An upper level storm system and another sweeping cold front ignited a second round of thunderstorms Friday April 6. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.
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.
An upper level storm system and another sweeping cold front ignited a second round of thunderstorms Friday April 6. Some of the storms produced large hail and damaging winds.
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 6, 2:26 PM CST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 326 PM CDT Fri Apr 6 2018 .SHORT TERM... /Midnight through Saturday/ The main concern through this portion of the forecast is very cold temperatures (by April standards) including the potential for some areas to fall below freezing, with light freezing rain possible across our northwestern zones. The Freeze Watch has been upgraded to a Freeze Warning with this update. Also, strong north winds will follow behind this evening's cold front and persist through Saturday with wind chills in the teens and 20s expected for North Texas. A Wind Advisory remains in effect and has been expanded slightly southeastward and also extended through noon. By midnight, convection immediately along the advancing cold front should be exiting our southeastern zones. In its wake, very strong pressure rises will cause gusty north surface winds with 35-40 kts in place at 925mb. A Wind Advisory has been issued from roughly Goldthwaite to Ennis to Sherman and northwest, but may need to be expanded to more of our southern or eastern counties depending on trends. Sustained winds of 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph are likely. These winds will fuel very strong cold advection and temperatures will fall into the 30s across much of North Texas by daybreak. There is a chance that temperatures fall to near or slightly below freezing across areas north of roughly Cisco to Sherman. A Freeze Warning is in effect for locations north of this line. The NAM is basically the only piece of guidance with temperatures below freezing in North Texas as just about all other models as well as statistical guidance keep temperatures at or above freezing (some as warm as the upper 30s). However, given the NAM's typical exceptional handling of arctic fronts, have sided primarily with the colder NAM temperatures tonight. In addition, post-frontal stratus will exist over the entire forecast area with possibly some light rain or drizzle occurring through daybreak just about anywhere in the CWA. In the meantime, a wave of mid-level ascent will be swinging through Oklahoma prompting light precipitation to develop in the subfreezing airmass to our north. Some of this precipitation could creep into our northern row or two of counties between ~4 to ~9 AM. This activity will be fueled by isentropic ascent in the 700-500mb layer within a mid-level cloud deck. Below, a layer of dry air will exist roughly from 850-700mb, with the layer of stratus associated with the cold frontal inversion just below that. Any precipitation in this area would likely be the result of seeder-feeder mechanisms with mid-level droplets falling through and eventually saturating the dry layer, and then entering the stratus deck below. Light rain is the most likely precipitation type, given the relatively warm cloud layer of about 0C to -10C, so ice crystals will be difficult to come by. If precipitation coincides with temperatures falling to near or below freezing, a very brief period of light freezing rain could occur near the Red River around daybreak. However, even if this occurs, impacts are expected to be minimal to none. Very warm surface temperatures would prevent any issues on roadways, and any ice would likely be confined to surfaces like tree branches, power lines, or metal objects like road signs. The MOST LIKELY scenario for North Texas tonight is that temperatures remain at or below freezing with some light rain and no impacts. BUT, will maintain a mention of light freezing rain in the forecast for now. Elsewhere, a damp, cloudy, cold, and windy morning can be expected. Through Saturday, mostly cloudy and cold conditions will prevail through at least midday along with breezy north winds. Have sided with coldest guidance keeping highs mostly in the 40s, although this may not be cold enough. By mid or late afternoon, some clearing may begin across our northwestern zones which would allow temperatures to climb a few degrees higher than the rest of the forecast area. Winds will also be on the decrease through the afternoon hours, so the Wind Advisory is currently set to expire at noon. -Stalley && .LONG TERM... /Saturday night through next week/ Wind speeds will relax on Saturday evening as a surface high moves into the region. The winds will turn around to the southeast Sunday morning as the surface high moves east of the region, but Saturday night/Sunday morning will be another chilly period with overnight lows in the 30s and lower 40s. Some locations near the Red River may approach the 32 degree mark, but expect most locations will remain above freezing. A shortwave trough