A line of thunderstorms accompanied an upper level disturbance on February 20, 2018, producing sporadic wind damage during the pre-dawn hours and some flooding later that day.
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 accompanied an upper level disturbance on February 20, 2018, producing sporadic wind damage during the pre-dawn hours and some flooding later 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 Feb 19, 11:51 PM CST, 3 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1151 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018 .AVIATION... /06Z TAFS/ MVFR cigs have filled in across much of North and Central Texas late this evening as a southerly LLJ is screaming to between 45-55 knots at 925mb across the region. A shortwave continues to move northeast out of the Permian Basin and Big Country late this evening and is tricking strong to marginally severe storms across the Western Hill Country that are moving northeast 40-45 mph. Much of this initial activity will reach western parts of North and Central Texas 08z-09z, but not move into the I-35 corridor both at Waco Regional and DFW area airports until closer to 12z. As such, have delayed the onset of VCTS to 10z at DFW and 11z at Waco, with TEMPO for 3-4sm in TSRA with embedded +SHRA through 15z-16z. T That's round one. Scattered -SHRA/-TSRA will hang around much of the day and really couldn't pinpoint a time to remove either VCSH or VCTS wording at all as another shortwave disturbance arrives early-mid afternoon hours and ahead of a cold FROPA moving south through Oklahoma. Beyond 18z, my confidence is low on timing lulls in convection models keep some sort of convection around much of the day. Otherwise, we should see winds veer south-southwest and diminish to 10-15 knots ahead of the cold front in the afternoon with cigs likely high MVFR or low VFR levels, depending on the mixing from convective downdrafts and warming. I do bring cigs down into low MVFR BLO FL020 after 00z, with a cold FROPA timing with more convection along and ahead of the front. For now, best guess is cold FROPA at DFW Metro between 00z-02z Wednesday, with passage at Waco Regional between 04z-06z Wednesday with a shift to north winds 15-20 knots. 05/ && .UPDATE... /Issued 912 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018/ Showers and some storms are beginning to blossom across the region this evening as a 40 knot low level jet interacts with increasing large scale lift. Other convection is now beginning to fire across the Edwards Plateau. This is the activity we expect to organize and move across the region late this evening and overnight. Locations that see showers or storms will likely experience gusty winds due to some evaporation and momentum transfer from the low level jet. Since the strong and gusty winds will be sporadic and dependent on the precipitation, we will not issue a wind advisory at this time. For this update, we will adjust temps/dewpoints and winds slightly and blend the evening and overnight PoPs into the 60% to 80% range. 79 && .SHORT TERM... /Issued 312 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018/ /Through Tonight/ Main focus through the short term will be the convective chances this afternoon and overnight. While the severe potential still looks limited, a few strong or marginally severe storms can't be ruled out, mainly during the overnight hours west of I-35. A deep trough has taken shape over the western US with a strengthening surface low located in Colorado. To the east, a stalled cold front lies in a pressure trough draped through the TX Panhandle and OK northeastward into KS and MO. To the south a very warm and humid airmass is in place within a strong southerly flow regime. Several days of south flow have caused rich Gulf moisture to overspread the area with near-record PW values of over 1.5" now in place. As shortwaves ripple through the parent trough, scattered showers and storms will be likely, also aided by weak ascent from warm advection. Precipitation is starting to increase slightly as of 3pm primarily along and just east of the I-35 corridor. This is occurring within the axis of greatest moisture content where there is also strong warm advection. Through the evening, would expect a gradual increase in showers with isolated embedded lightning strike near the I-35 corridor. South winds will also remain gusty into the evening at 20-30 mph. Meanwhile, in West Texas, a cluster of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop in vicinity of the dryline in the next few hours which will move northeastward. The exact evolution of this convection remains uncertain, but indications are that this cluster of storms will be capable of progressing into our forecast area counties late this evening. Depending on the organization of this line, it could potentially pose a threat for some 50+ mph wind gusts and at least some small hail. Stronger storms will be more likely if the cluster is able to organize into a broken QLCS structure, which given the strong shear in the 0-3km layer, seems plausible. Storms should also have about 1000 J/kg of MUCAPE to work with. The HRRR remains the most bullish on this overnight convection, while other high-res guidance keeps it less organized and weaker. One factor working against these storms will be increasing CINH through the evening, therefore storms should be forced to become elevated. This should help lessen the wind threat, but since synoptic low-level winds are already 50+ knots, mixing down this momentum to the surface wouldn't be too difficult for some strong downdrafts to achieve. Given the strong shear in place, also wound't be surprised to see some small hail, probably remaining below severe limits. Convection should continue an overall weakening trend as it approaches the I-35 corridor between midnight and sunrise. The best chance for stronger storms will be west of I-35. The flood threat with this initial batch will be low since it will be fast-moving. Rain amounts are expected to be less than an inch for most areas through Tuesday morning. Otherwise, the gusty south winds will continue into Tuesday morning along with a broad area of showers and embedded thunderstorms. Skies will remain mostly cloudy with rich moisture continuing to stream in from the south. The additional waves of rainfall and ensuing potential for heavy rain/flooding are discussed below. -Stalley && .LONG TERM... /Issued 312 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018/ /Tuesday through this weekend/ An active weather pattern is setting up for the week and will be defined mainly by a deep upper trough over the Rockies and an upper ridge over Florida. This pattern will leave North and Central Texas susceptible to periods of strong lift generated by disturbances in the southwest flow aloft. