A powerful, negatively-tilted upper level trough moved into the Central Plains during the late afternoon hours which aided in the development of supercell thunderstorms near the intersection of a cold front and dryline in north central Texas. These storms developed near the Interstate 35 corridor and the Red River during the early evening hours, and then continued south-southeast through the…
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A powerful, negatively-tilted upper level trough moved into the Central Plains during the late afternoon hours which aided in the development of supercell thunderstorms near the intersection of a cold front and dryline in north central Texas. These storms developed near the Interstate 35 corridor and the Red River during the early evening hours, and then continued south-southeast through the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. These storms primarily produced golfball sized hail, however several reports of damaging winds were reported in Dallas County, likely associated with a microburst in the northeastern portion of the county. Unfortunately, a 5-year old boy drowned on Lake Benbrook in Tarrant County when their boat capsized due to strong winds produced by a nearby thunderstorm.
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 14, 2:23 PM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 323 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011 .DISCUSSION... INTERESTING SPRING WEATHER PATTERN IS IN PLACE OVER THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES TODAY. STRONG NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH EXTENDS FROM SOUTHERN CANADA SOUTH-SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE PLAINS. A DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE AREA IS MOVING EASTWARD AROUND THE BASE OF THIS FEATURE. WITH GOOD DYNAMICS IN PLACE AND MODEST MOISTURE RETURN TO THE REGION...A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR OVER ROUGHLY THE NORTHERN HALF OF NORTH TEXAS TONIGHT. AT THE SURFACE A DRYLINE WAS MOVING INTO WESTERN COUNTIES AND SHOULD PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS IT SLOWLY ADVANCES EAST. CAP HAS BEEN WEAKENING THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS TEMPERATURES WARM. SPECIAL 18Z SOUNDING...THOUGH STILL CAPPED...ALREADY SHOWED CAPE OVER 3000 J/KG. WITH GOOD INSTABILITY AND IMPRESSIVE SHEAR IN PLACE...THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER AREAS ROUGHLY NORTH OF I 20 THIS EVENING AS CAP BEGINS TO BREAK...WITH DEVELOPMENT BEGINNING 4-5 PM. SEVERE WEATHER THREAT INCREASES THE FURTHER NORTH AND CLOSER TO THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM YOU GO...AND A TORNADO WATCH HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED FOR COUNTIES ADJACENT TO THE RED RIVER. THE WATCH EXTENDS NORTHWARD THROUGH OKLAHOMA AND IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10PM. FEELING IS THAT FOR THE DALLAS-FT WORTH METROPLEX...THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL WILL BE HIGHEST AROUND A 23-01Z TIMEFRAME. THOUGH SOUTH OF THE CURRENT WATCH...THIS AREA STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SEE GUSTY WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WITH ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS. ACTIVITY IS THEN EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST AND CONTINUE LATER ON TONIGHT OVER EASTERN COUNTIES BEFORE EXITING THE CWA BY SUNRISE TOMORROW. FOCUS WILL SHIFT RAPIDLY FROM A SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO A FIRE WEATHER THREAT AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW. WINDS WILL BE STRONG OUT OF THE NORTHWEST FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL ALSO DROP INTO THE TEENS OVER A GOOD PORTION OF THE REGION. A RED FLAG WARNING HAS THUS BEEN ISSUED FOR TOMORROW FOR ALL BUT THE NORTHEASTERN-MOST COUNTIES...WHERE FORECAST PRECIPITATION AND HIGHER MOISTURE VALUES ARE EXPECTED. WEATHER SHOULD REMAIN FAIRLY QUIET AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. BROAD UPPER TROUGHING WILL THEN DEVELOP OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE U.S. AND A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BRING SLIGHT CHANCES FOR RAIN DURING THE EARLY AND MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. 30 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 53 76 45 79 53 / 30 0 0 0 10 WACO, TX 55 79 44 81 51 / 10 0 0 0 10 PARIS, TX 54 68 41 70 47 / 40 0 0 0 10 DENTON, TX 48 74 40 78 48 / 30 0 0 0 10 MCKINNEY, TX 53 73 40 75 46 / 30 0 0 0 10 DALLAS, TX 55 75 47 77 55 / 30 0 0 0 10 TERRELL, TX 55 74 43 75 49 / 30 0 0 0 10 CORSICANA, TX 57 77 45 77 51 / 20 0 0 0 10 TEMPLE, TX 55 79 43 81 52 / 10 0 0 0 10 MINERAL WELLS, TX 47 79 39 80 50 / 10 0 0 0 10 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR TXZ100-115. RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM CDT FRIDAY FOR TXZ091-092- 100>103-115>119-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175. && 79/30
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 318 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-151245- 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- 318 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NORTHEAST OF A BONHAM TO SULPHUR SPRINGS LINE THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH A SLIGHT RISK AS FAR WEST AND SOUTH AS A BOWIE...MINERAL WELLS... HILLSBORO...TO PALESTINE LINE. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS. HOWEVER...A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS YOUNG COUNTY AND STEPHENS COUNTY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING. A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM. OTHERWISE...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS OF NORTH TEXAS THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY ACROSS ALL BUT THE NORTHEAST COUNTIES OF NORTH TEXAS DUE TO DRY AIR AND STRONG WINDS. THEREFORE...A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM FRIDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT GENERALLY NORTH AND EAST OF A BOWIE...MINERAL WELLS...HILLSBORO...TO PALESTINE LINE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
417 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011
TXZ091-092-142145-
MONTAGUE TX-COOKE TX-
417 PM CDT THU APR 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
NORTHERN COOKE COUNTY
NORTHEASTERN MONTAGUE COUNTY
PENNY-SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS
STORM.
