Late-night thunderstorms barreled across parts of North Texas early today, pelting neighborhoods with marble-size hail and whipping up gusty winds that kept weather alerts active well into the predawn hours. The fast-moving line also delivered frequent lightning and heavy downpours, with forecasters warning of localized flooding in low-lying spots.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth pushed out an updated advisory just after 1 a.m., cautioning that storms could produce hail up to 0.5 inches in diameter and wind gusts as high as 40 mph. The office refreshed its online storm maps in the early morning as the line marched east. According to the National Weather Service Fort Worth office, hail, gusty winds and frequent lightning were the main hazards with this round.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s live coverage noted that the NWS issued a 1:14 a.m. update for counties including Hood, Johnson, Somervell and Ellis, with the alert set to expire around 2:15 a.m. The paper shared projected arrival times for towns from Cleburne toward Whitney as the storms pushed east. As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, residents in the path were urged to head for shelter immediately if the storm was closing in.
Storm Track and Timing
Doppler radar showed a line of storms stretching from near Cleburne State Park toward Meridian and southeast Hamilton County, sliding east at roughly 35 mph. That pace shoved the most intense cores into Hill County and nearby areas during the early morning, with the strongest cells typically rolling over individual towns in quick 5 to 20 minute bursts. According to the National Weather Service Fort Worth office, the primary short-term concerns remained hail, damaging gusts and lightning.
Safety Tips
Emergency guidance calls for anyone in the storm’s path to move inside a sturdy building or vehicle and to avoid driving through flooded roadways, no matter how shallow the water appears. Officials also recommend waiting 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before heading back outside and staying away from windows until the worst has passed. As summarized by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, keep wireless alerts enabled and go indoors right away if you hear thunder.
Forecasters expect storms to weaken as they continue to push east, although scattered showers could redevelop later in the day. Residents are urged to monitor local forecast updates and follow any additional warnings from emergency officials.
