An unstable airmass was in place when an upper level disturbance traveled from New Mexico into the Plains, igniting strong to severe thunderstorms in and north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Tuesday evening. One storm produced two tornadoes in Denton County.
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 unstable airmass was in place when an upper level disturbance traveled from New Mexico into the Plains, igniting strong to severe thunderstorms in and north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Tuesday evening. One storm produced two tornadoes in Denton County.
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 30, 2:12 PM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 312 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 .DISCUSSION... The forecast across North and Central Texas can be summed up in one word: challenging. That being said, things are becoming a bit more clear with regards to the potential for multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms as well as the threat for flooding (both flash flooding and main-stem river). Let's get to it.... Surface and satellite analysis this afternoon revealed that pockets of diabatic heating were continuing as strong southerly flow continued to pump northward. This moisture was flowing beneath a remnant capping inversion across the area. This capping has been efficient at keeping most of the convection in check, but as pockets of heating and additional moisture lifts northward, I expect this to change. Our 18 UTC weather balloon data in tandem with WSR-88D VWP indicate decent 0-1 km shear with RAP analyzed CAPE values in excess of 2500 J/kg. 0-6 km shear values near 35 knots and all these factors combined will support supercellular structures capable of all severe hazards. HRRR guidance remains aggressive with the overall coverage of rotating storms. While the idea of showers morphing into strong to severe thunderstorms appears to be likely, I still feel the coverage of intense convection advertised by HRRR and NSSL WRF guidance is overdone given the remnant capping. The most intense activity should be more isolated to scattered in nature and convection that can breach this cap will almost certainly become severe with large hail and damaging winds the probable hazards. The tornado threat does exist, especially near a diffuse frontal boundary/differential heating zone across the Big Country. The one fly-in-the-ointment with regards to a substantial tornado threat will be some subtle weakness in the wind field at 700mb. It's yet to be seen whether or not this will make or break the event, but something noteworthy to consider. It is hard to ignore the strong upward updraft accelerations (due to large CAPE values), increasing 850mb winds (flow nearing 40-50 knots) and backed surface flow (especially in the vicinity of the boundary), however. Given these factors and after coordination with the SPC, it was determined that a Tornado Watch was the more appropriate product for a good portion of North Texas and parts of Central Texas...even though large hail and damaging winds will be the more likely/numerous hazards. Convection across Oklahoma may slowly evolve into a backward propagating MCS in response to that strengthening low level wind field mentioned earlier. It should be mentioned that if convection to the north remains a bit more isolated/discrete in nature, back building may be very difficult and could diminish the overnight heavy rain threat along the Red River. However, several runs of the NAM NEST and now the latest TTU WRF both depict a backbuilding MCS/slow moving thunderstorm cluster and given the very moist regime, the potential for thunderstorm cell training, along with coordination from the Weather Prediction Center, I feel confident in going with a Flash Flood Watch for locations north of the I-20 corridor. Even more so, additional periods of rainfall will likely result in nearly instantaneous runoff during the middle to late portion of the week. Spatial and temporal alterations to the current Flash Flood Watch will likely be needed. The MCS should move eastward into the Ark-La-Tex on Wednesday morning, just in time for another area of convection to develop to the southwest across the Big Country. There should be some lift from an approaching shortwave trough and perhaps some mesoscale ascent should any outflow boundary be shunted southward. South of this boundary, the airmass should be pretty pristine with 70 degree dewpoints, high instability and sufficient wind shear for severe weather. North of this area, the airmass be a bit more contaminated from previous days convection...but if this does not occur, more of North and Central Texas will be under the threat for severe weather. On Wednesday, renewed convection appears most likely across the Big Country and most model guidance (hi-res and non-convective allowing models) have been pretty bullish on QPF over the last several days. It seems probable that some convective complex will develop and march eastward through the day on Wednesday. I've bumped up PoPs to around 80% with a mention of heavy rainfall for a good portion of the area. Flooding and Flash Flooding will be likely for areas that experience rain today (Tuesday) and extension of the current Flash Flood Watch may be needed southward. The forecast becomes increasingly challenging Thursday and even into the weekend as large scale ascent is difficult to ascertain in the model guidance. We will be quite moist with dewpoints likely remaining in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. Frontolysis will be ongoing as a diffuse boundary slides southward through the area. At this time, it appears that it will near a Bonham to D/FW to Lampasas line and perhaps this will be a focus for what could be diurnal convection before it loses all of its baroclinicity. The airmass east of this area will remain very rich moisture wise (forecast profiles are moist adiabatic) which will support very warm rain processes. I'll