Flash Flood and Hail in Texas, September 17 to 18, 2001

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Texas, September 17 to 18, 2001
Start: 2001-09-17T18:45
End: 2001-09-18T19:48
Location: Texas

September 17 to 18, 2001 · NWS FWD · 17 events in 7 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed in northwest portions of the area, north and west of a Sherman, Fort Worth, Stephenville line. Strong winds were the main threat with these storms.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $112,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.

Scattered thunderstorms developed in northwest portions of the area, north and west of a Sherman, Fort Worth, Stephenville line. Strong winds were the main threat with these storms. However, there were a few reports of hail. In Fort Worth, a slow moving and strong thunderstorm brought localized flooding near the downtown area.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Sep 17, 4:50 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 17, 4:50 PM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED TO ADD AVIATION DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
550 PM CDT MON SEP 17 2001

AVIATION DISCUSSION...
EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO GENERALLY PREVAIL DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF WICHITA FALLS....WILL REMAIN NORTH
OF THE METROPLEX.  ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN COLLEGE STATION AND
LONGVIEW....WILL DISSIPATE BEFORE SUNSET.  WE DID SEE SOME 3 TO 5
MILE VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS DUE TO FOG/HAZE THIS MORNING EAST OF A
GAINESVILLE...TO BURNET LINE...WITH A FEW SPOTS FALLING TO 1 MILE OR
LESS.  WITH INCREASED SOUTHERLY WINDS...DONT EXPECT TO SEE MUCH FOG
TUESDAY MORNING.  WE MAY SEE SOME THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH THE
METROPLEX TOWARD 00Z WEDNESDAY.  58

238 PM CDT MON SEP 17 2001 PUBLIC FORECAST DISCUSSION...
MILD...SEASONAL WEATHER WILL CONTINUE OVER NORTH TEXAS THIS WEEK AS
THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW TAKES A DIP INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND ALLOWS
A FRONT TO ENTER THE REGION WEDNESDAY.  THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE
FOR RAIN...MAINLY IN THE NORTHERN PORTIONS TUESDAY NIGHT...AND
BRING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS...EVEN IF ITS ONLY FOR A BRIEF SPELL.

MOST OF THE ENERGY ALOFT WILL REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH OF TEXAS
THROUGH THIS WEEK...AND EVEN WELL INTO NEXT WEEK ACCORDING TO THE
LATEST MRF RUN. THIS WILL CONTINUE OUR MILD WEATHER...WITH NORTHWEST
FLOW BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE FOR RAIN BY THE WEEKEND...MAINLY TO THE
WEST AND NORTHWEST PORTIONS.  42

DFW  71/91/72/88  2342
ACT  71/94/73/95  2232

.FWD...NONE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 17, 2:30 PM CST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-180400-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
330 PM CDT MON SEP 17 2001

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SCATTERED ACROSS NORTH TEXAS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON...AND EVENING. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOST NUMEROUS
NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM COMANCHE...TO MINERAL WELLS...TO
GAINESVILLE. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TO THE SOUTH AND
EAST OF THIS LINE. ANY OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY
BELOW SEVERE LEVELS...BUT CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND
BRIEF PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN.

THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ON
TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE RED RIVER. THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP
ON TUESDAY WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...AND
STRONG WINDS.

84

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montague

When: September 17, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Montague County, Bowie
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Property damage: $80,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.367

Widespread trees and power lines blown down, roof damage to homes, and an 18 wheeler blown over in town. One house was destroyed, three with major damage, and sixty-eight with light to moderate damage. Two businesses were destroyed, fifteen with major damage, and thirty-five with light to moderate damage. There was also damage to six vehicles.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montague

When: September 17, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Montague County, Fruitland
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.676, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An 18 wheeler was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: September 18, 3:55 PM CST
Where: Wise County, Alvord
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.733, -97.117

Power lines and trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: September 18, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Wise County, Decatur
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.150, -97.500

Trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: September 18, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 8 mi SE of Decatur
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.650, -96.900

A mobile home was unroofed in Bluett.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: September 18, 4:43 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 8 mi SE of Decatur
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 52 knot wind gust was estimated by a trained spotter.

Hail, Wise

When: September 18, 4:43 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 8 mi SE of Decatur
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.283, -96.583

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: September 18, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 6 mi SE of Decatur
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.583, -96.317

A trained spotter estimated wind gusts to 58 knots.

Thunderstorm Wind, Denton

When: September 18, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 10 mi S of Ponder
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.567, -97.850

A trained spotter estimated wind gusts to 61 knots.

Hail, Wise

When: September 18, 4:53 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 5 mi NW of Rhome
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.500, -97.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: September 18, 5:43 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.150, -97.500

Trained spotters reported 52 knot wind gusts.

Lightning, Tarrant

When: September 18, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, South Lake
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.367, -97.683

Lightning started a fire in a large house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Collin

When: September 18, 6:05 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Melissa
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph)
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.033, -97.300

Trained spotters reported 73 knot wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: September 18, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Arlington
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.167, -97.533

Numerous trees were blown down on the north side of town.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: September 18, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.150, -97.500

A high water rescue was required at the 1000 block of Trinity Blvd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: September 18, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Duncanville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.233, -97.600

Power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kaufman

When: September 18, 7:48 PM CST
Where: Kaufman County, Kaufman
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.100, -97.550

A flag pole was blown down by high winds.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, September 2001

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5270520, 5270521, 5270522, 5270526, 5270523, 5269238, 5270524, 5270525, 5269229, 5269230, 5269232, 5269231, 5269236, 5269234, 5269233, 5269235, 5269237.