5, 9:42 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin, Dallas, Rockwall	63 min
Apr 5, 9:58 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Denton	47 min
Apr 5, 10:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Cooke, Montague	93 min
Apr 5, 10:28 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hunt	62 min
Apr 5, 10:35 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hopkins	55 min
Apr 5, 10:41 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin	64 min
Apr 5, 11:25 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Grayson	65 min
Apr 5, 11:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hopkins	63 min
Apr 5, 11:30 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hunt	60 min
Apr 6, 12:15 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Fannin, Grayson	60 min
Apr 6, 12:19 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hopkins	56 min
Apr 6, 1:14 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Fannin	46 min
Apr 6, 1:31 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Lamar	59 min
Apr 6, 9:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Montague	62 min
Apr 6, 1:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Collin	64 min
Apr 6, 1:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Grayson	47 min
Apr 6, 3:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Lamar	39 min
Apr 6, 4:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FWD	Hopkins, Rains	57 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2003 Every flash flood warning in 2003

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.