keep PoPs in the 50 to 60 percent range near and east of I-35 where heavy rain will be possible. Main stem river flooding seems to be a good bet with numerous minor and a handful of moderate river flood stages probable. The active weather pattern will likely continue beyond the weekend as no real push of dry air is forecast. Any additional rainfall for the weekend and beyond will present problems for urbanized flooding and main-stem river flooding. Bain && .AVIATION... /Issued 126 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019/ Multiple aviation weather concerns through this TAF cycle with MVFR ceilings/VSBY and shower/thunderstorm chances. MVFR ceilings remain over all of North and Central Texas this afternoon with strong low level warm/moist advection in place. Ceilings should slowly lift between 3000 and 4000 ft from late afternoon through the evening, but low (MVFR) ceilings will return overnight and remain in place through Wednesday morning. Wind speeds should stay up enough to keep most visibility restrictions above 3 miles. The next, and more impactful, concern will be thunderstorms. Data from a special 18Z sounding continues to show a cap of warm air (54 degrees at 700 mb) in place. It appears that the cap may hold over the DFW Metroplex and points south through the afternoon. However, the cap will likely erode closer to the Red River over the next couple of hours. We will still have a potential to break the cap across the Metroplex TAF sites, but it will likely hold off closer to 22/23Z. Any storms that do develop will have a good potential to become severe (see updated discussion below). Storms should weaken and move to the east after 03z, once the first piece of shortwave energy exits the region. Additional thunderstorms will be possible by midday Wednesday, which will be included in the extended portion of the DFW TAF. A south wind will continue through Wednesday morning in the 12 to 16 knot range along with gusts around 25 knots. 79 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 70 78 66 77 66 / 60 80 60 50 30 Waco 70 77 67 81 65 / 40 80 60 60 30 Paris 68 78 65 75 64 / 70 80 70 60 40 Denton 69 79 64 78 64 / 70 80 50 50 30 McKinney 69 78 64 76 64 / 60 80 60 60 40 Dallas 71 78 67 77 66 / 60 80 60 60 40 Terrell 70 78 67 76 65 / 50 80 70 60 40 Corsicana 71 78 68 76 66 / 30 80 70 60 30 Temple 70 77 68 83 65 / 30 80 60 60 40 Mineral Wells 68 77 64 82 63 / 60 80 30 40 30 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch from 10 PM CDT this evening through Thursday morning for TXZ091>095-101>107-116>123. && 24/79
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 323 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-011145- 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- 323 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Thunderstorms will continue through tonight, especially west of a Lampasas to Hillsboro to Bonham line. The main thunderstorms hazards will be large hail and damaging winds. A tornado threat will be possible with any isolated and discrete thunderstorm cells, especially towards the evening and nighttime hours. Heavy rain will also be a threat and may lead to flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. There will be a continued severe weather threat, especially across Central Texas on Wednesday. All modes of severe weather will be possible, including a flash flood and main stem river flood threat. The flood threat will be greatest near and north of the I-20 corridor. Thunderstorm chances will continue periodically Thursday through Saturday morning, then again late Monday into Tuesday. Heavy rainfall and a flash flood threat is expected to continue. In addition, a few strong to severe storms will remain possible, but details regarding locations and time frame are unclear at this time. Continue to monitor future forecasts regarding hazards through this weekend and into early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely near and northwest of a Lampasas to Hillsboro to Bonham line. Bain
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 319 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 TXZ100-101-115-116-302045- Palo Pinto TX-Stephens TX-Young TX-Jack TX- 319 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN YOUNG...SOUTHWESTERN JACK...EASTERN STEPHENS AND WESTERN PALO PINTO COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM CDT... At 319 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Possum Kingdom State Park, or 14 miles south of Graham, moving north at 40 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Graham, Necessity, Gunsight and Possum Kingdom State Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central Texas. LAT...LON 3252 9855 3252 9891 3320 9865 3309 9824 TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 199DEG 34KT 3289 9857 30
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
400 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
TXZ131>133-302130-
Hood TX-Johnson TX-Somervell TX-
400 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOMERVELL...NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON
AND EASTERN HOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT...
At 400 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Dinosaur Valley State Park, or 14 miles south of Granbury, moving
northeast at 40 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Granbury, Pecan Plantation, Glen Rose, Godley, Dinosaur Valley State
Park and Oak Trail Shores.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for central and
north central Texas.
LAT...LON 3256 9778 3256 9756 3249 9743 3220 9761
3221 9763 3209 9787 3227 9796
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 205DEG 35KT 3223 9779
30Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
405 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
TXZ101-116-302130-
Palo Pinto TX-Jack TX-
405 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN JACK AND
NORTHEASTERN PALO PINTO COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT...
