Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, April 5 to 6, 2003

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, April 5 to 6, 2003
Start: 2003-04-05T17:10
End: 2003-04-06T02:22
Location: Texas

April 5 to 6, 2003 · NWS FWD · 68 events in 18 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 3
Property damage: $15 million
Crop damage: $2,000
Events: 68

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.

On April 5th, a lone supercell thunderstorm developed around 300 pm southeast of Claremont, in Kent County. This storm quickly became severe, and by 500 pm had moved eastward into western Young County in North Central Texas. This storm produced large hail, straight line damaging winds, and at least four weak tornadoes across North Central Texas from 510 pm cdt until 1050 pm cdt. This storm quickly dissipated after the last severe weather report at 1050 pm. The damage path across North Texas extended from Padgett, in western Young County, to west of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County, a distance of approximately 192 miles. This was one of the costliest storms on record to hit North Texas, with damage estimates approximately 885 million dollars.

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 Apr 5, 4:43 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 4:43 PM CST, 27 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, 1 hour 30 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

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 169 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:11 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

58 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Young

When: April 5, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Young County, Padgett
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.083, -95.600

Hail, Stephens

When: April 5, 5:29 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 1 mi N of Crystal Falls
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.133, -95.600

Hail, Young

When: April 5, 5:32 PM CST to 5:37 PM CST
Where: Young County, Eliasville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.617, -96.583

Hail, Young

When: April 5, 5:43 PM CST to 5:47 PM CST
Where: Young County, Graham
Measured: 4 in hail
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.583, -96.283

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: April 5, 6:08 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Possum Kingdom Lake
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.600, -96.367

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: April 5, 6:08 PM CST to 6:14 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 6 mi W of Graford
Measured: 4 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.633, -96.183

Golfball to softball size hail occurred for 6 minutes.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: April 5, 6:18 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 5 mi N of Graford
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.117, -96.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Palo Pinto

When: April 5, 6:18 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 5 mi N of Graford
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.633, -97.150

Tornado, Palo Pinto

When: April 5, 6:20 PM CST to 6:22 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 12 mi W of Graford
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.3 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.650, -95.533

Brief tornado touchdown reported on the east side of Possum Kingdom Lake. 25 mobile homes were damaged or destroyed at Sky Camp, Lefty's, and P. K. Lodge. No people were injured.

Hail, Young

When: April 5, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Young County, 3 mi N of Eliasville
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.633, -97.150

Hail, Parker

When: April 5, 7:06 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 5 mi E of Peaster
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.283, -98.917

Hail, Jack

When: April 5, 7:17 PM CST
Where: Jack County, 4 mi S of Bryson
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.917, -98.900

Hail, Parker

When: April 5, 7:18 PM CST to 7:23 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Springtown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.950, -98.750

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:33 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 33.100, -98.600

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 33.067, -96.217

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 33.133, -95.600

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:43 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 2 mi E of Eagle Mtn Lake
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.900, -98.500

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.933, -98.450

Occurred in North Ft Worth

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: April 5, 7:59 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.767

Power lines down just west of Saginaw.

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.117, -98.383

Occurred in Park Glen subdivision in North Ft Worth.

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:01 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Keller
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.967, -97.683

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:01 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.367

Windows broken by wind driven hail.

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Keller
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.933, -98.350

Tornado, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:05 PM CST to 8:07 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, North Richland Hills
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $2,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 33.000, -98.250

A small short lived tornado did minor roof damage and broke numerous tree branches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:12 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.900, -97.450

Occurred at the intersection of Loop 820 and Mark IV Parkway.

Hail, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:15 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 2 mi SW of Grapevine
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.933, -97.250

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 8:15 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas-Ft Worth Intl
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.750, -97.350

Weather observer reported golf ball size hail. 59 aircraft were damaged and 121 flights were cancelled due to severe weather.

Tornado, Tarrant

When: April 5, 8:19 PM CST to 8:21 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 2 mi E of Euless
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: STORM CHASER
Coordinates: 33.000, -98.250

A small short lived tornado moved east across the south end of DFW Airport property.

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.367

Occurred at Interstate 635 and North McArthur in North Dallas.

Tornado, Dallas

When: April 5, 8:21 PM CST to 8:22 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, 1 mi W of Irving
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: STORM CHASER
Coordinates: 33.000, -98.750

This is a continuation of the tornado path across the south end of the DFW Airport property.

