Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, March 29 to 31, 2008

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, March 29 to 31, 2008
Start: 2008-03-29T03:14
End: 2008-03-31T16:47
Location: Texas

March 29 to 31, 2008 · NWS FWD · 24 events in 9 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: 0
Property damage: $164,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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.

Showers and thunderstorms developed along a southward moving cold front on the 29th. Van Zandt and Hopkins Counties had reports of large hail, high winds, and flooding as the boundary wavered in the area on the 30th. Several supercells and a line of severe storms moved through north Texas on the evening of the 31st as a dry line approached from the west and the warm front remained nearby.

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 29, 2:33 AM CST, 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 2:33 AM CST, 41 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
333 AM CDT SAT MAR 29 2008

.DISCUSSION...
PROGRESSIVE MID-LATITUDE PATTERN BECOMING EVIDENT AND PRETTY TYPICAL
OF EARLY SPRING-TIME WITH SEVERAL SYSTEMS TO DEAL WITH IN THE MID-WEEK...
WITH PERIODIC SEVERE WX POSSIBLE WITH EACH IF ENVIRONMENT AND
LIFT/SHEAR CAN COME TOGETHER.

.SHORT TERM.../THROUGH MON NIGHT/
SCATTERED ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS ONGOING EARLY THIS MORNING OVER THE
SE 1/2 OF N TX AS LEFT EXIT REGION OF 100KT+ SUB-TROPICAL UPPER JET
MAX STREAMS ACROSS S-CENTRAL TX IN VICINITY OF OLD FRONT. SOME PATCHY
FOG EXPECTED THROUGH THE MORNING HRS...LOCALLY DENSE IN SPOTS OVER
SRN COUNTIES WHERE WHERE LIGHTER WINDS/RICHER MOISTURE WILL RESIDE
NEAR OLD FRONT.

WILL THAT IN MIND...WILL BEST CHANCES OF RAIN E OF I-35 CORRIDOR THROUGH
MIDNIGHT AND SOME ISOLATED STRONGER STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE...AS FRONT
RETREATS RAPIDLY NWD BACK INTO CENTRAL OK/SRN AR BY TONIGHT. SOME STRONG
WAA WITH LLJ WILL GIVE BEST CHANCES LATE TONIGHT/SUN A.M NEAR IMMEDIATE
RED RIVER VALLEY. AREA MOSTLY CAPPED SUNDAY...THOUGH SOME WDLY SCT WAA
TYPE ACTIVITY E OF I-35 CANT BE RULED OUT. CANT RULE OUT ISOLATED
STRONG/SEVERE STORMS THIS PERIOD AS INSTABILITY INCREASES WITH SLY FETCH
OF RICHER GULF MOISTURE. MAIN SYSTEM LIFTS OUT OVER TOWARD NW TX/SW
KS/WRN OK BY MON MORNING DRY-LINE MOVING EWD AND COLD FRONT MOVING INTO
NRN OK. MORE DISCREET ACTIVITY EXPECTED OVER WRN COUNTIES MONDAY...BEFORE
FRONT OVERTAKES DRY-LINE BY MON EVENING. HAVE TRENDED POPS A BIT MORE
WITH THIS TIMING...BUT EXPECT A FEW SEVERE STORMS MONDAY/MON EVE IN
FAR E/SE COUNTIES/...AS FEATURES MOVE THROUGH UNSTABLE AND SHEARED ENVIRONMENT.

