Another complex surface pattern unfolded on Friday April 28, comprising of a low pressure center, warm front, dryline, and Pacific cold front. All of these features contributed to the development of strong to severe thunderstorms as the next upper trough swept through the Plains.
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.
Another complex surface pattern unfolded on Friday April 28, comprising of a low pressure center, warm front, dryline, and Pacific cold front. All of these features contributed to the development of strong to severe thunderstorms as the next upper trough swept through the Plains. Storms developed shortly after noon, affected areas mainly south of I-20, and exited the region by 7 PM that evening. Large hail up to 3 inches was reported in Hamilton County, and an EF1 tornado occurred in Coryell 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 28, 12:11 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 111 PM CDT Fri Apr 28 2023 ...New Aviation... .SHORT TERM... /Issued 512 AM CDT Fri Apr 28 2023/ Update: High clouds will increase in coverage across North Texas this morning ahead of the approaching shortwave. Patchy fog is also beginning to show up on the northern and eastern fringes of the CWA with more extensive fog across Central Texas. Latest guidance is still in line with our current forecast in regards to the expected severe weather. Nearly all CAMs continue to show storms developing near US 281 between 2 PM and 3 PM with a rapid expansion and movement eastward through late afternoon and evening. Although much of the CWA has the potential for severe storms, locations south of the I-20 corridor will have the most favorable, moisture, instability and shear. See the discussion below for details on today's severe weather. 79 Previous Discussion: /Overnight through Friday Night/ A brief recovery period is underway with subsidence on the back side of a departing shortwave resulting in a mostly clear sky. Patchy fog will be possible overnight, especially across the eastern zones where winds will remain light and current temp/dew point spreads are only a few degrees. Overnight lows will range from the upper 40s to the lower 50s. Low level warm/moist advection will begin early Friday morning in response to deepening surface low pressure across the Big Country and Permian Basin. A somewhat complex surface pattern will evolve across North and Central Texas by midday Friday with a warm front extending southeastward from the surface low, a dryline extending southward from the surface low through the Hill Country and a cold front positioned from the Central Plains, through the Big Country and into Far West Texas. The surface low is progged to move into the western CWA by midday while a positively tilted trough sweeps across the Panhandle and Central Plains. Surface and mid-level destabilization will both increase by early afternoon, resulting in rapid storm development between 2 PM and 3 PM with initiation likely near the intersection of the dryline and warm front, somewhere between Parker County, Hill, and Erath County. Of course this point of initiation could change based on where the surface features ultimately end up, but this is the latest thinking which also is in line with nearly all of the CAMs. Once storms initiate, we should be off to the races with multiple supercells possible given the forecast shear profiles and strong instability. It does appear that biggest severe threat will favor the southern half of the area, roughly along and south of the I-20 corridor since this is where the most favorable moisture and instability will reside. However, just about anywhere across the forecast area could see strong to severe storms. Large hail will be the primary threat initially but the potential for some backed winds near the surface low may be sufficient for a few tornadoes. As the cold front progresses eastward through late afternoon, storms should become more linear with an increasing damaging wind threat along with hail. The surface based storms will march eastward with the cold front through Friday evening but elevated storms with a potential for hail will still accompany the upper trough as it translates eastward through Friday night. The progressive nature of the system will keep the threat for widespread flash flooding low. However, precipitable water values in excess of 1.5 inches across Central Texas and the southern portions of North Texas along with damp soils from the rain Wednesday, will result in a chance for localized flooding, especially with the initial supercells. Temperatures Friday will be quite variable based on which side of the various surface boundaries that will be in place. Highs near the Red River will be in the mid 70s with mainly upper 70s to lower 80s elsewhere. However, the far southwest zones could approach 90 degrees with increasing westerly winds behind the dryline. Lows Friday night will be much cooler with mid 40s to lower 50s. A strong and gusty post-frontal northwest wind will make it feel even colder. These strong winds may approach Wind Advisory Criteria in the pre-dawn hours Saturday. 