IF THIS STORM INTENSIFIES...A SEVERE WEATHER WARNING MAY BE NEEDED.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHEASTERN TEXAS.
LAT...LON 3398 9761 3391 9758 3391 9747 3383 9743
3390 9731 3391 9719 3385 9716 3379 9720
3374 9715 3374 9709 3383 9706 3386 9709
3385 9702 3394 9700 3395 9694 3373 9696
3356 9748 3366 9777 3389 9781 3399 9769
TIME...MOT...LOC 2117Z 234DEG 51KT 3386 9752
CAVANAUGHThe Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:00 UTC.
51 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A 5-year old boy drowned on Benbrook Lake after the boat he was in capsized due to strong winds gusting to around 35 mph.
Nickel sized hail fell in Myra, which is approximately 7 miles west of Gainesville.
Nickel sized hail fell 4 miles northwest of Gainesville.
Golfball sized hail fell near Moss Lake, approximately 8 miles north-northwest of Gainesville.
Quarter sized hail fell in Myra, which is approximately 7 miles west of Gainesville.
Nickel sized hail fell on the north side of Lindsay, which is near Gainesville Municipal Airport.
Quarter and half dollar sized hail fell 7 miles north of Pottsboro.
Quarter sized hail fell in Lindsay and northwest of Gainesville.
Quarter sized hail fell in Era, which is approximately 5 miles west of Valley View.
Penny sized hail fell 5 miles north of Sanger or 3 miles south of Valley View.
Quarter sized hail fell 2 miles south of Valley View.
Penny sized hail fell 9 miles southeast of Decatur.
Ping pong to golfball sized hail fell in Whitesboro.
Dime sized hail was reported at Lois Lane and I-35N, north of Sanger.
Dime sized hail was reported 1 mile east of Bolivar.
Penny to quarter sized hail was reported for several minutes in Justin.
Quarter sized hail fell in Roanoke.
Dime to quarter sized hail fell south of Roanoke.
Golfball sized hail fell in Trophy Club and Roanoke.
Quarter sized hail fell 1 mile north of Southlake.
The hail stones in the Roanoke and Trophy Club area increased to hen egg size.
Quarter sized hail fell 2 miles northeast of Flower Mound.
Quarter sized hail fell at Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail and estimated 60 mph winds near Lewisville.
A trained spotter estimated 60 mph winds near Lewisville.
A trained spotter reported half dollar sized hail and measured 47 mph winds west of Plano.
Quarter sized hail fell near The Colony and Hebron.
Golfball sized hail fell at the intersection of Coit Rd and George Bush Turnpike. This location is approximately 5 miles west of Plano and 6 miles south of Frisco.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey concluded an EF-0 tornado initially touched down about 1 mile northwest of Honey Grove near the intersection of County Road 2781 and Highway 82. The tornado moved to the northeast and lifted near the intersection of County Road 2875 and Private Road 287. Several structures and trees were damaged along the path. Estimated winds were 85 mph.
Quarter sized hail fell with 40 to 50 mph winds reported in Plano.
Quarter sized hail fell with winds reported at 45 to 55 mph in Allen.
Golfball sized hail fell in Leonard which is approximately 12 miles south-southwest of Bonham.
Ping pong ball sized hail was covering the ground in Farmers Branch.
Spotters estimated 80 mph winds in Garland along with golfball sized hail.
Golfball sized hail fell in Garland.
Severe thunderstorm winds uprooted and snapped trees and tree limbs across Lamar County. Power poles were also snapped, and the giant steer at Sirloin Stockade on NE Loop 286 in Paris was blown off its trailer moorings and tossed across the parking lot.
A trained spotter measured a 65 mph wind gusts in Richardson and reported quarter sized hail at the same time.
Hen egg sized hail fell in Sachse.
Spotters measured a 64 mph wind gust along with nickel sized hail in Garland.
Golfball sized hail fell in Garland.
Spotters measured a 74 mph wind gust in Garland.
A member of the public measured a 78 mph wind gust east of Rowlett.
A trained spotter reported penny sized hail just east of Rowlett.
A trained spotter measured a 65 mph wind gust in Mesquite at the East Mall.
Penny sized hail and 35 mph winds were reported 4 miles east of Itasca.
Collin County Emergency Management estimated a 65 mph wind gust and nickel sized hail in Melissa which is approximately 4 miles northeast of McKinney.
A trained spotter reported penny sized hail just east of Rowlett.
Nickel sized hail was reported just east of Terrell.
Kaufman County Emergency Management estimated 60 mph winds just east of Terrell.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Tarrant | 2011-04-14 | 5 | Male | Boating | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2011Warnings in Texas, April 2011
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: 299908, 302641, 302642, 302643, 302644, 302645, 302655, 302656, 302658, 302646, 302647, 302659, 302660, 302661, 302648, 302662, 302663, 302664, 302729, 302666, 303517, 303518, 302668, 302671, 302672, 302673, 302674, 302679, 302709, 302680, 302682, 302685, 302714, 303657, 302687, 302718, 302690, 302721, 302154, 302692, and more.