A fast-building storm cell near Lake Weatherford briefly put parts of Parker and Tarrant counties on edge yesterday afternoon, as radar flagged a severe thunderstorm capable of large hail and damaging winds. Everman Emergency Services pushed out the warning on Facebook, then later updated followers that the alert had either expired or been replaced by a newer advisory. Residents in Fort Worth, Weatherford, and nearby communities were told to head indoors and stay put while the line of storms moved through.
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth issued the warning around 3:40 p.m., calling out a storm moving southeast with the potential for wind gusts near 60 mph and hail strong enough to dent vehicles. The bulletin, which was in effect for a short mid-afternoon window, warned of likely damage to roofs, siding, and trees and listed Fort Worth, Weatherford, Benbrook, and several smaller communities in Parker and Tarrant counties, according to the Star-Telegram.
What the warning said
The official product described a "radar indicated" threat for both hail and strong winds, with maximum hail around half-dollar size and gusts near 60 mph, along with the blunt line, "Hail damage to vehicles is expected." Forecasters tracked the core of the storm near Lake Weatherford, moving southeast at roughly 20 to 25 mph during the advisory, according to alerts from the National Weather Service Fort Worth.
Where it was headed
The warning area stretched from Weatherford toward Fort Worth and included Willow Park, Aledo, Hudson Oaks, Annetta, and Benbrook, along with a specific stretch of Interstate 20 between mile markers 409 and 432. Local coverage repeated the full list of towns and highway segments that fell under the alert, which were mapped out in the initial bulletin, as reported by the Star-Telegram.
How to stay safe
The National Weather Service urged anyone in the path of the storm to move into a sturdy building, stay away from windows, and avoid driving until the worst of the weather passed. Local emergency responders echoed that guidance in their Facebook updates and reminded residents to call in reports of downed trees or live power lines rather than trying to handle any damage themselves. For current watches and warnings in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, officials advise checking updates from the National Weather Service Fort Worth along with local emergency channels.