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely be ongoing Tuesday morning as an initial shortwave lifts northeast across the Southern Plains. Shear and instability will be sufficient for a few strong storms early Tuesday, but the convective mode should gradually shift to a warm advection showers/isolated thunderstorms regime later in the day as the shortwave exits to the northeast. The passing disturbance will help force a cold front south across the Red River Tuesday night. The front will slow and possibly begin to stall as it sags south of the I-20 corridor. Meanwhile, large scale ascent will be on the increase as the upper low digs south into the Four Corners region. There could be a lull in precipitation Tuesday night, but convection will ramp up on Wednesday as ascent increases and the front provides added focus for development. An unusually moist airmass will be in place this week, particularly along and east of the Interstate 35 corridor where PWATs in the 1.50-1.75 inch range will exist. This could be problematic regarding flooding potential as it appears that the front will become quasi-stationary somewhere across the east or southeast counties. Model QPF is somewhat variable, but Tuesday through Wednesday night rainfall totals between 2 and 4 inches are looking reasonable across a good swath of the central and eastern zones. Localized higher totals will be possible in the vicinity of the surface front. Higher totals are not out of the question in the cold sector as well, especially if there are any training thunderstorms. For this reason, a Flood Watch will be issued for areas generally along and east of Interstate 35. Since convection is expected to increase in coverage and intensity late this evening and overnight, the Watch will begin Tuesday morning as locally heavy rainfall may already be in progress. Another shortwave will lift northeast across the region Tuesday night through Wednesday. At this time, we have the Watch expiring at midnight Wednesday night, after-which the shortwave will exit to the northeast and a lull in precipitation is expected. Another issue that we will continue to monitor is the possibility of freezing rain or freezing drizzle across the northwestern-most counties Tuesday night. This area will be west of the heavier precipitation, but will also see the coldest temperatures in the post-frontal airmass. The latest guidance indicates that low temperatures will be right around freezing Wednesday morning when light precipitation will still be possible. The current thinking is that after the recent warm weather, the likelihood of any accumulations and resulting impacts is low. If later guidance trends colder, some freezing rain may need to be added for a few counties during the late tomorrow night/Wednesday morning period. After a lull in precipitation Wednesday night and Thursday, convection will ramp up once again Thursday night into Friday as the next shortwave rounds the base of the Rockies upper low and lifts across the Southern Plains. The potential for locally heavy rain will exist as models are indicating PWATs back up around 1.50 inches. Precipitation should finally come to an end Sunday as the entire upper level system works its way east across the Plains, with dry and seasonable weather expected Sunday through the early part of next week. 30 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 67 72 43 45 39 / 80 80 70 70 40 Waco 65 72 49 53 41 / 80 80 80 80 50 Paris 64 71 46 50 43 / 80 80 80 80 60 Denton 66 72 39 43 36 / 80 80 50 70 40 McKinney 66 71 41 46 39 / 80 80 70 80 50 Dallas 67 72 43 46 41 / 80 80 70 80 50 Terrell 67 72 46 51 42 / 80 80 80 80 60 Corsicana 66 71 49 54 45 / 70 80 80 80 70 Temple 65 71 51 55 42 / 80 80 80 80 50 Mineral Wells 63 74 39 42 33 / 80 80 40 60 30 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch from 6 AM CST Tuesday through Wednesday evening for TXZ093>095-103>107-118>123-133>135-144>148-159>161. && 05/79
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 335 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-201200- 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- 335 PM CST Mon Feb 19 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. There is a chance of thunderstorms across all of North and Central Texas through the overnight hours. A few storms may briefly become strong west of Interstate 35, producing gusty winds and small hail. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Widespread thunderstorms are expected Tuesday through Wednesday. Besides cloud to ground lightning, the main threat will be from heavy rain that could result in flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening for areas along and east of Interstate 35 where the potential for flooding is the highest. Otherwise, a few storms on Tuesday may briefly become strong with a threat of gusty winds and small hail. Isolated thunderstorms are possible Thursday night through Sunday. Severe weather is not expected at this time, but additional heavy rainfall could cause additional instances of flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
155 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
TXZ142-156-200830-
Mills TX-Lampasas TX-
155 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN LAMPASAS AND MILLS
COUNTIES UNTIL 230 AM CST...
