Storms developed along a dry line which moved into north Texas during the afternoon hours on the 18th. Rich Gulf moisture and ample instability helped the storms develop further as they encountered a warm front to the east.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.
Storms developed along a dry line which moved into north Texas during the afternoon hours on the 18th. Rich Gulf moisture and ample instability helped the storms develop further as they encountered a warm front to the east. At least one tornado touched down and more than a thousand flights were cancelled at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport as numerous storms moved through the metroplex.
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 17, 1:42 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 242 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 .DISCUSSION... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ALONG A DRY LINE WHICH STRETCHED FROM ALTUS TO SWEETWATER TO NEAR FORT STOCKTON. A WARM FRONT RAN ROUGHLY ALONG A LINE FROM ALTUS TO ARDMORE TO PARIS. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A POTENT UPPER LOW SPINNING OVER ARIZONA. THIS FEATURE IS FORECAST TO DIP SOUTHEAST INTO NORTHERN MEXICO BEFORE MOVING ACROSS TEXAS TOMORROW. AS THIS OCCURS...LARGE SCALE ASCENT WILL INCREASE AND SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXPAND IN COVERAGE. ATMOSPHERE OVER NORTH TEXAS REMAINS CAPPED BUT IS IN THE PROCESS OF ERODING. A 19Z SOUNDING WILL CONFIRM THIS. VERY MOIST GULF AIR HAS ADVECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA WITH DEWPOINTS COMMONLY IN THE 60S. SKIES ARE CLEARING ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE DRY LINE ALLOWING FOR DECENT INSOLATION. RESULTANT SBCAPES OF AT LEAST 2000 J/KG AND AMPLE SHEAR WILL FOSTER DISCRETE SUPERCELLS ALONG THE DRY LINE WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND TORNADOES. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS. STORM MODE WILL TRANSITION TO A LINEAR MCS AS THE COLD FRONT CATCHES UP WITH THE DRY LINE LATE TONIGHT. EXPECT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW WITH VERY MOIST AIR IN PLACE. GREATEST THREAT WILL THEN BECOME FLASH FLOODING WITH HPC FORECASTING 24 HR QPF AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS 5 INCHES ALONG THE RED RIVER. MOST NORTH TEXANS CAN EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 4 INCHES BEFORE ALL IS SAID AND DONE. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 00Z THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR MUCH OF THE AREA. RAIN PROCESSES WILL BEGIN TO SHUT DOWN FROM WEST TO EAST WEDNESDAY MORNING AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST. SOME WRAP- AROUND PRECIP IS LIKELY ACROSS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES. UPPER LEVEL PATTERNS FLATTENS OUT FOR THE WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TIME FRAME WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE 70S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN FOR NORTH TEXAS WILL OCCUR OVER THE WEEKEND AS A WEAK SHORTWAVE PASSES BY IN WNW FLOW ALOFT. SH/13 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 60 63 43 66 41 / 80 100 90 5 0 WACO, TX 63 65 46 68 42 / 80 100 80 0 0 PARIS, TX 63 65 44 59 38 / 80 100 100 10 0 DENTON, TX 57 59 42 64 39 / 80 100 80 5 0 MCKINNEY, TX 61 64 45 64 37 / 80 100 90 5 0 DALLAS, TX 61 65 44 67 45 / 80 100 90 5 0 TERRELL, TX 64 65 42 64 40 / 80 100 90 5 0 CORSICANA, TX 64 65 44 67 41 / 80 100 90 5 0 TEMPLE, TX 63 66 44 71 41 / 80 100 80 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: TXZ092>095-103>107-118>123-130>135-141>148-156>162-174-175. && 13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 322 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-181200- MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN- HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS- ROCKWALL-KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL- JOHNSON-ELLIS-HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL- NAVARRO-FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS- LIMESTONE-LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON- 322 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF NORTH TEXAS FOR THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THE MODERATE RISK IS ALONG AND SOUTHWEST OF A GRAHAM TO FORT WORTH TO WACO TO TEMPLE LINE. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REST OF NORTH TEXAS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING ALONG A DRYLINE OVER WEST CENTRAL TEXAS AND EXPAND EASTWARD TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...GREATER THAN 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE LATER THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THE GREATEST TORNADO THREAT IS ALONG AND WEST OF THE INTERSTATE 35 CORRIDOR...WHERE AN ISOLATED STRONG TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER...HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY OVERNIGHT. THERE IS FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTH TEXAS THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ONGOING TUESDAY MORNING WITH A FEW SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE...MAINLY EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE THREATS. IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM COMANCHE TO FORT WORTH TO GAINESVILLE LINE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. DUNN
The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 146 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:28 UTC.
23 flash flood, 3 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Funnel clouds were seen by storm spotters on Highway 24/50 between Commerce and Campbell and also on Highway 224 and Interstate 30.
