Thunderstorms moving through Dallas-Fort Worth prompt multiple severe weather watches, warnings

Unseasonably warm temperatures, plenty of moisture in the air, and a strong cold front fueled strong thunderstorms Friday, prompting multiple severe weather warnings and watches across North Texas.

Some storms produced hail and strong winds some areas, but by 7:30 p.m., the main line of storms had moved east of Dallas-Fort Worth.

“The metroplex has seen the worst of it,” said Steve Fano, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “Given the parameters, it could have been a lot worse.”

The main focus now is a strong cold front will which take North Texas from the 60s Friday night into the mid-30 by early Saturday, he said. A few snowflakes are possible in the morning across North Texas, but no accumulations are expected, according to Fano.

Watches and warnings

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for most of North Texas — including Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties — until 9 p.m. Friday. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadic activity, but it does not mean tornadoes have been spotted in the area.

The service also issued a flash flood watch for those counties. It’s set to expire at 3 a.m. Saturday.

A tornado warning was issued for Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Hebron, Plano and surrounding areas until 7 p.m. Wind damage was reported near Interstate 635 and MacArthur Boulevard, according to the weather service. Circulation with a storm moving through that area weakened, and the warning was allowed to expire.

The weather service received reports of a funnel cloud near Parks Mall in Arlington around 6:20 p.m. A tornado warning was issued for parts of south Tarrant County and western Dallas County — including Arlington, Carrollton and Grapevine — until 6:45 p.m, but it was canceled early as the threat of tornadic activity lessened.

Tornado sirens were heard in southeast Arlington, and 1.5-inch hail was reported in Everman. The weather service also received reports of a funnel cloud in the Joshua area around 5:45 p.m.

Video on social media showed flooding in the lobby of Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Burleson. No patients were affected.

In addition, a 4,700 square-foot home in Burleson was gutted in a fire that officials attributed to a lightning strike.

Earlier in the afternoon, the weather service issued several tornado warnings for portions of Cooke, Ellis, Kaufman, Bosque, Erath, Henderson, Navarro and Somervell counties. No tornadoes had been confirmed in those areas, and the warnings were allowed to expire by 5:15 p.m.

Because most of the storms arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth after sunset, Fano said it’s possible more reports of wind damage will come in Saturday morning.

Early dismissals

Ahead of the storms, some North Texas schools asked parents to pick up their children early, and some businesses sent employees home early.

Primrose School of Richardson sent out a notice to parents asking that children be picked up before 3 p.m. The Episcopal School of Dallas planned to begin dismissing students at 1 p.m.

Dallas and Richardson independent school districts canceled all after-school and evening activities Friday.

Non-essential personnel for Dallas County were allowed to leave early.

Delays and cancellations

At DFW International Airport, at least 149 flights were canceled and 114 more delayed, according to FlightAware. Planes at DFW Airport were under a temporary ground stop, and ramps were briefly closed as severe weather moved through the area.

At Dallas Love Field, at least 140 flights were canceled and 105 more delayed.

Southwest Airlines had 55 cancellations at Love Field as of 2 p.m. Friday, according to airline spokeswoman Ro Hawthorne.

“Our main focus is on the safety of our customers and employees while making sure our flights operate safely to their destinations,” Hawthorne said in an email. “We are coordinating closely with local air traffic controllers, tracking the storms and adjusting where needed.”

State preparations

Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday placed several state resources on standby ahead of severe weather affecting the state.

“All residents should heed warnings from local officials and pay attention to weather alerts,” Abbott said in statement. “I ask that all Texans keep those in the storm’s path and all of Texas’ first-responders in their prayers as they deal with the effects of this storm.”

The resources — including boats, helicopters, rescue teams, medical strike teams and volunteer organizations — were to be available to assist local officials as needed.

Weekend forecast

Showers could linger into Saturday morning, then the rest of the weekend looks dry and cold. Although chances are low, areas north of Dallas-Fort Worth, along the Red River, could see some snow early Saturday, but no significant accumulations are expected, the weather service said.

Temperatures Saturday aren’t expected to get out of the 40s, and lows in the 30s are forecast through the end of the weekend, KXAS-TV (NBC5) meteorologist Grant Johnston said. Sunday will be mild, with highs expected in the low 60s.

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Here’s what KXAS-TV (NBC5) has in the forecast:

Saturday: 43/34; morning showers

Sunday: 62/31

Monday: 67/41

Tuesday: 70/52

Wednesday: 68/51