A line of thunderstorms developed late in the day on the 28th and moved through much of north Texas during the early morning hours of the 29th. While hail and damaging wind gusts were the primary severe weather events, several QLCS tornadoes were observed as well.
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.
A line of thunderstorms developed late in the day on the 28th and moved through much of north Texas during the early morning hours of the 29th. While hail and damaging wind gusts were the primary severe weather events, several QLCS tornadoes were observed as well.
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 27, 10:49 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1149 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 .AVIATION... A stationary frontal boundary that extended just south of a KSJT-KTPL-KTYR line as of 04z will start to lift back to the north as a warm front Tuesday. East winds 5 to 8 knots will gradually come around to the southeast Tuesday as the warm front lifts northward. VFR conditions will prevail through most of the overnight hours at the Metroplex TAF sites though some 3500-4000 feet ceilings will spread into the area 07-09z. Ceilings will continue to lower through Tuesday morning with MVFR ceilings by 12z and IFR ceilings by 15z. Some drizzle/light rain is possible from 15z through 21z. As the warm front lifts north to near the Red River, ceilings should improve to MVFR but isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will possible late afternoon through the evening. A band of showers and thunderstorms are expected to approach the I-35 corridor toward 06z. At Waco...VFR ceilings have already arrived as of 04z and expect ceilings to lower to MVFR 07-09z. Ceilings will continue to lower to IFR by 11z with drizzle and fog possible. Some LIFR conditions are possible between 12 and 16z. Expect conditions to improve to MVFR by 18z as the warm front through the region. Ceilings should improve to VFR after 21z. There is a low chance of thunderstorms during the afternoon but the chances are not high enough to include in the Waco TAF at this time. A band of showers and thunderstorms is expected to approach toward the end of the TAF period, so have included VCTS in the Waco TAF starting at 15z. 58 && .UPDATE... A stalled frontal boundary is draped through Central TX this evening and is beginning to slowly lift northward as a warm front. Rich moisture on the southern side of the front, illustrated by the upper 60s dewpoints roughly from Lampasas to Palestine, will accompany the front's northward advance. The very light winds in vicinity of the front combined with minimal dewpoint depressions suggests that the development of at least some patchy fog will be possible across Central TX beginning after ~3am. Have introduced a a fog mention to the forecast but am not expecting any fog that develops to be particularly dense or long-lived. Otherwise, have increased temperatures slightly across Central TX where dewpoints will remain in the mid to upper 60s overnight. Temperatures should be nearly steady in the upper 60s in these areas. We will continue to assess the potential for strong/severe storms tomorrow as new data arrives. Most high-res guidance is not particularly enthused regarding convective potential along the northward-moving warm front as a fairly stout cap should be in place. A couple rounds of storms developing along the dryline west of the forecast area late in the afternoon and evening will continue to be the main concern as this activity will transition into North and Central TX later tomorrow evening through Wednesday morning. -Stalley && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 422 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017/ Active weather will continue over the next week as the flow generally remains quite progressive. As a result, there will be numerous opportunities for showers and thunderstorms. While rainfall will be welcomed, it's likely that severe weather will likely accompany some of the better rain chances. Surface analysis and radar imagery this afternoon indicated that the cold front that has swept through the area was located across parts of Central and East TX at this time. It also extended back towards the west towards the Permian Basin. Further upstream, the next trough is sliding eastward across Southern California. As this feature rapidly translates eastward, it should induce lee- side pressure falls and allow the cold front to lift back towards the north and we are already seeing some semblance of this per KGRK radar imagery and surface observations across Central TX. The position of this feature will be paramount to severe weather chances across North and Central TX late Tuesday afternoon. We will visit this more in detail later. For tonight, expect generally warm temperatures as low level moisture quickly streams northward. With not a large amount of colder air to the north, I expect that lee-side pressure falls should be efficient at lifting warm and moist air towards the Red River. The implied isentropic upglide may be enough to spark a few isolated showers down across Central TX and I've kept some low PoPs through midnight. Through the early morning hours, I've carried a dry forecast, but trends in hi-res output will need to be monitored for potential showers and a storm or two. I've kept the forecast dry mainly due to the generally shallow nature of the moisture return at least initially. Later in the morning hours, however, the low level wind field will intensify which will support a greater magnitude of theta-e advection, especially across western zones. Right now, the threat for strong to severe thunderstorms during the morning hours looks low, but we will have to monitor closely for a potential hail threat. For Tuesday, breezy, warm and humid conditions are expected as a very stout upper trough arrives from the west. 100 meter height falls will overspread the southern TX panhandle and a dryline will start to sharpen out west. The approach of the upper trough should further drive lee-side cyclogenesis and help to accelerate the warm front to the north. The location of this boundary will likely play a role in the behavior of any deep moist convection in its vicinity. Most guidance pulls this warm front near the