Texas, 2002Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, March 19 to 20, 2002
March 19 to 20, 2002 · NWS FWD · 34 events in 22 counties and zones
16 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood, 4 hail, 1 heavy rain, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $269,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 34
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 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 Mar 19, 5:50 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 19, 5:50 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED TO ADD THE AVIATION DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
550 AM CST TUE MAR 19 2002
AVIATION DISCUSSION...
THE WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM JUST NORTH OF ABILENE...TO THE
METROPLEX...TO NORTH OF SHREVEPORT AT 11Z. HAVE STARTED THE WIND OFF
SOUTHEASTERLY AT THE METROPLEX AIRPORTS...THOUGH CONVECTION WILL
MAKE EVERYTHING MORE COMPLICATED. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTEND
NORTH OF A GOLDTHWAITE TO HILLSBORO...TO GREENVILLE LINE. THE
NORTHEAST/SOUTHWEST ORIENTATION OF THIS ACTIVITY...ALONG WITH THE
NORTHEASTWARD MOVEMENT...WILL KEEP ACTIVITY AROUND THE METROPLEX
THROUGH MID MORNING. WE SHOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE MORE INTO THE WARM
SECTOR LATER THIS MORNING...WHICH MAY RESULT IN BETTER CEILINGS AND
VISIBILITIES THAN I CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE TAFS. #58
426 AM CST TUE MAR 19 2002 PUBLIC FORECAST DISCUSSION...
TRAINING MOISTURE EARLY THIS MORNING OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF OUR
COUNTIES HAS PRODUCED LARGE RAIN TOTALS. DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED
4 TO 5 INCHES IN PALO PINTO COUNTY...AND THE RADAR UNDERDOES
PRECIPITATION. WE HAVE HAD TO ISSUE FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN THAT
COUNTY THIS MORNING...AND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES OVER THE
NORTHERN HALF OF OUR CWA. MEANWHILE...THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF OUR
CWA...IN THE WARM SECTOR...IS STAYING RATHER DRY TONIGHT AS THE CAP
HOLDS STRONG.
EXPECT GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT TO CONTINUE OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF
OUR COUNTIES THROUGH TODAY. THE RAIN IN THE WEST SHOULD SHIFT
FURTHER SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT AS THE LOW
LEVEL THICKNESS BOUNDARY SHIFTS A BIT SOUTH.
ON WEDNESDAY...THE SLOW MOVING UPPER SYSTEM WILL FINALLY PULL OFF TO
THE EAST...BRINGING DRY WEATHER BACK TO THE AREA. NO LENGTHY WARM UP
IS IN THE CARDS...HOWEVER...AS A COLD FRONT SWINGS DOWN THE PLAINS.
THIS WILL KNOCK HIGHS DOWN TO NORMAL OR A BIT BELOW NORMAL TOWARDS
THE END OF THE WEEK. #30
DFW TB 062/047 068/043 065 30970
ACT TB 076/054 068/048 071 30550
.FWD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY NORTH OF A LINE FROM COMANCHE TO GLEN
ROSE...TO CLEBURNE...TO CANTON.In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 19, 6:35 AM CST, 25 minutes before
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-192300-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
635 AM CST TUE MAR 19 2002
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF
NORTH TEXAS...
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS ALOFT WILL CONTINUE AHEAD OF A VIGOROUS UPPER
LEVEL SYSTEM OVER NORTHERN MEXICO. THIS WILL ALLOW ABUNDANT MOISTURE
TO RIDE OVER THE COOLER AIRMASS AT THE SURFACE. SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO FORM AND TRAIN ALONG AND NORTH OF THE
SURFACE WARM FRONT.
ACCORDING TO DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES...RAINFALL AVERAGED OVER 1 INCH
NORTH OF A GOLDTHWAITE....TO DALLAS...TO PARIS LINE. AREAS FROM
ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE CITY OF EASTLAND...TO 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF SHERMAN PICKED UP 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT.
DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN MAY
FALL MAY FALL IN THE WATCH AREA...WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF 4 TO 5
INCHES POSSIBLE.
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS FLOODING IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT IMMINENT.
IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD
WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS
RISING.
Event by event
16 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood, 4 hail, 1 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash Flood, Palo Pinto
- When
- March 19, 7:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
- Where
- Palo Pinto County, 5 mi NW of Mineral Wells
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A mudslide occurred at Turkey Creek crossing due to flash flooding on Turkey Creek.
Hail, Tarrant
- When
- March 19, 12:25 PM CST
- Where
- Tarrant County, Ft Worth
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.750, -97.350
Heavy Rain, Johnson
- When
- March 19, 4:29 PM CST
- Where
- Johnson County, Joshua
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
County Road 917 had a bridge under water.
Flash Flood, Tarrant
- When
- March 19, 4:30 PM CST
- Where
- Tarrant County, Haltom City
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
At least 35 mobile homes in the Skyline Mobile Home Park had to be evacuated due to rising water in a nearby creek.
Flash Flood, Tarrant
- When
- March 19, 4:40 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tarrant County, Ft Worth
- Reported by
- FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
- Coordinates
- 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
30 high water rescues took place due to high water.
Flash Flood, Denton
- When
- March 19, 5:00 PM CST to 5:40 PM CST
- Where
- Denton County, Countywide
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Widespread flooding was reported around the county. Numerous roads and highways were closed due to high water.
Flash Flood, Tarrant
- When
- March 19, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Tarrant County, Euless
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 5th grade student was swept several hundred feet down a creek he tried to cross, then managed to get out of the water.
Hail, Comanche
- When
- March 19, 5:07 PM CST
- Where
- Comanche County, De Leon
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.117, -98.550
Thunderstorm Wind, Mills
- When
- March 19, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Mills County, Mullin
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.550, -98.667
Trees were blown down by high winds.