will slide into the Plains on Sunday, and this will quickly draw warmer temperatures into the region from the west. High temperatures will vary considerably from the lower to mid 60s in the east to upper 70s in the west. In the evening hours, as the shortwave is skirting through the Plains to our north, some light rain may be possible in our northeastern counties. The shortwave will help push another front through the region on Monday, but this air will not be as cold as the front coming through tonight. However, it will help keep temperatures near or slightly below normal Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday will be quiet and warm days while we are under the influence of ridging aloft. Another trough will move towards the Plains by the end of the week, and there should be some rain with this system. Both the GFS and ECMWF are showing a possible dryline/Pacific front event Thursday-Friday that may have a potential for severe weather. JLDunn && .AVIATION... /Issued 133 PM CDT Fri Apr 6 2018/ /18Z TAFs/ Strong/severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon/evening. Behind a cold front, gusty north winds and IFR ceilings are expected tonight into Saturday morning. Convective initiation has begun along a cold front moving south through Oklahoma. The activity will steadily increase in intensity as it approaches the Red River this afternoon, disrupting north departures and arrivals through the Bonham cornerpost. Some isolated cells may occur within 25 miles of KDFW and KDAL as early as 21Z (4pm CDT), but a special RAOB shows a stout cap may preclude any activity until the main frontal line of storms arrives. The line of potentially severe storms will begin impacting the Metroplex TAF sites around 23Z (6pm CDT). These may precede the formal cold front, but even without a well developed line of convection, northerly outflow winds may be indistinguishable from the front. North flow will prevail unabated thereafter. The activity will move south of the TRACON 01-02Z (8-9pm CDT). Waco's window for strong/severe storms will be primarily 02-04Z (9-11pm CDT). Patchy rain or drizzle will be possible overnight, but IFR will be in place due to postfrontal ceilings below FL010. Frequent gusts in excess of 30kts will occur throughout the night and through Saturday morning. These will be nearly parallel to the 35/36 runways at KDFW but may pose some minor crosswind issues on 31L/R at KDAL. The winds will gradually subside Saturday afternoon, and ceilings will steadily rise as the dry postfrontal air deepens. 25 && .MESOSCALE UPDATE... /Issued 1216 PM CDT Fri Apr 6 2018/ Isentropic ascent resulting from warm/moist advection up a warm frontal slope, aided by a weak impulse aloft, resulted in a considerable area of elevated convection to our north this morning. Some of this seeped south of the Red River, but the bulk of the activity has remained across eastern Oklahoma. This complex will gradually shift east with the movement of the frontal layer aloft and associated forcing in the mid-levels. A retreating warm front has allowed dew points in the mid 60s to return to the Red River Valley, the exception being the rain-cooled northeast zones where this morning's precipitation arrested the low- level warm/moist advection. Although the mT air will continue advancing northward, the ongoing convection in Oklahoma will reorient this advection further west along the I-35 corridor. A cold front surging south through Oklahoma will meet this unstable air early this afternoon, resulting in the initiation of surface- based convection. This activity may initially be benign as the frontal boundary approaches the Red River, but as the updrafts begin ingesting increasingly unstable air, the intensity should increase. As they cross the Red River, it still appears the bulk of these cells will be confined to the richest moisture along and east of the I-35 corridor. A surface low in southwestern Oklahoma is veering the flow across our western zones, which have seen steadily decreasing cloud cover this morning. The sunshine will enhance surface heating, and temperatures may reach the 80s before a dryline arrives this afternoon. The associated veering aloft will serve to strengthen an already stout capping inversion while aiding the eastward progression of the dryline. Some of the mesoscale guidance suggests the mechanical forcing with the dryline may allow this inhibition to be overcome. The veered flow should limit the convergence that would otherwise aid this process, and there is still some disparity among guidance with the dryline's eastern terminus before the front arrives. But with MLCAPE values soaring above 2000J/kg, any cells that develop could quickly become severe, and this area will need to be monitored for convective initiation. The window for this potential may be small as the surface low zips east along the Red River and the cold front overtakes the dryline across our western zones. An approaching shortwave is still on schedule to spread forcing for ascent across the area late in the day with steepening mid-level lapse