Red River by around 21 UTC, with the TTU WRF being the lone slow outlier. The 3km NAM is quite aggressive and lifts the boundary very far to the north into southern Oklahoma. That being said, I have highest confidence in the general model consensus and the 3km NAM given the front's current behavior mentioned above. One possibility for a slower warm frontal passage across the area would be if convection were to develop across the Ozarks and reinforce the cooler airmass to the north. Most if not all guidance indicates WAA showers will be probable across the area tomorrow morning into tomorrow afternoon. The synoptic background, however, will be characterized by either neutral to subsident motion. This would generally support generally shallow convection with little to no severe weather threat through at least the early afternoon hours. With that being said, we will have to keep tabs on the position of the front, as well as the behavior of any shallow convection as this activity could morph into severe storm clusters should it tap into any of the surface based instability. In addition, if these storm clusters interact with the likely SRH- rich warm frontal boundary, a tornado risk may develop. This scenario bears watching, but current thinking is that the better probability for more widespread severe convection will not occur until later in the day. Later in the day on Tuesday, forecast soundings indicate that the cap will begin to weaken, especially across western zones where large scale ascent coupled with mixing should help to erode any afternoon inhibition. The dryline will most likely remain out across the western zones, so it's likely that activity will be a bit further west than it was on Sunday. As a result, I've kept the highest rain chances along and northwest of a Comanche to Fort Worth to Gainesville line. Further east closer towards the I-35 corridor, streamer showers will likely continue through the afternoon. The cap does weaken here as well, but it's unknown as to whether or not this convection will become robust and breach the cap. If it does, this convection closer to the I-35 corridor will also have the potential to become severe during the afternoon hours. Severe hazards on Tuesday afternoon---The main risks will be large hail and damaging winds. There will be a threat for tornadoes, especially for surface based supercells that come within close proximity of the warm front. Heavy rain will also be a threat, especially for areas that received heavy rainfall on Sunday evening. Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning will continue to be active as the main trough finally encroaches from the west. Strong DPVA coupled with impressive height falls will overspread the entire region and as a result, a line of showers and storms is expected to erupt. With ample instability and deep layer shear in place, numerous strong to severe thunderstorms are expected. Given the magnitude of forcing, it's likely that activity will congeal into a squall line and this is handled well by most short/hi-resolution numerical guidance. Severe hazards on Tuesday night into Wednesday---The main hazards with the squall line will be damaging straight-line winds and perhaps some large hail. There will be a risk for an embedded tornado or two as well. The line should march from west to east through all of North and Central TX, before exiting sometime Wednesday morning or afternoon. Wednesday afternoon could prove to also be another active day depending on the amount of recovery in the wake of the morning MCS. Climatologically speaking, airmass recovery across North and Central TX behind the MCS is a function of MCS longevity/motion. A slower MCS would more than likely limit the amount of recovery in the afternoon, while a swifter MCS would allow for a greater potential for airmass recovery. At this time, it's unknown as to whether or not the airmass will recover in time for potentially a second round, as some hi-res guidance (3km NAM) indicates. If the 3km NAM is to verify, there will be the potential for severe storms (likely supercells) capable of large hail, damaging winds and perhaps a few tornadoes. In addition, steep lapse rates beneath the upper low that is expected to swing southeastward would result in a hail threat even with seemingly weak convection along the Red River. Thursday and Friday should be relatively quiet with additional rain chances returning on Saturday. The active pattern will continue through the latter half of the weekend and into next week. While a little early to tell, there could be a risk for strong to severe thunderstorms during this time as well. 24-Bain && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 60 80 65 76 56 / 5 30 70 60 10 Waco 64 82 65 78 57 / 10 20 60 60 5 Paris 53 74 63 70 56 / 5 30 50 80 40 Denton 55 76 63 75 55 / 5 40 70 50 10 McKinney 54 76 63 73 56 / 5 30 70 60 10 Dallas 61 81 66 76 58 / 5 30 70 60 10 Terrell 60 82 66 74 56 / 5 20 60 70 20 Corsicana 63 83 66 76 58 / 10 20 50 70 10 Temple 67 84 63 78 56 / 20 20 60 60 5 Mineral Wells 55 77 57 79 51 / 5 40 70 20 5 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 58/26
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 340 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-281200- 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- 340 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Spring-time is officially here and the next round of thunderstorms will begin to affect the North Central Texas region Tuesday through early Thursday morning. There are some uncertainties in Tuesday's forecast as the warm front retreats northward. It is possible that warm advection showers may be able to break the cap in the afternoon, increasing the potential for all modes of severe weather across the area. Another round of strong to severe storms will be possible late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as a line of thunderstorms develops in West Texas and moves from west to east across the area. The threats associated with the overnight line of storms will be damaging winds, large hail, and a low tornado potential. There will be a few days of calm weather before the next storm system moves in this weekend. Strong to severe storms will once again be possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:07 UTC.
