An upper level disturbance kicked off a round of nocturnal thunderstorms during the overnight hours of Thursday March 23 into Friday March 24. Storms were focused along both a dryline as it entered from the west, and a cold front as it entered from the northwest.
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 disturbance kicked off a round of nocturnal thunderstorms during the overnight hours of Thursday March 23 into Friday March 24. Storms were focused along both a dryline as it entered from the west, and a cold front as it entered from the northwest. Severe storms produced damaging winds and hail, and two EF-1 tornadoes occurred that resulted in 3 injuries.
Isolated thunderstorms also occurred within a plume of Pacific moisture on March 27, but these storms remained sub-severe.
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 Mar 23, 11:06 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1206 AM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023 ...New Short Term, Aviation... .SHORT TERM... /NEW/ /Through Saturday/ An active period of weather is expected overnight through Friday morning as a shortwave trough over the Four Corners moves steadily east into the Southern Plains. Thunderstorms have been developing along a surface frontal system located just to the northwest of the region. The cold front extends northeastward from a surface low (located near Bowie at 12 AM), with a Pacific front/dryline hybrid extending southwest from the low. Northeast storm motion has so far kept convection out of the CWA, but this will eventually change as the shortwave begins to emerge in the Texas Panhandle, the dryline surges east, and the cold front enters from the northwest. Recent runs of convection-allowing models indicate a rapid increase in convection along the dryline near the western CWA border around 07Z or 2 AM CDT. Storms will then spread east to near the Interstate 35 corridor around 11Z (6AM), which should make for a wet commute for many in the DFW Metroplex. Activity will be weakening by then, and should continue to weaken as it pushes east of the I-35 corridor. Storms may re-intensify, however, before noon as diurnal instability increases, and a few strong storms with small hail and gusty winds could occur before all activity exits to the east in the early afternoon. The overall severe threat will be highest across the western-most counties where the best instability will exist, with probabilities generally lowering the farther east it reaches. Recently issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch 73 captures this area well, and is in effect until 6 AM for areas generally along and west of a line from Gainesville to Goldthwaite. The highest storm coverage and highest POPs will be along and north of I-20 where the strongest ascent will reside, with lower POPs the farther south you go. Cooler and drier air will enter behind the front, with Friday night lows dropping into the 40s and lower 50s. Seasonably warm and pleasant conditions are expected on Saturday, with afternoon highs generally in the 70s. 30 && .LONG TERM... /Issued 359 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2023/ /This Weekend Onward/ Despite additional rain chances late this weekend and again around mid-week next week, generally quieter weather is expected through the extended period. As alluded to above, temperatures on Saturday will be milder than the past few days though still near to above normal with highs in the 70s as downslope flow continues unabated. Though gusty post-frontal winds should slacken by the weekend, modestly breezy west winds (10-15 mph) coincident with afternoon RH falling below 20 percent may be sufficient for the emergence of elevated to near critical fire weather conditions primarily along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor. The primary caveats to this potential fire weather threat will be how much wind speeds ease and how receptive fuels are to fire spread due to the potential for wetting rainfall in the short term forecast period. Wind speeds will continue to weaken late Saturday as the mid- level trough and attendant surface low pull away. Zonal flow aloft will become more southwesterly on Sunday as a low amplitude shortwave shifts across the Rockies from the Great Basin/Intermountain West. At the surface, the quasi-stationary boundary (formerly the late week Pacific cold front) that will be located over the northwestern Gulf will attempt to move back onshore as a warm front. There remains some notable uncertainty related to how far northward this boundary will progress, however increasingly cloudy skies and low rain chances (less than 30%) will likely begin encroaching into our southeastern zones as moisture surges inland. A cold front will begin pushing into our northwestern zones Sunday morning marked by a wind shift to the northwest though afternoon temperatures are still likely to reach the 70s as CAA lags behind the surface boundary. Early next week, surface high pressure will spread through the Plains with a gradual fall in temperatures Monday and Tuesday as cooler continental air finally arrives. Highs on Tuesday will range from the lower 60s along the Red River to the lower 70s across Central Texas. Another round of showers and even a few thunderstorms are likely mid to late week as a deep upper trough approaches. 12 && .AVIATION... /NEW/ /06Z TAFs/ MVFR cigs have surged north and should remain in place overnight. Thunderstorms west of DFW area TAF sites will increase in coverage 07-09Z, and will move east into the DFW Metroplex 10-12Z. TS coverage will be lower across Central Texas, so will indicate VCTS only at KACT from 13-17Z. A shift to southwest winds will accompany the convection, with a shift to northwest winds 16-17Z in the Metroplex with FROPA. Winds should decrease in speed and back to the west-southwest, along with improvement to VFR, by 24/23Z. 30 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 65 77 52 76 47 / 80 70 0 0 0 Waco 65 81 51 77 48 / 40 70 0 0 0 Paris 65 72 48 71 44 / 60 90 5 0 0 Denton 61 74 47 74 42 / 80 70 0 0 0 McKinney 64 75 49 74 44 / 70 80 0 0 0 Dallas 65 78 53 76 48 / 70 70 0 0 0 Terrell 66 76 49 75 46 / 50 90 0 0 0 Corsicana 68 79 50 78 49 / 20 80 0 0 0 Temple 65 83 49 79 49 / 20 60 0 0 0 Mineral Wells 60 77 47 76 43 / 70 50 0 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1132 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2023 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-250000- 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- 1132 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Increasing storm coverage is expected along and ahead of a cold front after midnight into Friday morning. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats across mainly western portions of North and Central Texas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. There is a chance of storms generally along and east of Interstate 35 during the day Friday. A few storms may contain hail and gusty winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Limited spotter activation may be requested west of the I-35 corridor overnight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1123 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2023
TXZ100-240500-
Young TX-
1123 PM CDT Thu Mar 23 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Young
County through MIDNIGHT CDT...
