Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 16, 2023

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Texas, March 16, 2023
Start: 2023-03-16T20:07
End: 2023-03-16T21:07
Location: Texas

March 16, 2023 · NWS SHV · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS SHV wrote it up.

A long-lived cluster of supercell thunderstorms advanced across northeast Texas into northwest Louisiana on the evening of March 16th just ahead of an accelerating band of thunderstorms along a cold front. As the evening progressed, the cold front gradually overtook the ongoing supercell cluster with the primary threat of hail transitioning to damaging winds within the expanding QLCS. Initially within the far eastern edge of the warm sector, supercell thunderstorms over Sabine County/Parish in Deep East Texas and far western Louisiana produced large hail. The QLCS continued to evolve along the cold front, with an embedded long-lived supercell over Rusk County Texas later in the evening. The environment favored a continuation of the severe threat downstream, with the greatest threat expected along the QLCS segment and with the embedded supercell. As that portion of the line moved southeastward, the threat for damaging winds persisted with a few additional reports of damage in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana.

What forecasters said 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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 16, 5:30 PM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 16, 5:30 PM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
630 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...New UPDATE, AVIATION...

.UPDATE...
Issued at 626 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

Tornado Watch #69 has been issued for most of east Texas,
McCurtain County, portions of southwest Arkansas, and portions of
northeast Louisiana.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Friday Night)
Issued at 328 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

Elevated showers and storms are just now getting underway across the
western and NW zones of the CWA, far ahead of the anticipated cold
front to move through this evening. Aloft, the mid-level trough
continues to dig across the Four Corners Region of the CONUS helping
to support the sfc low traversing the Central Plains this afternoon.
The plan still remains for the elevated showers and thunderstorms
to continue across the region ahead of the linear storm mode
associated with the passing boundary late this evening and
overnight. Early elevated convection over the next couple of hours
may generate some hail with any motivated thunderstorm activity.
Mid-level lapse rates near 6.5-7.5 C/km would be supportive of
some smaller hail with elevated convection.

By 00z Friday, the linear storm mode, accompanied by the cold front
to slice across the Four State Region, should be making it's way on
through. Afternoon guidance suggests the line moving across the
region through the late evening/overnight, then exiting the FA
sometime close to 3-4AM CDT Friday. With that in mind, the threat
still remains for damaging winds, some hail and an isolated tornado
or two. As the line cuts across the region, guidance continues to
highlight a significant weakening trend in the overall severity of
the line on approach to, or shortly after passing, I-49. Depending
on the forward motion of the cold front however, if this were to
undercut the QLCS, the severe threat from a tornado perspective
would be quickly muted, with a main focus being on the wind side of
the forecast associated with the boundary convection from that point
forward.

Post boundary, a sharp drop in temperatures will occur. Strong
southerlies from this afternoon will become northerly, ushering in a
healthy dose of multi-layer CAA. Temperatures Friday will reflect
this with highs in the mid to upper 50s expected. Guidance does
continue to highlight some energy post boundary tucked within the
700mb trough which may help to support some additional showers after
sunrise, Friday. As this clears by the afternoon, temperatures will
continue to remain cool across the area before falling overnight
into the 30s. Temperatures near freezing appear favorable along and
north of I-30. As a result, have gone ahead and issued a Freeze
Watch starting at midnight until 9AM CDT Saturday. Will need to keep
an eye on cloud coverage as this would limit some enhanced
cooling.

/53/

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through next Wednesday)
Issued at 328 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

A deep wedge of cold/dry air will continue to spill S across the
region to start the long term period Saturday, with the low AC cigs
expected to gradually erode during the afternoon across Deep E TX
and Cntrl LA. Meanwhile, a moist SW flow aloft will persist over the
Srn Plains and Lower MS Valley Saturday through at least the first
half of the weekend, beneath the longwave troughing that will dig S
through the Plains/Midwest/Great Lakes region. Sfc ridging remains
progged to build S into the area this weekend, with a reinforcement
of the cold/dry air expected to shift S late Saturday afternoon
through the evening. Some thinning of the elevated cigs is expected
Saturday night ahead of the initial shortwave trough passage, with
cold advection strong enough to result in a larger area of near to
sub-freezing temps across much of extreme NE TX/SE OK/SW AR and
portions of extreme Nrn LA Sunday morning. Thus, Freeze Warnings
will be needed for much or all of this area should forecast min
temps remain consistent, especially with the rapid greenup observed
as of yet as well as the fact that these areas are nearing their
average last freeze date and that freezing temps have not been
observed in the last month.