At 405 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Graford, or 11 miles northwest of Mineral Wells, moving northeast at
40 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Jacksboro and Graford.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek
a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central
Texas.
LAT...LON 3323 9821 3316 9792 3300 9803 3300 9805
3296 9806 3277 9821 3281 9835
TIME...MOT...LOC 2105Z 205DEG 35KT 3293 9822
30Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
427 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
TXZ118-133-302200-
Tarrant TX-Johnson TX-
427 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON AND SOUTHERN
TARRANT COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 427 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Godley, or 8 miles west of Joshua, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Fort Worth, Arlington, Burleson, Benbrook, White Settlement, Crowley,
Forest Hill, River Oaks, Kennedale, Everman, Joshua, Rendon,
Edgecliff Village, Westworth Village, Godley, Edgecliff and Westover
Hills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek
a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central
Texas.
LAT...LON 3265 9714 3237 9750 3241 9762 3250 9762
3256 9755 3280 9742
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 214DEG 40KT 3245 9752
30Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 440 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 TXZ102-103-117-118-302215- Parker TX-Denton TX-Tarrant TX-Wise TX- 440 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WISE...SOUTHWESTERN DENTON...NORTHEASTERN PARKER AND NORTHWESTERN TARRANT COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM CDT... At 440 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Pelican Bay, or over Azle, moving northeast at 55 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Fort Worth, Denton, Flower Mound, Azle, Eagle Mountain, Briar, Roanoke, Pecan Acres, Argyle, Justin, Reno, Northlake, Pelican Bay, Haslet, Bartonville, New Fairview, Aurora, Corral City, Rhome and Ponder. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central Texas. LAT...LON 3278 9755 3287 9768 3330 9738 3314 9710 TIME...MOT...LOC 2140Z 214DEG 49KT 3292 9752 30
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
517 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
TXZ092-102-103-302245-
Denton TX-Cooke TX-Wise TX-
517 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL WISE...NORTHWESTERN
DENTON AND SOUTHEASTERN COOKE COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...
At 517 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Krum, or 11 miles southwest of Sanger, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Denton, Gainesville, Sanger, Krum, New Fairview, Lindsay, Ray Roberts
Park Johnson Branch, Lake Kiowa, Ponder and Valley View.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for north central
Texas.
LAT...LON 3353 9694 3349 9695 3314 9731 3309 9739
3318 9755 3340 9738 3365 9723
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 216DEG 40KT 3326 9734
BainThe Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:50 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A boat ramp on Eagle Mountain Lake was damaged. A few tree limbs were also knocked down, mainly on the west side of the lake.
This tornado initially formed in open pasture land approximately 1.2 miles east southeast of Justin, snapping small trees. The tornado moved northeastward, crossing Denton Creek immediately east of the FM 407 bridge over this stream. In this heavily forested bottomland, numerous large hardwood trees were snapped and twisted approximately 25-50 feet off the ground. Winds along this portion of the path were estimated at 85-90 mph, resulting in a maximum low end EF-1 intensity rating. The tornado continued northeastward, uprooting or snapping several trees along FM 407 beyond the Denton Creek bridge, before finally recrossing FM 407 near the entrance to the Northridge Estates subdivision in Northlake. Several homes in this subdivision sustained minor roof and tree damage consistent with 60-70 mph EF-0 winds. The tornado dissipated soon after entering this neighborhood.
This tornado formed on the east side of the Texas Woman's University (TWU) campus, initially producing some minor tree damage behind Jones Hall. Moving northeastward, the tornado uprooted several large trees along the edge of the TWU golf course before crossing University Drive. The track continued northeastward through heavily wooded neighborhoods in northeast Denton, snapping or uprooting numerous trees. Several large trees (and many smaller trees/limbs) fell on homes and vehicles, resulting in significant property damage. This tornado crossed Loop 288 and caused some minor tree damage before dissipating near the intersection of Sherman Drive (FM 428) and Hartlee Fields Road. During the vast majority of its lifetime, the tornado produced EF-0 damage on the order of 60- 75 mph. However, tree damage at a couple of locations, particularly just south of University Drive, was consistent with high end EF-0/low end EF-1 intensity winds on the order of 85-90 mph.
Emergency management reported swift water rescues and homes flooded near the intersection of Skyline Dr and Valley View Ct in the city of Argyle, TX.
Thunderstorm winds damaged the metal roof of a home and rolled an unsecured fifth-wheel on a property near Ambrose, destroying the fifth-wheel. Tree damage was also noted in the area and sporadic tree damage was noted extending north and northeast of the home for a few miles.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2019Warnings in Texas, April 2019
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: 823158, 818829, 818831, 818828, 818821.