66 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A social media report indicated roof damage to High Ridge Church, approximately 2.5 miles west of Benbrook, TX.
The Hamilton Automated Weather Observation Station reported a 63 MPH wind gust.
Emergency management reported several trees of 8 to 12 inches diameter were blown down.
A trained spotter measured a 65 MPH wind gust in The Hills of Granbury.
Lumin ER in Granbury, TX had to close due to the roof being peeled off of the building.
A public report indicated large tree limbs down and minor roof damage in the Eagle Mountain area.
A public report of trees down was received in the city of Springtown, TX.
Emergency management reported that large limbs were blocking County Road 1126 near Hwy 171.
Fire and Rescue reported a 60 MPH wind gust between the towns of Cleburne and Godley.
A trained spotter reported trees down, metal buildings destroyed and roof damage to multiple structures in the vicinity of Meadow Glen Drive in Crowley, TX.
Broadcast media reported large trees being knocked down near Joshua High School.
A public report of a fence down, roof of a shed removed and blown 100 yards and a 4-wheeler blown 15 yards was received approximately 3 miles northwest of Briar, TX.
A National Weather Service survey crew determined a tornado produced EF-0 damage in north Fort Worth and Haslet areas. The tornado was embedded in a line of thunderstorms, yet a distinct convergent path was noted for the entire life of this tornado. The tornado began near US 287 and Bonds Ranch Road, before moving north and northeast. The tornado damaged mainly trees and billboards until it crossed Interstate 35W near Timberland Boulevard. Several trees, fences, and approximately 50 roofs suffered damage in housing developments along and north of Timberland.
A National Weather Service survey crew determined a tornado caused damage to several areas in Fort Worth, Keller, and the far western portions of Southlake. This tornado occurred in a broader area of thunderstorm winds, yet a convergent path of damage was noted in Keller, especially near US 377 and North Tarrant Parkway. Several homes suffered minor roof damage, while fence and tree damage was most common. One business suffered damage to their roof and several awnings.
A trained spotter measured a 70 MPH wind gust 4 miles south-southwest of Richland Hills, TX.
Wind gusts, estimated to be 80 mph damaged large trees and roofs in Keller. The wind damaged several large tree limbs and branches, and destroyed at least four roofs.
Emergency management reported large trees snapped in half and a barn blown into a pond near the town of Rendon.
A 58 MPH wind gust was measured at the NWS office in Fort Worth, TX.
A broadcast media meteorologist measured a wind gust of 62 mph in Keller.
Emergency management reported that three power poles were snapped in half. Debris was facing east.
Emergency management reported trees down throughout the city of Mansfield, TX.
Mansfield Office of Emergency Management measured a wind gust of 85 MPH.
Power lines blown down. The power lines remained active Wednesday, resulting in the electrocution of 2 brothers playing in the area.
A social media report indicated roof damage at Household of Faith Church in Arlington, TX.
A social media report indicated downed communications antennas at Collins St and Sublett Rd in Arlington, TX.
An off duty National Weather Service employee measured an 83 MPH in north Fort Worth.
Broadcast media reported that one plane was damaged at Arlington Municipal Airport, and large trees were broken near the base of the trunks.
Midlothian Fire and Rescue measured a 63 MPH wind gust.
Emergency management reported that the roof of one old home was removed.
A social media report indicated that several sections of brick wall were blown over near the intersection of Ponselle Dr and Matlock Rd in Arlington, TX.
A trained spotter reported that many trees were snapped and uprooted along Mountain Creek Pkwy and Camp Wisdom Rd.