79 && .LONG TERM... /Issued 1231 PM CDT Fri Apr 28 2023/ /Sunday Onward/ Pleasant and warm weather is expected Sunday as the late Friday system continues to depart to the east with northwest flow aloft for North & Central Texas. It'll be quite a bit warmer than Saturday with afternoon highs in the mid 70s across the northeast while most of the forecast area reaches the low/mid 80s. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s will then persist each day through the extended as shortwave ridging prevails across the Plains with another trough sent southward across the East Coast. It should be primarily rain-free through Wednesday, but we'll have to monitor low storm chances late Tuesday and again late Wednesday currently positioned just west of the forecast area. Towards the end of the period (Thursday/Friday), rain/storm chances increase areawide as the next system approaches. Gordon && .AVIATION... /NEW/ /18z TAFs/ Concerns: Timing development of storms and entry into the D10 airspace, as well as FROPA sometime before 00z Saturday. Cig trends and strength of both pre/post-FROPA winds/gusts also challenging with average confidence, though increasing as we approach the event. After a look at new short term, high-res model data and detailed collaboration with CWSU ZFW earlier, time windows for FROPA and better convective/TSRA chances were held close to the previous 12z D10 DFW TAFs, though it was sped up slightly for the western airports, while Waco Regional and eastern D10 airports (DAL/GKY) were delayed by up to an hour. Basically VCTS, potentially strong- severe to occur between 20z-01z with TEMPO groups with variable gusts up to/in excess of 40 kts possible and IFR or low MVFR conditions during a 4-hour window between 21z to 01z, delayed an hour at DAL/GKY. Current low VFR/high MVFR cigs across the D10 airspace will drop into low MVFR with prospects for IFR conditions tonight into mid morning Saturday. Current southerly surface winds between 8 to 18 kts and gusty winds will quickly veer northerly or northeasterly 15-20 kts with gusts to 30 kts once FROPA blasts through later this afternoon. These gusty winds may lay out and weaken for a short while between 09z-13z, before kicking up again to the aforementioned speeds by/after 15z-16z Saturday. Scattering of lower cigs with drier/cooler air arriving late Saturday morning will result in returning VFR conditions with winds backing to the NW 17-22kts with gusts 30-35 kts. A surface low and associated strong cold front between KGRK/KILE and KBWD/KMKN will track E-SE quickly into areas east of I-35/35E thanks to good support from a very impressive mid level shortwave trough diving SSE across NW TX/W OK/and the TX/OK Panhandles as we move into nightfall. 05/Marty && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 74 50 70 52 81 / 80 90 10 5 0 Waco 78 50 68 48 82 / 80 80 5 5 0 Paris 73 53 67 48 74 / 60 100 50 5 0 Denton 73 49 70 47 79 / 80 80 10 0 0 McKinney 74 50 69 48 77 / 80 90 20 5 0 Dallas 75 52 70 52 80 / 80 90 10 5 0 Terrell 75 51 68 48 77 / 70 90 30 5 0 Corsicana 78 52 69 50 82 / 70 90 20 5 0 Temple 81 51 70 48 85 / 80 70 5 5 0 Mineral Wells 75 47 72 48 86 / 50 60 0 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1227 PM CDT Fri Apr 28 2023 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-291145- 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- 1227 PM CDT Fri Apr 28 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening across much of North and Central Texas as a cold front moves across the region. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats with these storm but a few tornadoes will also be possible. Scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight behind the main line of storms. Lightning will be the primary threat. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms across the region on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is possible across much of North and Central Texas from mid afternoon through mid evening.
The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:14 UTC.
28 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Fire and rescue reported 3-inch diameter hail near the intersection of County Road 2005 and County Road 221 southwest of Hamilton.
Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail about 2 miles north of Evant.
Amateur radio reported golf ball sized hail near Arnett, TX.