Well below normal temps will continue Sunday and Monday, with
another freeze expected Sunday night but over much of the region,
once sfc ridging becomes fully anchored over the area. A slow
moderating trend in temps is expected by Tuesday once SE low level
winds commence on the backside of the retreating sfc ridge, but a
moist SWrly H850 flow may yield enough isentropic forcing for
isolated -SHRA over portions of E TX/SE OK/SW AR, where slight
chance pops remain for these areas through Tuesday night. Otherwise,
weak ridging aloft is expected to build over the region Wednesday,
although isentropic forcing is expected to persist and even possibly
shift a bit farther E over the area which may result in the
potential for isolated -SHRA development over Deep E TX/NW LA. While
this ridge should begin to amplify as it shifts E of the region by
Thursday, a more SWrly flow aloft is expected to develop ahead of
the next upper trough that will translate E from the Rockies into W
TX/OK, which should result in an increase in more organized
convection that should develop/shift E into the region by the end of
the long term period (Thursday).

15

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 626 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

For the 17/00z TAFs...Radar imagery is showing fairly widespread
showers and thunderstorms across the region. This has brought
fairly widespread MVFR to IFR conditions across the area.
Expecting this trend to continue over the next several hours and
through some of the overnight. Eventually the activity will clear
from northwest to southeast as a cold front moves through. Winds
will be gusty behind the front, with sustained winds of 15 to 20
kts and gusts up to 25 to 30 kts possible. In addition, strong
winds will be possible with any of the stronger thunderstorms
along with large hail and the chance for tornadoes. /33/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  43  55  40  57 / 100  30   0   0
MLU  45  57  40  55 /  90  50   0   0
DEQ  37  54  31  56 /  90   0   0   0
TXK  41  57  36  56 / 100  10   0   0
ELD  40  55  36  55 / 100  20   0   0
TYR  41  56  39  57 /  90  20   0   0
GGG  41  56  40  57 /  90  20   0   0
LFK  42  55  42  55 /  90  50   0  10

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning for
     ARZ050-051-059>061.

LA...None.
OK...Freeze Watch from late Friday night through Saturday morning for
     OKZ077.

TX...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...53
LONG TERM....15
AVIATION...33

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 16, 10:32 AM CST, 9 hours 35 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
1132 AM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

ARZ070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-
136>138-149>153-165>167-171200-
Miller-Lafayette-Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-
Lincoln-De Soto-Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-
Natchitoches-Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-
Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk-
Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine-
1132 AM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas,
southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana,
east Texas and northeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms will increase this afternoon across
Northeast Texas, Southwest Arkansas, and Northwest Louisiana, ahead
of an upper level disturbance that will shift east along the Red
River Valley of Southern Oklahoma and North Texas, and near a warm
front that will lift north through the region. Isolated severe
thunderstorms containing large hail will be possible this afternoon
over these areas, with a line of showers and thunderstorms developing
late this afternoon farther west over Southern Oklahoma and North
Texas, along and just ahead of a strong cold front. The severe
weather threat will increase as this line of storms shift southeast
into the region early this evening through the overnight hours
tonight, with damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes
possible. The severe weather threat will diminish late tonight across
Deep East Texas and Northcentral Louisiana as the air mass begins to
stabilize with the passage of the cold front.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to fall to near or below freezing Saturday
and Sunday nights across portions of extreme Northeast Texas,
Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana, as colder and drier air
continues to spill south into the region this weekend. Precautions should
be taken to protect tender vegetation from these cold temperatures.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon and tonight
across East Texas, Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana.

ARZ050-051-059>061-OKZ077-171200-
Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-McCurtain-
1132 AM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Arkansas and
southeast Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms will increase this afternoon across
Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas, ahead of an upper level
disturbance that will shift east along the Red River Valley of
Southern Oklahoma and North Texas, and near a warm front that will
lift north through the region. Isolated severe thunderstorms
containing large hail will be possible this afternoon over these
areas, with a line of showers and thunderstorms developing late this
afternoon farther west over Southern Oklahoma and North Texas, along
and just ahead of a strong cold front. The severe weather threat will
increase as this line of storms shift southeast into the region
early this evening, with damaging winds, large hail, and isolated
tornadoes possible. The severe weather threat will diminish by
midnight tonight as the air mass begins to stabilize with the
passage of the cold front.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to fall to near or below freezing Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday nights across Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest
Arkansas, as colder and drier air continues to spill south into the
region this weekend. Precautions should be taken to protect tender
vegetation from these cold temperatures.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon and evening
across Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas.

15

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 16, 5:54 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
654 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

OKZ077-TXZ096-170100-
McCurtain OK-Red River TX-
654 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of McCurtain and
northwestern Red River Counties through 800 PM CDT...

