Showers and thunderstorms developed across North Texas in association with a Pacific cold front and an upper level system that was shearing out across the Plains. One storm produced hail up to the size of quarters between Decatur and Rhome.
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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed across North Texas in association with a Pacific cold front and an upper level system that was shearing out across the Plains. One storm produced hail up to the size of quarters between Decatur and Rhome.
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 Dec 14, 3:31 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 331 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 .DISCUSSION... SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE ONGOING ACROSS NORTH TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AS A PACIFIC COLD FRONT MOVES EAST. THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR DEEP LAYER ASCENT IS SHEARING OUT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND WILL MOVE NORTHEAST THIS EVENING ALLOWING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO SLOW DOWN AS IT MOVES EAST. LATEST RUC SOUNDINGS AND LOCALLY DERIVED CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS INDICATE THAT 700MB WARM NOSE HAS MOSTLY ERODED WITH ONLY WEAK INHIBITION PRESENT IN VICINITY OF THE FRONT. ANYWHERE FROM 500-700J/KG OF INSTABILITY REMAINS PRESENT AND WILL SUPPORT THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING INTO TONIGHT. OVERALL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS LOW BUT SOME HAIL WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE. FRONT WILL DRIFT SOUTH AND EAST LATER TONIGHT WITH PRECIP TAPERING FROM WEST TO EAST. ALTHOUGH SURFACE FRONT WILL BE SOUTH OF THE AREA ON THURSDAY AMPLE MOISTURE WILL RIDE ATOP THE SHALLOW COOLER AIR. REMNANTS OF THE UPPER LOW OVER THE SOUTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO EJECT NORTHEAST DURING THE DAY TOMORROW. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FORCING TO LIFT MOISTURE IN THE 850-700MB LAYER. ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL BE WEAK ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR SHOWERY TYPE PRECIP TO DEVELOP EVEN THOUGH THE NEAR SURFACE LAYER WILL BE DRY. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON THIS SOLUTION AND HAVE RAISED POPS FOR THU/THU NIGHT ACROSS NORTH TEXAS. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY STILL LOOK LIKE THE QUIETEST DAYS THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL WITH MOST AREAS STAYING DRY. THE NEXT STRONG SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST US BY SUNDAY. MOISTURE WILL SURGE NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THIS UPPER LOW...WHICH IS FORECAST TO REMAIN CLOSED AS IT MOVES ACROSS NORTH TEXAS. THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO LOOK MORE POTENT AND AGAIN WE MAY SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AS IT MOVES THROUGH. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE EVENT. DUNN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 54 56 40 54 38 / 60 50 70 10 10 WACO, TX 58 58 42 53 42 / 90 60 70 20 20 PARIS, TX 55 57 39 51 37 / 90 40 70 20 10 DENTON, TX 51 54 38 51 33 / 40 40 70 10 10 MCKINNEY, TX 54 56 41 52 36 / 70 40 70 20 10 DALLAS, TX 55 58 41 54 41 / 70 50 70 20 10 TERRELL, TX 57 59 42 52 40 / 90 50 70 20 10 CORSICANA, TX 59 62 45 54 42 / 90 60 70 30 20 TEMPLE, TX 59 59 42 53 43 / 80 70 70 20 20 MINERAL WELLS, TX 48 52 37 50 35 / 10 40 60 10 10 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 327 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-151130- 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- 327 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS MOST OF NORTH TEXAS. A FEW STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE PRIMARY HAZARDS BEING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THE THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... VERY LIMITED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED THROUGH THIS EVENING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1234 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 TXZ100-141900- YOUNG TX- 1234 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... EASTERN YOUNG COUNTY AT 1234 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES EAST OF OLNEY TO 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAHAM...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. CITIES IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE GRAHAM. PEA-SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS. LAT...LON 3340 9843 3312 9843 3296 9884 3340 9868 TIME...MOT...LOC 1834Z 262DEG 19KT 3338 9858 3302 9876
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 103 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 TXZ091-092-102-141930- MONTAGUE TX-WISE TX-COOKE TX- 103 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... SOUTHWESTERN COOKE COUNTY SOUTHEASTERN MONTAGUE COUNTY NORTHWESTERN WISE COUNTY AT 103 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRIDGEPORT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. CITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE ALVORD...CHICO...MUENSTER... ST. JO AND FORESTBURG. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...PEA-SIZED HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM. LAT...LON 3385 9756 3358 9718 3321 9791 3343 9792 TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 225DEG 48KT 3340 9779
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
415 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011
TXZ117-142245-
PARKER TX-
415 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
EASTERN PARKER COUNTY
AT 416 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEATHERFORD...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
CITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE ANNETTA...BRIAR...HUDSON
OAKS...RENO...SPRINGTOWN...WEATHERFORD AND WILLOW PARK.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...PEA-SIZED
HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3299 9773 3299 9754 3272 9755 3264 9784
3273 9793 3300 9775
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 228DEG 47KT 3275 9781SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
444 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011
TXZ102-103-118-142315-
DENTON TX-TARRANT TX-WISE TX-
444 PM CST WED DEC 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN DENTON COUNTY
NORTHWESTERN TARRANT COUNTY
SOUTHEASTERN WISE COUNTY
AT 444 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER BRIAR...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
CITIES IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE ARGYLE...AURORA...AZLE...
BARTONVILLE...BOYD...CORINTH...CORRAL CITY...DENTON...EAGLE
MOUNTAIN...HASLET...JUSTIN...KRUM...NORTHLAKE...PECAN ACRES...PELICAN
BAY...ROANOKE AND SHADY SHORES.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...PEA-SIZED
HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED FROM THIS STORM. A
SECOND STORM NORTH OF SPRINGTOWN IN SOUTHERN WISE COUNTY MAY ALSO BE
PRODUCING 40 MPH WINDS AND PEA HAIL.
LAT...LON 3317 9703 3299 9722 3285 9755 3300 9753
3300 9774 3341 9741
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 225DEG 47KT 3301 9752The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:46 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell near FM 2264 and Highway 287; approximately 3 miles southeast of Decatur.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 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: 357057.