At 154 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
San Saba, moving northeast at 55 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Goldthwaite, Mullin, Lometa and Us-190 Near The San Saba-
Lampasas County Line.
LAT...LON 3161 9878 3168 9876 3154 9836 3142 9827
3146 9818 3136 9811 3116 9850 3120 9857
3126 9858 3127 9863 3132 9859 3131 9864
3137 9865 3134 9870 3141 9870 3143 9873
3138 9878 3141 9878 3141 9885 3147 9900
TIME...MOT...LOC 0754Z 240DEG 49KT 3125 9870
79Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
224 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
TXZ141>143-200900-
Mills TX-Comanche TX-Hamilton TX-
224 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL HAMILTON...NORTHEASTERN
MILLS AND SOUTHERN COMANCHE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 AM CST...
At 224 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles south of Gustine, or 14 miles west of Hamilton, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Comanche, Hamilton and Gustine.
LAT...LON 3200 9837 3194 9833 3198 9825 3192 9821
3194 9817 3172 9790 3147 9832 3168 9865
3187 9878
TIME...MOT...LOC 0824Z 234DEG 44KT 3168 9836
79Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
233 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
TXZ130-200900-
Erath TX-
233 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL ERATH COUNTY UNTIL 300 AM
CST...
At 233 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Stephenville, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Stephenville and Morgan Mill.
LAT...LON 3251 9818 3251 9807 3218 9792 3208 9808
3227 9835
TIME...MOT...LOC 0833Z 216DEG 28KT 3220 9820
79Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
301 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
TXZ130-141-143-144-200930-
Bosque TX-Comanche TX-Erath TX-Hamilton TX-
301 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HAMILTON...SOUTHEASTERN ERATH...
SOUTHWESTERN BOSQUE AND EAST CENTRAL COMANCHE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM
CST...
At 300 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cranfills Gap, or 15 miles northeast of Hamilton, moving northeast at
50 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, Hico, Iredell and Cranfills Gap.
LAT...LON 3145 9830 3200 9824 3206 9810 3212 9789
3181 9765
TIME...MOT...LOC 0900Z 233DEG 43KT 3183 9790
79Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
331 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
TXZ117-118-131-133-201000-
Hood TX-Parker TX-Tarrant TX-Johnson TX-
331 AM CST TUE FEB 20 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON...
SOUTHEASTERN PARKER...TARRANT AND NORTHEASTERN HOOD COUNTIES UNTIL
400 AM CST...
At 331 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Godley, or 12 miles southwest of Benbrook, moving
northeast at 50 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Euless, Bedford,
Grapevine, Haltom City, Keller, Coppell, Hurst, Burleson, Southlake,
Weatherford, Watauga, Colleyville, Benbrook, Saginaw, White
Settlement and Crowley.
LAT...LON 3298 9703 3269 9704 3250 9727 3239 9756
3262 9782 3299 9754
TIME...MOT...LOC 0931Z 230DEG 43KT 3255 9761
79The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:45 UTC.
2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Johnson County Sheriff's Department reported damage to 3 to 5 mobile homes hear the intersection of Wild Berry Trail and FM 917.
Texas Department of Highways reported high water covering three lanes of loop 12 near the intersection of Highway 183.
A trained spotter reported high water in east Sachse and south Wylie.
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, February 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: 740319, 740314, 740315.