Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, March 29 to 31, 2007

Golfball-sized hail was reported along County Road 1191.

A tree was uprooted and a carport damaged.

Numerous roads were flooded with water as high as two-feet across the county. Highways 6 and 281 were closed, and people were stranded in a car. At least one car was submerged in floodwaters.

County Road 116 closed due to high water.

Baker Crossing on the Paluxy River was underwater.

Extreme flash flooding was reported across the southern half of the county. In Whitney, CR 1245 and Highway 22 were flooded. Cars stalled and were abandoned along Interstate 35 near Hillsboro, and high water rescues were required near Abbott. Roads were washed out near Mertens, and near Penelope and Malone, Ash Creek was reportedly 10-17 feet over CR 308 and Highway 171.

Trees were uprooted and thrown onto cars and houses.

Significant flooding occurred in Bowie as heavy rain fell and storm drains backed up. Several houses had water inside, and a pick-up truck had to be parked on top of a manhole cover to keep it closed. One to two feet of water was reported over Highway 82 west of Nocona and Interstate 75 south of Nocona.

Trees down and power outages reported west of Retreat.

A swift water rescue was required in downtown Italy after two occupants abandoned a flooded vehicle. Numerous other roads were flooded and closed countywide, including Highway 77, portions of Interstate 45, CR 878 near Palmer, Edmonds Road, East Pecan Road, and West Pecan Road in Forreston. Water also flooded a house to a depth of several feet in Waxahachie. Several roads and bridges were washed out due to the heavy rains.

A woman was rescued from floodwaters coming from the Leon River near Strauss Mill Road.

In China Spring, a woman was trapped in a mobile home due to flood waters. In Bosqueville, about twenty families were forced from their homes along the Brazos River outside of Waco due to flooding.

Two transformers were knocked out by lightning. An electrical worker burned his retinas as an arc came off the wires while he was repairing them.

In Clifton, the intersection of State Highway 6 and FM 219 was under about two feet of water. Near Smith's Bend, FM 2490 was flooded and closed, stranding a state trooper. Numerous motorists were also stranded.

Amateur radio operators and spotters reported penny to quarter-size hail.

Flash flooding was reported along Interstate 45, with two cars submerged just north of Corsicana. Two feet of water was reported on Interstate 45 and on Highway 31 east of town. Several businesses in Corsicana were flooded and about sixty people were evacuated from an assisted living center. Several roads and bridges were damaged during this event, and county officials estimate repairs could cost as high as $19 million.

High water rescue required due to flooding.

One to two feet of water over Highways 19 and 198.

Three feet of water over Crawfish Ranch Road.

Highway 279, CR 4044 and CR 4042 were closed and barricaded. Numerous high water rescues were required.

Trees were reported down and power outages occurred in northwest Lamar County and southeast Paris.

Trees uprooted and sheds and outbuildings damaged.

A brief tornado occured with no damage reported.

Brief tornado near Thurber. No damage reported.

Numerous roads closed due to flooding countywide, including Old Christian Road and Highway 254 East near Graford, and FM 2270 near Salesville. Numerous high water rescues were required. A boy who was trying to wakeboard in the flood waters was dragged several blocks and hurt his leg. A man who was believed to be driving on Hell's Gate Drive near Possum Kingdom Lake during the storms was found dead three days later in the lake.

Water over numerous roads in western Parker County. Numerous high water rescues were required. About 100 residents were evacuated due to flooding. Numerous homes were damaged by the high water.

Widespread flooding reported. Numerous roads closed including Highway 380 East and Highway 199.

Numerous roads including Highway 190 was closed with water over it. A swift water rescue was required when a woman and two toddlers were trapped with waist-high water in the house. Severals cars and trucks were stranded and the occupants needed rescuing.

Tornado observed on military base...no damage reported. ASOS measured 71 MPH with tornado on runway.

Golfball-size hail reported by military personnel.

Roads closed and barricaded across the county.

Heavy rains caused Nolan Creek to swell and flow quickly. A boy's body was found two days later downstream near Harker Heights. He apparently fell into the creek behind his house on the Fort Hood military base.

A lightning strike struck a mobile home and destroyed it. No one was injured.

Barns and two homes were damaged. Trees were also blown down.