&&

.LONG TERM.../TUES INTO NEXT WEEKEND/
GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE CANADIAN/ECMWF MODELS FOR THE SYSTEM COMING LATE
WED NIGHT AND THURS...AND AGAIN NEXT SAT/SUN...AS THEYVE SHOWN MORE
CONSISTENCY. KEPT POPS RELATIVELY LOW FOR BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS WITH
QUESTIONS REGARDING MOISTURE RETURN...TIMING...AND STORM TRACK...BUT
AGAIN ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER VERY POSSIBLE WITH EACH SYSTEM WITH SPRING-
LIKE TEMPS. WELL KEEP THINGS CONSERVATIVE FOR NOW. OTHERWISE...BRISK
AND COOLER TUESDAY...BEFORE RETURN FLOW RESUMES WED/WED NIGHT BRINGING
WARMER/MORE HUMID AIR BACK INTO THE AREA. WELL COOL OFF AGAIN FRIDAY
BEFORE THE TRANSITION ONCE AGAIN HEADING INTO THE EARLY WEEKEND. WELCOME
TO SPRING IN NORTH TEXAS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  66  61  80  68  79 /  20  40  30  20  70
WACO, TX              70  64  79  68  78 /  30  20  30  20  70
PARIS, TX             62  60  76  66  75 /  30  50  40  20  70
DENTON, TX            63  61  80  67  78 /  20  40  20  20  70
MCKINNEY, TX          64  60  78  68  76 /  20  50  40  20  70
DALLAS, TX            67  64  79  68  77 /  20  40  30  20  70
TERRELL, TX           67  63  78  67  77 /  30  30  40  20  70
CORSICANA, TX         69  64  78  68  77 /  40  30  40  20  70
TEMPLE, TX            72  65  80  68  78 /  30  20  20  20  70

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

/05

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 29, 2:04 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
304 AM CDT SAT MAR 29 2008

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-300800-
ANDERSON-BELL-BOSQUE-COLLIN-COMANCHE-COOKE-CORYELL-DALLAS-DELTA-
DENTON-EASTLAND-ELLIS-ERATH-FALLS-FANNIN-FREESTONE-GRAYSON-HAMILTON-
HENDERSON-HILL-HOOD-HOPKINS-HUNT-JACK-JOHNSON-KAUFMAN-LAMAR-LAMPASAS-
LEON-LIMESTONE-MCLENNAN-MILAM-MILLS-MONTAGUE-NAVARRO-PALO PINTO-
PARKER-RAINS-ROBERTSON-ROCKWALL-SOMERVELL-STEPHENS-TARRANT-VAN ZANDT-
WISE-YOUNG-
304 AM CDT SAT MAR 29 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...SATURDAY.
THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. LIGHTNING WILL
BE THE MAIN HAZARD WITH THESE STORMS AND WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS
NOT EXPECTED. A FEW STORMS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS.
THERE IS ALSO A LOW CHANCE THAT AN ISOLATED STORM MAY PRODUCE
MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL.

PATCHY DENSE FOG IS POSSIBLE THIS MORNING ACROSS SOUTHERN ZONES
WHERE HIGHER DEWPOINTS AND OVERNIGHT RAINFALL ARE PRODUCING
CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR FOG FORMATION. VISIBILITIES WILL BEGIN TO
RISE BY MID MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS
SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON
SUNDAY EVENING EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...AND OVER THE ENTIRE AREA ON
MONDAY.

THUNDERSTORM CHANCES RETURN WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITH NEW
SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
ISOLATED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED FOR THUNDERSTORMS.

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 170 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hopkins

When: March 29, 3:14 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Sulphur Spgs Muni Ar
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.620

Hail, Anderson

When: March 29, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Anderson County, 1.81 mi SW of Elmwood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.900, -95.650

Quarter-size hail was reported in Elmtown.

Hail, Anderson

When: March 29, 6:45 PM CST to 6:46 PM CST
Where: Anderson County, 4 mi SE of Elkhart
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.579, -95.532

Relayed by Emergency Management.

Hail, Hopkins

When: March 29, 11:10 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 0.9 mi SE of Sulphur Spgs Muni Ar
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.140, -95.610

Golfball-size hail was reported in Sulphur Springs.

Hail, Van Zandt

When: March 30, 5:05 AM CST
Where: Van Zandt County, 1 mi E of Canton
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.550, -95.853

Hail, Hopkins

When: March 30, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Weaver
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.170, -95.400

Reported in Weaver.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hopkins

When: March 30, 7:35 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Reilly Spgs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.020, -95.550

A tree was blown across a road and had to be removed.