Thunderstorm Wind, Mills
- When
- March 19, 6:10 PM CST
- Where
- Mills County, Central Portion
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.467, -98.583
A storage shed and a tin roof were destroyed by high winds.
Flash Flood, Grayson
- When
- March 19, 6:30 PM CST
- Where
- Grayson County, Van Alstyne
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The bridge at Eagle Point Crossing just west of Van Alstyne on FM 121 was washed out.
Thunderstorm Wind, Lampasas
- When
- March 19, 6:33 PM CST
- Where
- Lampasas County, Lampasas
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.067, -98.183
A wind gust to 69 miles an hour occurred at the Lampasas High School.
Thunderstorm Wind, Comanche
- When
- March 19, 6:35 PM CST
- Where
- Comanche County, Gustine
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.850, -98.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton
- When
- March 19, 6:50 PM CST
- Where
- Hamilton County, 10 mi S of Shive
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.467, -98.233
Trees were blown down across Highway 84.
Hail, Coryell
- When
- March 19, 6:55 PM CST to 7:10 PM CST
- Where
- Coryell County, Copperas Cove
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.133, -97.917
Thunderstorm Wind, Bell
- When
- March 19, 6:58 PM CST
- Where
- Bell County, Hood Afb
- Measured
- 89 kt (102 mph)
- Reported by
- METEOROLOGIST(NON NWS)
- Coordinates
- 31.133, -97.733
Flash Flood, Hood
- When
- March 19, 7:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hood County, South Portion
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.430, -97.832 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Many roads flooded and closed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Coryell
- When
- March 19, 7:10 PM CST
- Where
- Coryell County, Gatesville
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.433, -97.750
Large trees were blown down by high winds.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hill
- When
- March 19, 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Hill County, Whitney
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.967, -97.333
Trees and power lines were blown down by high winds.
Hail, McLennan
- When
- March 19, 7:37 PM CST
- Where
- McLennan County, Bellmead
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 31.583, -97.083
Thunderstorm Wind, McLennan
- When
- March 19, 7:37 PM CST
- Where
- McLennan County, Bellmead
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 31.583, -97.083
Thunderstorm Wind, McLennan
- When
- March 19, 7:40 PM CST
- Where
- McLennan County, China Spg
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.650, -97.317
A mobile home was unroofed by high winds.
Flash Flood, Dallas
- When
- March 19, 8:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
- Where
- Dallas County, Dallas
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Several roads were closed due to high water.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton
- When
- March 19, 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hamilton County, Hamilton
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.700, -98.117
Trees were blown down by high winds.
Flash Flood, Johnson
- When
- March 19, 8:00 PM CST
- Where
- Johnson County, Cleburne
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Two high water rescues occurred from cars stalled in high water. Neither incident was life threatening.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hill
- When
- March 19, 8:10 PM CST
- Where
- Hill County, Hillsboro
- Property damage
- $2,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.000, -97.133
Trees were blown down onto houses.
Flash Flood, Fannin
- When
- March 19, 8:30 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
- Where
- Fannin County, Northeast Portion
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High water was reported on FM 1396 and FM 100 in northeast Fannin County.
Thunderstorm Wind, Navarro
- When
- March 19, 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Navarro County, Corsicana
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.100, -96.467
Trees were blown down in the city.
Lightning, Ellis
- When
- March 19, 8:34 PM CST
- Where
- Ellis County, Maypearl
- Property damage
- $200,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A lightning caused fire destroyed a home near Maypearl.
Thunderstorm Wind, Limestone
- When
- March 19, 8:45 PM CST
- Where
- Limestone County, Kosse
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.300, -96.633
Trees were blown down onto Highway 7.
Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson
- When
- March 19, 9:40 PM CST
- Where
- Henderson County, Countywide
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.233, -95.850
Trees were blown down across the county. A large oak tree was blown down onto a house collapsing the roof and damaging interior furniture.
Flash Flood, Lamar
- When
- March 19, 9:50 PM CST to 10:50 PM CST
- Where
- Lamar County, Paris
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
At least 10 roads were closed due to high water.
Thunderstorm Wind, Leon
- When
- March 19, 11:05 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
- Where
- Leon County, Normangee
- Property damage
- $1,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 31.033, -96.117
Power lines were blown down between Normangee and Flynn.
Flash Flood, Tarrant
- When
- March 20, 6:00 AM CST
- Where
- Tarrant County, Ft Worth
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A 60 year old man was found drowned the morning of the 20th, after he failed to report to work. His submerged truck was found in the west fork of the Trinity River in east Ft Worth. This probably occurred from flooding the previous night.
- 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.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Heavy Rain
- Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
- 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.
- Lightning
- A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, March 19, 200240 injured · $7.1 million · F2 · 10 events
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 19, 200215 injured · $650,000 · F1 · 5 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, March 19, 2002$16 million · F1 · 17 events
- Damaging Winds in Texas, March 19, 20022 injured · $600,000 · 59 kt wind · 2 events
- Tornado and Hail in Texas, March 19, 20021 injured · $650,000 · F0 · 5 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2002$600,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2002$300,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Winds in Texas, March 19, 2002$250,000 · 57 kt wind · 2 events
- Damaging Winds in Texas, March 19, 2002$200,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2002$200,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2002$150,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Texas, March 19, 2002$150,000 · 1 event
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: 5284796, 5284922, 5284797, 5284798, 5284799, 5284800, 5284801, 5284923, 5284802, 5284803, 5284804, 5284805, 5284806, 5284807, 5284808, 5284809, 5284904, 5284905, 5284906, 5284907, 5284908, 5284909, 5284910, 5284911, 5284912, 5284913, 5284914, 5284915, 5284916, 5284917, 5284918, 5284919, 5284920, 5284921.