The back half of a rodeo arena was destroyed. The building was made out of metal.

Sixty-five MPH wind gust reported at Runaway Bay.

Highway 36 was closed due to high water. Six homes were damaged and twenty high water rescues were required. Several vehicles were washed away, and trailers were forced off their foundations by the force of the water. Portions of roads were also washed away.

Widespread flooding across the county with up to three feet of water across roads and yards. Forty people were forced from their homes.

Several roads were under water and closed across the county. In addition, four briges were washed out, and sinkholes developed on North Johnson Loop, Poss Dyer Road, Lake Valley Road, and Denver Road. The sinkhole on Denver Road was six feet deep and twenty-five feet wide.

Bridges were flooded on FM 718. Numerous roads were flooded and closed including FM 101 and FM 810.

A tornado was spotted in Riesel. It touched down briefly and caused no damage.

Trees were blown down and a garage door buckled.

Damage to a house and a storage building.

Homes and businesses flooded with several feet of water.

Lightning struck a tree, causing the tree to split and fall on a car.

Trees uprooted.

Water up to four feet over roads. One business flooded as well.

Flooding reported on CR 341 and CR 328. Both roads were closed. The city park was also evacuated due to flooding.

A limb fell on a car, and a power pole was blown down.

Flooding reported in Corsicana along Highway 22 and also Interstate 45.

Significant flooding occurred countywide. High water rescues were required in Alvarado, a car was stranded in Burleson, and dozens of roads were closed and barricaded.

Significant flooding occurred across the county. In Watauga, a bridge was washed out on Starnes Road. Two cars were stranded by floodwaters in Saginaw, and numerous roads were flooded and closed in Colleyville and Mansfield. About forty people were evacuated in Haltom City. Numerous high water rescues were required, and several homes were damaged by floodwaters. Ambulances were stranded in flood waters in Fort Worth, and firefighters trying to help residents had to be rescued when they became stranded as well. The body of a man who's car was washed into Marine Creek during the storms was found 3 days later.

High water rescues were required near Dry Creek and also Stroud Creek. A pick-up was swept down Fall Creek. One of the occupants of the truck swam to safety while the other two clung to a tree and waited for help. Roads were also flooded in the county. A woman who's car was being swept away escaped by pulling her convertible top down.

There were reports of flooding along Interstate 35.

There were reports of flooding in town.

Fire Department reported flagpoles bending. According to the EF scale this would require winds near 70 MPH.

Several fences, a trampoline, and a gazebo were lofted into the air, twisted, and destroyed.

A storm survey was conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth to ascertain the cause of damage. Based on observed damage and eyewitness reports, a tornado touched down just west of FM 1378 and roughly one mile south of Parker Road. Approximately 25 to 30 homes in and south of the Riverchase subdivision suffered substantial damage to roofs and garage doors. Several other homes suffered minor roof damage, broken windows, and fence damage. In addition, several trees along the track were downed. |This tornado was rated EF-1 with estimated wind speeds of 95 MPH. This tornado developed along the leading edge of a bow echo.

Numerous roads were closed across the county, including Interstate 45 near Ferris and Palmer. Across the county, several homes were flooded, and fifteen bridges were damaged by flood waters. Cars were also submerged near Waxahachie.

Estimated 58 MPH wind gust at Highway 205 and Highway 80.

Many streets in Itasca and Hillsboro were closed due to flooding. Five homes and three bridges were damaged by the floodwaters, and eight high water rescues were required.

Estimated 70 MPH wind gust at Lake Tawakoni.

Continued flooding at low water crossings and low-lying bridges. No road closures.

Numerous roads flooded.

Large trees uprooted and fences and sheds damaged. Wind speed estimated from EF Scale; time estimated from radar.

Flash flooding reported on roads.

A few secondary roads closed due to flooding.

Continued flooding and barricading of a few secondary roads.

Low-water crossings and bridges barricaded due to flooding. Water was reported over Highway 56 near the southern county line.

The Interstate 35 service road south of Gainesville was closed due to earlier rainfall.

A man who had drove into high water on CR 3827 was found dead two days later. He had originally left his pick-up truck in the high water, then went back to help a passenger. The passenger was able to reach safety.