A supercell tracked across Coryell County on the afternoon of April 28th producing an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds around 105 mph. The pattern of damage suggests this tornado may have been a multi-vortex tornado and evidence of very strong RFD wind damage was also found just south of the tornado track, further complicating the track location.
The tornado likely began near Bagget Mountain, tracked across CR 146, and did the most notable damage along CR 148. Several large trees along CR 148, in multiple locations, were damaged ranging from broken trunks to large trees uprooted. The property of a sporting range was damaged with the shooting range cover being blown across the street to the northeast. Two injuries occurred at this location, and one person was transported with a leg injury. The tornado generally followed CRs 148 and 147 on a southeast direction, continuing to damage trees and causing minor roof damage. The tornado crossed FM 116, just north of CR 145, causing damage to trees and minor roof damage to a home east of the road. The tornado then moved onto the property of Fort Hood. Access to this area is limited, but additional damage to trees and power poles was found along West Range Road, south of Henson Creek. The end of the tornado was estimated by radar over inaccessible areas of Fort Hood.
RFD winds were determined to be the cause of damage of a collapsed cell phone tower along West Range Road and a home on Longview Circle that lost part of its roof. The RFD winds could have been near 95 mph.
RFD winds were determined to be the cause of damage at a home on Longview Circle that lost part of its roof. The RFD winds could have been near 95 mph.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail about a mile south-southeast of Fort Gates, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail on the east side of Lampasas, TX.
Emergency management reported quarter sized hail 1.5 miles north of Iredell, TX.
Fire and rescue reported quarter sized hail at the North Fort Hood Fire Station on the Longhorn and Shorthorn Airfields.
A trained spotter reported half-dollar sized hail 1 mile south-southeast of Gatesville, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail 1 mile west-northwest of Copperas Cove, TX.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail 3 miles northwest of Copperas Cove, TX.
A public report indicated golf ball sized hail 8 miles southeast of Fort Gates, TX.
A trained spotter measured a wind gust of 76 MPH at Owl Creek Park public boat ramp.
A 60 MPH wind gust was measured by the Automated Weather Observation System at Killeen Skylark Airport.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail 2 miles south-southeast of Fort Hood (now known as Fort Cavazos).
A trained spotter reported 5 to 6 inch tree branches broken 4 miles west-northwest of Temple, TX.
Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail 1 mile west of Cleburne, TX.
Amateur radio reported half-dollar sized hail in Keene, TX.
A public report indicated penny sized hail 2 miles south of Briar Oaks, TX.
A public report indicated penny sized hail 3 miles east-northeast of Arlington, TX.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail near the intersection of Highway 360 and Park Row Dr in Arlington, TX.
Broadcast media reported that portions of East Central Texas Expressway at Imperial Drive in Killeen have been closed by police due to high water.
A public report indicated dime sized hail 2 miles northeast of Mansfield, TX.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail 10 miles north-northeast of Rogers, TX.
Amateur radio reported nickel to quarter sized hail at 447 FM 1772 west of Rosebud, TX.
Amateur radio reported golf ball sized hail 10 miles southeast of Troy, TX.
A public reported quarter sized hail in Holland, TX.
A trained spotter reported nickel sized hail 3 miles south-southeast of Calvert, TX.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail near Mount Calm, TX.
Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail in Hubbard, TX.
A public report indicated quarter sized hail about a mile northeast of Hubbard, TX.
Emergency management reported golf ball sized hail 7 miles south of Mexia, TX.
Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail near Mexia, TX.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2023Warnings in Texas, April 2023
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: 1097020, 1097021, 1097023, 1097401, 1097402, 1097024, 1097025, 1097026, 1097027, 1097028, 1097029, 1097030, 1097031, 1097038, 1097037, 1097032, 1097047, 1097033, 1097034, 1097035, 1097036, 1097039, 1097019, 1097041, 1097042, 1097040, 1097043, 1097045, 1097046, 1097050, 1097048, 1097049, 1097051, 1097052.