Large hail, tornado threat across Dallas-Fort Worth as severe thunderstorms arrive

David Montesino
·2 min read
15

Threat of large hail and possible tornadoes will come with new severe thunderstorms expected to move into Central and North Texas mere hours after the peak of totality of the solar eclipse Monday, according to a National Weather Service Fort Worth office report.

The series of thunderstorms moving northward into the region, pushed along by a boundary of unstable air, will approach the I-20 corridor as early as 3-4 p.m. Monday.

“The western edge of this activity is more uncertain, with the highest confidence of storms being located near and east of I-35 through most of the evening; however, there is a threat for severe storms across the entirety of North & Central TX,” Fort Worth meteorologist Madison Gordon wrote on the NWS website.

Severe thunderstorm chances return Monday, after the eclipse. There may only be a short window (1-2 hours) between the eclipse and strong to severe storms for some areas. National Weather Service
Severe thunderstorm chances return Monday, after the eclipse. There may only be a short window (1-2 hours) between the eclipse and strong to severe storms for some areas. National Weather Service

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The turn in weather will surely interfere with post-eclipse clean up and travel. Many Texas towns on the enviable spine of totality have parlayed their good fortune as willing hosts to this heavenly soiree. Millions are expected to travel south to Texas to experience the once-in-a-lifetime celestial phenomenon.

“Attention must quickly turn to the threat for severe weather beginning shortly after the eclipse Monday afternoon and evening when large hail and some tornadoes are possible,” Fort Worth meteorologist Matt Stalley wrote on the NWS website.

Here’s what to know about the coming storms, per the weather service report:

  • The development of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in the mid to late afternoon Monday — likely starting ~3-4 PM — may only give a brief window of time to wrap up any eclipse activities.

  • The storms are still expected to increase in coverage across the entire region going into the evening hours Monday with all hazards possible.

  • The coverage of storms Tuesday and into Wednesday will again be messy with scattered to numerous thunderstorms expected to develop. A threat for severe weather of all hazards exists for all of North and Central Texas once again. The flooding threat also increases during this time, especially east of I-35.

  • Most rain is expected to exit the region by Thursday.