Reported between Cash and Greenville.
Large tree limbs and power lines were blown down on Park Street in Commerce. Trees were also blown down on Highway 24 northeast of town.
Reported on the west side of Breckenridge.
Portions of South Oak Avenue were barricaded due to flooding. Part of SW 14th Street was washed out due to flood waters.
DFW observing station reported a wind gust of 68 MPH.
Flash flooding was reported at Spring Creek and Highway 75. The creek was over both north and southbound service roads.
Numerous streets were closed due to high water after four to six inches of rain fell across the county, including Loop 12 near White Rock Lake. Voluntary evacuations were in place for residents of DeSoto near Ten Mile Creek which overflowed its banks for the second time in less than four years. A total of sixteen roads were closed in the area. Another rescue was needed after a van stalled in high water near Lawnview Avenue and Military Parkway. There was widespread flooding in Lancaster with numerous homes flooded. Lancaster's fire department performed five high water rescues. Two teenagers were playing near a creek near Interstate 635 and Bruton Road when one of them was swept into the water and then into a drainage pipe. His body was recovered the next day.
Several roads were closed due to high water on the west side of the county, including Cox Road west of Waxahachie where a culvert was washed out. Other closed roads included Morgan Road in Italy; Grand Avenue in Waxahachie; Barton, Smith, Ozro, Bell Branch, Bee Creek, and White Rock Roads in Maypearl; Country Ridge Lane, Bluebird Lane, and Shawnee Road in Red Oak. A vehicle was washed off of Loma Linda Lane near Rockett.
A mobile home park was evacuated near Red Oak due to floodwaters.
North and southbound service lanes along I-30 were closed due to flood waters.
Highway 81 south of Itasca and FM 933 near the intersection of FM 934 were under water.
Streets were flooded in Royse City and FM 548 was flooded south of town.
A high water rescue was required in north Garland after an SUV drove into high water.
Nolan Creek overflowed into a city park after more than two inches of rain fell in a short time.
Water was reported over secondary roads east of Gatesville.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth conducted a damage survey and found that an EF-1 tornado occurred north of Sulphur Springs. Damage was first noted west of Highway 19, along the northbound part of CR 4761. Trees and a shed were damaged. Along Highway 19 and between CR 3620 and CR 4508, several trees were snapped and power lines were damaged. More significant damage occurred along CR 4508 where several homes and a barn sustained damage. Most of the damage to houses was confined to the roofs. A shed was destroyed and debris from it struck a lightpole. The impact along with the strong winds bent the lightpole to the ground. A semi trailer was blown over and trees snapped along FM 3236 and CR 4510. Additional trees were damaged north of CR 3510 and east of FM 3236. Maximum winds were estimated at 85-90 MPH.
One to two feet of water was reported over FM 546.
Several high water rescues were required. A family in Caddo Mills had to be rescued after their house was flooded by several feet of water. Another family was rescued after their mobile home took on water on CR 4315. High water rescues were needed after cars stalled in high water on the north I-30 service road at FM 1570 and also in the city of Commerce. Several streets were closed in the county, including Monroe and Washington Streets, FM 3218, FM 118 at the Sulphur River, FM 1565, and FM 36.
A highwater rescue was in progress on Tigertown Road about one mile west of Loop 286. Flooding was also reported at FM 79 and FM 2820.
Several streets were closed in Wylie due to flooding.
Cars stalled due to flooding at Ridge Road and McKinney Ranch Drive and at Highway 5 and McIntyre Road.
A couple of roads were closed near Klondike due to flooding.
Flooding was reported in the following areas: on Highway 11 between Sulphur Springs and Commerce; along FM 71 west, one mile from the Hopkins-Delta County line; along the southbound lane of Highway 19; FM 2653 at CR 4809 near Oakland; FM 69 south; CR 1178 off of FM 275; CR 4776 and 4766; and CR 2310 along FM 69 and 269.
Numerous roads were flooded across the county, including FM 38 between Tigertown and Maxey, FM 195 and FM 648 at Pine Creek, FM 905, and Highway 1497 between Taylortown and Cunningham.
High water rescues were required near Ferris and Red Oak.
Chest-deep water was reported near Lake Crook.
Water flooded two homes on the east side of Ballentine Street and also a few homes on North Pearl Street.
Flooding was reported north of Highway 80 along Pinson Road.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Dallas | 2008-03-18 | 14 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2008Warnings in Texas, March 2008
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: 87038, 81917, 81920, 81918, 81919, 87666, 81922, 85837, 85838, 85839, 85840, 85841, 85842, 85843, 85844, 87007, 85845, 86200, 85846, 87039, 85847, 85848, 87665, 85849, 85850, 85851, 85852, 85853, 87660, 87661.