A National Weather Service survey crew determined a tornado produced EF-1 damage in the city of Lewisville. The damage began near the intersection of Fox avenue and Boxwood, before moving to the north and northeast, ending near I-35E. Severe damage was done to about ten homes, with 5 homes losing part of the roof, along with blown out windows. The damage was most concentrated at the beginning of the tornado, yet several businesses and government buildings suffered damage as the storm quickly moved through part of Lewisville.
Denton County Fire Dispatch reported a tractor-trailer blown over by thunderstorm winds.
The Denton, TX Automated Surface Observation System reported a 62 MPH wind gust.
Amateur radio reported 8 inch diameter limbs blown down in northeast Denton.
Emergency management reported that outbuildings were damaged in the city of Ennis, TX.
Emergency management reported that trees and power lines were knocked down throughout the county.
Emergency management reported roof damage at the fire station at 4416 Southwest Blvd in Fort Worth, TX.
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail on Hwy 720 north of Little Elm, TX.
A public report of large tree branches being blow down was received about 2 miles southeast of Hebron, TX. Time based on RADAR.
Emergency management reported a 10-inch diameter tree snapped in the town of Krugerville, TX.
A social media report indicated that several fences were blown down in the city of Frisco, TX.
A trained spotter estimated 75 MPH winds in the city of Frisco, TX.
Amateur radio reported 70 MPH winds at Lake Forest in McKinney with fences knocked over.
A social media report indicated a 63 MPH wind gust northwest of the intersection of Independence Rd and McDermott Rd.
Emergency management reported tree branches down on Justice Ln in Garland, TX.
Emergency management reported that a shed was destroyed, and wind damage to both the roof and the outer wall of a home occurred in the city of Garland, TX.
A trained spotter reported that a storm door was ripped off the back of a house and a fence was blown down near the intersection of Stacey and Custer in the city of McKinney, TX.
Emergency management reported multiple downed utility poles along Merritt Rd between Castle Dr and Hickox Rd.
Emergency management reported shingles removed from a home in Garland, TX.
A trained spotter reported a tree 3 feet in diameter blown down in the city of Cameron, TX.
Amateur radio reported estimated 60 MPH winds in the city of Allen, TX.
The Cameron, TX Automated Weather Observation Station reported a wind gust of 70 MPH.
A social media report indicated large tree branches blown down about 6.5 miles northwest of Plano, TX.
A trained spotter reported a fallen tree on the UT Dallas Campus.
A public report of an estimated 80 MPH wind was received from Rowlett, TX.
A public report indicated trees snapped, one of which crushed part of a fence in Rowlett, TX.
Emergency management reported 2 houses with porch and chimney damage in the city of Combine, TX.
Amateur radio reported a 75 MPH wind gust near College Pkwy at Hwy 121.
Emergency management reported trees either snapped or uprooted in the city of Sherman, TX.
A public report indicated that trees were either snapped or uprooted near the intersection of FM 121 and Lovers Leap Lane.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail near the intersection of Hwy 544 and Mcreary Rd in the city of Sachse, TX.
Emergency management reported trees snapped or uprooted approximately 6 miles northeast of Sherman, TX.
Emergency management reported trees snapped or uprooted approximately 6 miles southwest of Sherman, TX.
Several media outlets filmed the aftermath of significant damage to homes in the northern parts of Rockwall. In particular were homes in a subdivision east of John King Blvd and south of FM 552.
Emergency management reported a large tree snapped on College Street in Sherman, TX.
Emergency management reported trees snapped or uprooted 3 miles northwest of Whiteright, TX.
Emergency management reported power lines down near the intersection of Hwy 75 and Hwy 82.
Emergency management reported 12 homes with damage and numerous trees blown down in the area of Lanier Rd at Pecan Trail in Combine, TX.
Broadcast media reported that a roof was blown off of a laundromat and onto Hwy 79 in Frankin, TX.
Emergency management reported significant damage to very large commercial chicken coop structures. Two were completely destroyed and one partially destroyed, and a very large number of chickens were killed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant | 2017-03-29 | 12 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
| Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant | 2017-03-29 | 11 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2017Warnings in Texas, March 2017
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: 685717, 685787, 685499, 685789, 685745, 685718, 685749, 685767, 685790, 685721, 685751, 685754, 680325, 680326, 685738, 690158, 685722, 685737, 690160, 685501, 685723, 685739, 685973, 685724, 685725, 690159, 685726, 685959, 685507, 685727, 685515, 680327, 685762, 685765, 685764, 685770, 685771, 685734, 685744, 685961, and more.