Flash Flood, Hopkins

When: March 30, 9:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Dike to 0.6 mi SW of Mahoney
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.230, -95.480

CR 2310 was washed out by 10 AM and had to be blockaded. A section of road near the intersection of Highway 69 and FM 1537 was underwater. In addition, firefighters from Dike helped move seventy dogs out of an animal shelter after it was flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hood

When: March 31, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Hood County, 0.9 mi SE of Granbury
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.440, -97.790

Hail, Hood

When: March 31, 1:36 PM CST
Where: Hood County, 0.9 mi SE of Granbury Muni Arpt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 32.421, -97.809

Brief penny size hail was reported near the airport.

Hail, Hood

When: March 31, 1:38 PM CST
Where: Hood County, 1.36 mi WSW of Acton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.440, -97.720

Hail, Tarrant

When: March 31, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Crowley
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.580, -97.320

Tornado, Johnson

When: March 31, 2:05 PM CST to 2:06 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 1 mi SW of Godley to 0.5 mi S of Godley
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.78 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.440, -97.542

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service found that two tornadoes occurred in Johnson County. The first one damaged or rolled several sheds and outbuildings. Damage to fences was noted and power lines were downed. This tornado was rated an EF-0 with peak winds of 80 to 85 MPH.

Tornado, Johnson

When: March 31, 2:10 PM CST to 2:14 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 4 mi ENE of Godley to 3.12 mi NW of Joshua Arpt
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.51 mi
Path width: 40 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.472, -97.467

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth found that a second tornado began just east-northeast of Godley. A mobile home was rolled and destroyed with substantial damage to a nearby car. At least one shed was damaged and power lines were downed. This tornado was rated an EF-0 with maximum winds of 80-85 MPH. Some debris was carried approximately 75 yards from their original locations.

Hail, Johnson

When: March 31, 2:26 PM CST
Where: Johnson County, 0.58 mi W of Burleson
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 32.530, -97.330

Ping-pong size hail was reported in Burleson.

Hail, Denton

When: March 31, 2:31 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 2.37 mi SSE of Lewisville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.040, -96.980

Hail, Denton

When: March 31, 2:35 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 2.7 mi SW of Lake Dallas
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.090, -97.060

Hail, Denton

When: March 31, 2:52 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 2.41 mi ENE of Little Elm
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.160, -96.930

Hail, Lampasas

When: March 31, 3:53 PM CST
Where: Lampasas County, 4.14 mi E of Lameta
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.220, -98.310

Quarter-size hail was reported between Lometa and Adamsville.

Hail, Lampasas

When: March 31, 4:02 PM CST
Where: Lampasas County, 3.26 mi WNW of Lampasas Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.120, -98.250

Quarter-size hail was reported between Adamsville and Lampasas.

Hail, Lampasas

When: March 31, 4:02 PM CST
Where: Lampasas County, 4.87 mi N of Ogles
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.220, -98.290

Quarter-size hail was reported east of Lometa.

Hail, Hill

When: March 31, 4:16 PM CST
Where: Hill County, 2 mi W of Whitney
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.970, -97.364

Half-dollar-size hail was reported near Whitney.

Hail, Hill

When: March 31, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Hill County, 2.83 mi NNW of Vaughan
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.960, -97.180

Nickel-size hail was reported in Peoria.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hill

When: March 31, 4:47 PM CST
Where: Hill County, 2.83 mi NNW of Vaughan
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.960, -97.180

A 60 MPH wind gust was reported in Peoria.

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.
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.
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 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2008 Warnings in Texas, March 2008

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: 85828, 85830, 85832, 85831, 85811, 85812, 85834, 85835, 85825, 85813, 85814, 87004, 85809, 85810, 85815, 85816, 85817, 85818, 85820, 85821, 85822, 85823, 85824, 85827.