A fast-moving line of storms muscled into Denton County yesterday, triggering a severe thunderstorm warning and raising alarms over quarter-size hail and damaging wind gusts. Radar showed the main cell tracking near Krum and pushing north at roughly 20 mph, with the setup ripe for vehicle and roof damage across nearby suburbs. The warning area stretched from central Denton to Lake Ray Roberts and covered a portion of Interstate 35 into the late afternoon.
NWS warning details
According to the National Weather Service Fort Worth, the warning was issued at 5:04 p.m. CDT and was set to expire at 5:45 p.m. Radar indicated hail up to 1.00 inch in diameter and wind gusts near 60 mph, the agency said, warning that those hazards could damage vehicles, roofs, siding, and trees.
Towns and roads in the warning
As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the bulletin called out Denton, Sanger, Krum, Ponder, Dish, Stony, Bolivar, and Lake Ray Roberts as locations inside the warned area. The alert also covered Interstate 35 between mile markers 473 and 481 - a busy commuter stretch that can quickly turn treacherous in hail and high winds. Local traffic officials typically urge drivers to slow down, pull over safely if visibility collapses, and steer clear of low-water crossings during heavy rain.
Lightning and broader hazards
According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms produce an estimated 20 to 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in the U.S. each year, and lightning still causes roughly 20 fatalities annually. The agency recommends heading indoors at the first sound of thunder and waiting 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside. That advice becomes even more critical when storms are also tossing hail and knocking down branches with strong winds.
How to stay safe
If you are in the warned area, move into a sturdy building right away and stay away from windows, since vehicles do not provide reliable protection from large hail. Drivers should flip on headlights, reduce speed, and avoid flooded or debris-strewn lanes, guidance summarized by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. If an indoor option is not available, avoid open fields and isolated trees, and keep some space between people in a group to reduce the chance of multiple lightning injuries.
Local context
North Texas has been stuck in a stormy pattern this week. Earlier in the week, Hoodline noted cells that dropped penny-size hail and 60 mph winds in Weatherford. Residents are urged to stay tuned to local alerts and NOAA Weather Radio for any additional warnings or late-day changes to the forecast.