rates. Along the front, the shear profile will favor rotating cells that, when combined with intense boundary layer instability and the forcing ascent, will pose a threat for very large hail. The motion of the surface low may back the winds sufficiently in our northeast zones in advance of the frontal convection to briefly enhance the tornadic potential if the resulting near-surface vorticity is able to be stretched into a deeper mesocyclone. The potential for cells to remain separated within a larger QLCS may allow the tornadic threat to persist into the evening hours, but it appears the greater potential will be east of our area. The cellular activity should eventually congeal into a linear complex as it moves through our southeastern counties. Though such storms will also have an attendant wind threat, large hail will remain a concern into the evening hours. Brief QLCS spin-ups will also be possible within the line, which should exit the CWA by midnight. 25 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 37 49 42 68 52 / 60 10 0 5 10 Waco 40 45 39 71 55 / 60 10 0 5 10 Paris 39 50 36 62 47 / 80 20 0 5 20 Denton 35 50 36 68 50 / 50 20 0 5 10 McKinney 36 49 37 65 50 / 60 20 0 5 10 Dallas 38 49 42 68 53 / 60 10 0 5 10 Terrell 39 47 39 67 50 / 70 10 0 5 10 Corsicana 41 45 40 67 52 / 70 10 0 5 10 Temple 42 45 40 72 56 / 60 5 0 5 10 Mineral Wells 33 49 37 72 50 / 30 10 0 5 5 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Freeze Warning from 4 AM to 10 AM CDT Saturday for TXZ091>093- 100>102-115-116-129. Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to noon CDT Saturday for TXZ091>093-100>104-115>120-129>134-141>145. && 82/26
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 746 AM CDT Fri Apr 6 2018 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-071200- 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- 746 AM CDT Fri Apr 6 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible this morning, mainly near and east of the I-35 corridor. Widespread severe weather isn't anticipated with thunderstorm activity that occurs this morning. The severe weather threat will increase with thunderstorms this afternoon and into the evening hours. The area of greatest concern will be along and east of a Jacksboro to Stephenville to Lampasas line. The main hazards will be large hail and damaging winds. Heavy rainfall will also be possible and may result in a risk for minor flooding. There will be a low risk for a tornado or two near and east of Bonham to Greenville to Emory line. Strong north winds with gusts to near 40 MPH will also be possible for areas near and northwest of a Comanche to D/FW to Sherman-Denison line late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Thunderstorms may linger near and southeast of a Killeen to Groesbeck to Palestine line on Saturday morning. A few storms may be strong with small hail and strong winds being the main hazards. Sub-freezing temperatures and a threat for light freezing rain or freezing drizzle will be possible near and north of an Eastland to Palo Pinto to Sherman-Denison line Saturday morning. Wind chills will fall into the teens and twenties across a good portion of North and Central Texas due to the breezy north winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation may be requested this morning near and north of the Highway 380 corridor. Spotter activation is more likely this afternoon and evening near and east of a Jacksboro to Stephenville to Lampasas line. 24
The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 204 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:36 UTC.
57 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Lamar County Sheriff's Department reported penny sized hail just northwest of the city of Paris.
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail at PJC in the southeast part of the city of Paris, TX.
A social media report indicated penny sized hail approximately 1 mile east-southeast of the city of Paris, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail at Eisenhower State Part, approximately 3 miles northwest of the city of Denison, TX.
Emergency management reported nickel sized hail in the city of Gordonville, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail at Denison Dam.
Emergency management reported half-dollar sized hail at Eisenhower State Park, or about 3 miles northwest of the city of Denison, TX.
Emergency management reported nickel sized hail in the city of Gordonville, TX.
A public report indicated penny-sized hail approximately 7 miles north-northeast of the city of Sadler, TX.
Amateur radio reported nickel to quarter sized hail approximately 3 miles north-northwest of the city of Pottsboro, TX.
Emergency management reported quarter-sized hail at the Sherman Municipal Airport.
Emergency Management reported penny-sized hail in downtown Sherman, TX.
Amateur radio reported nickel-sized hail in the city of Springtown, TX.
Amateur radio reported golf ball sized hail near the North Texas Regional Airport near the city of Pottsboro, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Watauga, TX.