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 8:27 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Irving
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.750, -97.350

Hail, Parker

When: April 5, 8:52 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Briar
Measured: 2.25 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.933, -97.250

Hail, Wise

When: April 5, 9:03 PM CST
Where: Wise County, Newark
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.750, -97.350

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 9:17 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.750, -97.350

Occurred at Interstate 635 and North McArthur in North Dallas.

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 9:20 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Irving
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.650, -96.917

Occurred at Valley Ranch in far north central Irving.

Hail, Denton

When: April 5, 9:23 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 2 mi N of Roanoke
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.917, -97.100

Occurred at Interstate 35 and Highway 114.

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 9:26 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.900, -97.033

Valley View Mall in North Dallas had heavy ping pong ball size hail.

Hail, Rockwall

When: April 5, 9:30 PM CST
Where: Rockwall County, Rockwall
Measured: 4.5 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.783

Hail, Denton

When: April 5, 9:31 PM CST
Where: Denton County, Roanoke
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.817, -96.917

Hail, Denton

When: April 5, 9:45 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 1 mi W of Lewisville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.000, -97.650

Hail, Denton

When: April 5, 9:46 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 2 mi E of Argyle
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.000, -97.483

Hail, Dallas

When: April 5, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Sachse
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.783

Hail, Denton

When: April 5, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 3 mi SW of Lewisville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.050, -97.183

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Greenville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.783

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 9:51 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Caddo Mills
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.933, -96.450

Hail, Rockwall

When: April 5, 10:05 PM CST
Where: Rockwall County, Rockwall
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.017, -97.183

Hail, Montague

When: April 5, 10:14 PM CST
Where: Montague County, 2 mi N of Bowie
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.067, -97.017

Hail, Collin

When: April 5, 10:16 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Plano
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.983, -96.567

Occurred in western part of Plano at Spring Creek and Tollway.

Hail, Montague

When: April 5, 10:23 PM CST
Where: Montague County, Stoneburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 33.117, -97.150

Hail, Cooke

When: April 5, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Cooke County, Lindsay
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.367

Hail, Collin

When: April 5, 10:32 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Plano
Measured: 3 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.033, -97.033

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 10:35 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Caddo Mills
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.133, -96.117

Hail, Hopkins

When: April 5, 10:50 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Cumby
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.067, -96.217

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 11:13 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, 1 mi S of Greenville
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.933, -96.450

Hail, Cooke

When: April 5, 11:21 PM CST
Where: Cooke County, Gainesville
Measured: 2.5 in hail
Property damage: $4.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.600, -97.850

Large hail damaged approximately 1,000 cars and about the same number of homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cooke

When: April 5, 11:21 PM CST
Where: Cooke County, Gainesville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.667, -97.917

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 11:22 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Caddo Mills
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.017, -96.717

Hail, Hopkins

When: April 5, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.017, -96.717

Hail, Hunt

When: April 5, 11:41 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Cash
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.850

Hail, Hopkins

When: April 5, 11:45 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 3 mi S of Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.867, -97.367

Three persons injured by baseball size hail.

Hail, Grayson

When: April 5, 11:55 PM CST
Where: Grayson County, Whitesboro
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.067, -96.217

Hail, Grayson

When: April 6, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Grayson County, 1 mi SW of Sherman
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $10 million
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.133, -95.600

Hail up to baseball size did extensive damage in Sherman to cars and houses. This is the same storm that hit the Whitesboro area earlier.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hopkins

When: April 6, 12:35 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated sustained
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.983, -96.117

Trees and utility lines were blown down by high winds.

Hail, Hopkins

When: April 6, 12:35 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.817, -96.917

Hail, Fannin

When: April 6, 1:12 AM CST
Where: Fannin County, Ector
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.833, -97.250

Hail, Fannin

When: April 6, 1:12 AM CST
Where: Fannin County, Savoy
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.833, -97.050

Hail, Fannin

When: April 6, 1:35 AM CST
Where: Fannin County, 4 mi N of Bonham
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.817, -96.933

Hail, Lamar

When: April 6, 2:22 AM CST
Where: Lamar County, Paris
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.650, -97.233

Dime to quarter size hail covering the ground.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2003 Warnings in Texas, April 2003

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: 5353156, 5353157, 5353158, 5353159, 5353160, 5353161, 5353405, 5353406, 5353162, 5353407, 5353163, 5353164, 5353165, 5353166, 5353408, 5353409, 5353167, 5353169, 5353170, 5353171, 5353172, 5353173, 5353168, 5353480, 5353174, 5353175, 5353176, 5353481, 5353177, 5353482, 5353178, 5353179, 5353180, 5353181, 5353410, 5353281, 5353382, 5353383, 5353384, 5353385, and more.