At 652 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Octavia to near Sumner. Movement was east
at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Idabel, Broken Bow, Bagwell, Manchester, Wright City, Valliant,
Detroit, Millerton, Garvin, Rufe, Smithville, Hochatown, Watson,
Battiest, Mount Herman, Woodland, Redland, Kanawha, Glover and
Kiomatia.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for southwestern
Arkansas...southeastern Oklahoma...and northeastern Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3417 9447 3354 9531 3388 9531 3387 9530
      3391 9528 3389 9526 3396 9523 3394 9516
      3424 9515 3425 9505 3433 9505 3451 9483
      3451 9446
TIME...MOT...LOC 2352Z 273DEG 32KT 3451 9475 3378 9564

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

50

Special weather statement, Mar 16, 6:08 PM CST, 1 hour 59 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
708 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

LAZ017-018-170100-
Natchitoches LA-Sabine LA-
708 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Natchitoches and southeastern Sabine Parishes through 800 PM CDT...

At 708 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Hornbeck, or 14 miles northwest of Anacoco, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Many, Florien, Fisher, Kisatchie, Negreet and Mount Carmel.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3147 9368 3166 9324 3137 9307 3136 9339
      3132 9342 3130 9357
TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 250DEG 33KT 3140 9352

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

26

Special weather statement, Mar 16, 6:55 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
755 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

ARZ050-051-059-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108-109-170200-
Howard AR-Sevier AR-Little River AR-McCurtain OK-Bowie TX-
Red River TX-Franklin TX-Titus TX-
755 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Little
River, Sevier, central Howard, southeastern McCurtain, northern
Franklin, northwestern Bowie, northern Titus and Red River Counties
through 900 PM CDT...

At 754 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Grannis to 11 miles south of Pattonville.
Movement was east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
De Queen, Clarksville, Dierks, Horatio, Foreman, Hagansport,
Boxelder, Umpire, Idabel, De Kalb, Bogata, Lockesburg, Winthrop,
Gillham, Ben Lomond, Arkinda, Center Point, Wilkerson, Deport and
Talco.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for southwestern
Arkansas...southeastern Oklahoma...and northeastern Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3427 9394 3419 9392 3418 9382 3406 9382
      3334 9479 3337 9481 3331 9481 3328 9485
      3333 9531 3355 9531 3419 9446 3419 9425
      3429 9425
TIME...MOT...LOC 0054Z 279DEG 33KT 3424 9434 3341 9544

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

50

Local storm report, Mar 16, 6:58 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
758 PM CDT THU MAR 16 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0717 PM     HAIL             1 ESE FLORIEN           31.44N 93.44W
03/16/2023  E1.00 INCH       SABINE             LA   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL COVERED THE GROUND IN
            FLORIEN.

&&

15

Special weather statement, Mar 16, 7:13 PM CST, 54 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
813 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

LAZ017-018-170200-
Natchitoches LA-Sabine LA-
813 PM CDT Thu Mar 16 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Natchitoches and east central Sabine Parishes through 900 PM CDT...

At 812 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of Many, or 16 miles north of Anacoco, moving
northeast at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Many, Florien, Provencal, Fisher, Bellwood and Mount Carmel.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3138 9346 3153 9352 3173 9319 3146 9298
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 244DEG 30KT 3150 9336

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

26

Local storm report, Mar 16, 7:48 PM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
848 PM CDT THU MAR 16 2023

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0747 PM     HAIL             9 WSW FLORIEN           31.39N 93.59W
03/16/2023  E1.00 INCH       SABINE             LA   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL FELL AT THE FISHERMANS
            FAST STOP SOUTH OF THE NEGREET COMMUNITY.

&&

15

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Smith

When: March 16, 8:07 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 0.69 mi S of Elkton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.310, -95.270

Quarter size hail reported and winds estimated near 60 mph in Southeast Tyler.

Hail, Smith

When: March 16, 8:14 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 0.69 mi N of Elkton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.330, -95.270

Penny size hail reported via m-PING.

Hail, Rusk

When: March 16, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Rusk County, 0.59 mi W of Price
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.130, -94.940

Quarter size hail reported.

Hail, Rusk

When: March 16, 8:55 PM CST
Where: Rusk County, 2.72 mi ESE of Henderson
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 32.130, -94.760

Nickel size hail reported on County Road 405D.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rusk

When: March 16, 9:05 PM CST
Where: Rusk County, 4.17 mi SE of Henderson
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.100, -94.760

Tree downed along County Road 311 and County Road 317 south of Henderson.

Hail, Rusk

When: March 16, 9:07 PM CST
Where: Rusk County, 2.38 mi SSE of Henderson
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.120, -94.780

Dime to nickel size hail reported on the southeast side of Henderson along Highway 259.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, March 2023

Sources

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: 1089181, 1089182, 1089183, 1089184, 1089187, 1089185.