Golfball sized hail was reported via social media in the city of Prosper, TX.
A public report indicated quarter-sized hail in the city of Prosper, TX.
Emergency management reported quarter-sized hail approximately 4 miles south of the city of Celina, TX.
Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail approximately 3 miles south of the city of Celina, TX.
A social media report indicated golfball to tennis ball sized hail in the city of Prosper, TX.
Hopkins County Sheriff's Department reported trees down on County Road 3528 near the town of Weaver, TX.
Amateur radio reported 3-inch diameter hail approximately 1 mile west of the city of Celina, TX. Significant damage to vehicles was reported.
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail in the city of North Richland Hills, TX.
Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail in the city of Prosper, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Bedford, TX.
Broadcast media reported golfball sized hail near the intersection of Elldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive in the city of McKinney, TX.
Broadcast media reported golfball sized hail near the intersection of Elldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive in the city of McKinney, TX.
A social media report confirmed 2-inch diameter hail in the city of Euless, TX.
Fire and Rescue indicated half-dollar sized hail near the intersection of White Avenue and and Hardin Blvd in the city of Mckinney, TX.
A social media report indicated hen-egg sized hail in the city of Mckinney, TX.
A public report indicated quarter-sized hail approximately 2 miles east-southeast of the city of Allen, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Euless, TX.
A public report indicated quarter-sized hail in the city of Allen, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail in the city of Irving, TX.
Amateur radio reported nickel sized hail off of FM 2990.
A public report indicated half-dollar sized hail approximately 2 miles east-southeast of the city of Irving, TX.
Fire and rescue indicated quarter-sized hail near the intersection of Hwy 121 and Coit Rd in the city of Frisco, TX.
A social media report indicated penny sized hail approximately 1 mile west of University Park.
Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail near the intersection of Legacy and Alma Drives in the city of Plano, TX.
Amateur radio reported hen-egg sized hail near the intersection of Custer Road and Legacy Drive.
A social media report indicated hen-egg sized hail near the intersection of Independence Parkway and Legacy Drive in the city of Plano, TX.
A trained spotter reported that ping pong ball sized hail cracked the windshield of a car near the intersection of Hwy 36 and FM 1602.
Emergency management reported golf ball sized hail in northeast Rowlett, TX.
A public report of hen-egg sized hail was received approximately 2 miles north-northeast of the city of Plano, TX.
Amateur radio reported hen-egg sized hail in the city of Wylie, TX.
A trained spotter reported ping pong ball sized hail approximately 3 miles east-northeast of the city of Sachse, TX.
Amateur radio reported golf ball sized hail in the city of Rockwall, TX.
A trained spotter reported quarter-sized hail approximately 2 miles west of the community of Laguna Park, TX.
Fire and rescue reported quarter sized hail near the community of Cayote.
A TV meteorologist submitted a photograph of 3 inch hail, which occurred along Highway 317 between the cities of Crawford and McGregor, TX.
A trained spotter reported that ping pong ball sized hail cracked the windshield of a vehicle near the intersection of Highway 36 and FM 1602 approximately 2 miles east of the city of Whiteway, TX.
A public report indicated quarter-sized hail approximately 7 miles east of the city of Lampasas, TX.
A social media report indicated golfball sized hail between the cities of Bynum and Abbot.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail in the city of Bynum, TX.
Emergency management reported penny sized hail approximately 2 miles northeast of the city of Frost, TX.
Emergency management reported quarter sized hail on FM 3383 approximately 2 miles northwest of the city of Corsicana, TX.
Amateur radio reported penny sized hail near the junction of Interstate 14 and Interstate 35.
Amateur radio reported quarter-sized hail near the junction of Interstate 14 and Interstate 35.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 2018
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: 750388, 750389, 750390, 750392, 750393, 750394, 750395, 750396, 750397, 750398, 750399, 750400, 750402, 750403, 750404, 751844, 751845, 751846, 751847, 751861, 751863, 751848, 750405, 751849, 750411, 751850, 751851, 750406, 751852, 751853, 751854, 750408, 751855, 750413, 750414, 750416, 751856, 750417, 751857, 751858, and more.