At 1123 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Elbert, or 12 miles west of Olney, moving northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch 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...
Olney and Padgett.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
north central Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3340 9895 3339 9842 3337 9842 3321 9895
TIME...MOT...LOC 0423Z 245DEG 51KT 3336 9897
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
LangfeldSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1202 AM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023
TXZ100-240530-
Young TX-
1202 AM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Young
County through 1230 AM CDT...
At 1201 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles east of Woodson, or 16 miles north of Breckenridge, moving
northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny 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...
Graham, Lake Graham, Newcastle, Murray and South Bend.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
north central Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3309 9895 3325 9860 3301 9843 3296 9889
3296 9895
TIME...MOT...LOC 0501Z 245DEG 49KT 3299 9893
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
LangfeldSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1243 AM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023
TXZ091-240615-
Montague TX-
1243 AM CDT Fri Mar 24 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Montague County
through 115 AM CDT...
At 1243 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bowie, moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Bowie, Nocona, St. Jo, Lake Nocona, Sunset, Lake Amon G Carter,
Nocona Hills, Montague, Fruitland, Capps Corner, Forestburg,
Ringgold, Spanish Fort, Stoneburg, Belcherville, Mallard, Bonita and
Illinois Bend.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 AM CDT for
north central Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 9763 3395 9759 3392 9760 3390 9758
3390 9755 3392 9749 3344 9749 3344 9798
3389 9798 3385 9787 3386 9783 3388 9782
3388 9780 3390 9780 3390 9778 3392 9778
3391 9776 3394 9776 3394 9773 3399 9768
TIME...MOT...LOC 0543Z 248DEG 46KT 3356 9782
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH
30The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:25 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Half inch hail and 60 mph winds were reported in Gainesville.
Quarter size hail was reported just north of Whitesboro.
Scattered broken tree limbs and missing shingles were reported. Additionally, a tree 10 inches in diameter was uprooted and sheet metal was torn off of a shed.
A 71 mph wind gust was measured by a personal weather station 3 miles west of Whitesboro.
Half-dollar size hail was reported 3 miles north of Sadler.
Quarter size hail was reported in Gordonville.
A home weather station measured a 59 mph wind gust.
The Mineral Wells Airport ASOS measured a 60 mph wind gust.
The tornado developed on the southwest side of Whitt near Bounty Rd where an untethered large RV trailer was rolled upside down. There were 2 injuries reported with the damage in this area. Tree damage spans from Whitt Cut Off Road to Middleton Road and includes snapped trunks and large broken branches. As the tornado moved northeast towards the Wise County line, it caused damage to the roof of a metal building near Leech Road and rolled another untethered large RV trailer on its side along Lone Star Rd. The tornado appears to have lifted before reaching Advance Rd. Maximum estimated winds were 100 mph.
The tornado developed along Pine Road west of Poolville, where the roof of a single family home sustained damaged. As the tornado tracked northeast, it produced extensive damage to trees across the northwestern side of Poolville including snapped trunks and uprooted trees. Structural damage includes the uplift and overturning of a metal garage structure near the intersection of Pine Road and Lone Star Road, roof and siding damage to a few single family residences, and the complete collapse of a large covered pavilion roof near the Poolville Cemetery. The tornado continued to move north-northeast towards the Wise County line producing additional damage to trees and several outdoor buildings along Clover Drive. Multiple manufactured homes along and just south of Highway 199 were damaged as the tornado crossed the county line, and 3 injuries reported in Wise County with damage in this area. The tornado appears to have lifted as it crossed Highway 199 with isolated damage noted beyond the end of the tornado track.
This is a continuation of a tornado that began in Parker County. The tornado developed along Pine Road west of Poolville, where the roof of a single family home sustained damaged. As the tornado tracked northeast, it produced extensive damage to trees across the northwestern side of Poolville including snapped trunks and uprooted trees. Structural damage includes the uplift and overturning of a metal garage structure near the intersection of Pine Road and Lone Star Road, roof and siding damage to a few single family residences, and the complete collapse of a large covered pavilion roof near the Poolville Cemetery. The tornado continued to move north-northeast towards the Wise County line producing additional damage to trees and several outdoor buildings along Clover Drive. Multiple manufactured homes along and just south of Highway 199 were damaged as the tornado crossed the county line. There were 3 injuries reported with damage in this area. The tornado appears to have lifted as it crossed Highway 199 with isolated damage noted beyond the end of the tornado track.
Damage to a car and an outbuilding was reported along PR 3863 near the end of a tornado track.
Sporadic wind damage was reported from southwest of Cottondale to south of Decatur. The damage mostly consisted of tree damage, damage to outbuildings and barns, and power poles.
Sporadic downed trees as well as minor roof and structure damage to houses were reported along County Road 3633. Time was estimated via radar.
Sporadic downed trees were reported near Private Road 3496. Time was estimated via radar.
A trained spotter measured a 62 mph wind gust in Cottondale.
A trained spotter measured a 71 mph wind gust via a personal weather station in Decatur.
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, March 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: 1090685, 1090665, 1090668, 1090686, 1090666, 1090667, 1090687, 1090688, 1087762, 1087763, 1087764, 1092447, 1092448, 1090683, 1090684, 1090689, 1090690, 1090525.