Burn Bans/Fire

Fire destroys Grayson County home -- A fire destroyed a home near Sherman Friday afternoon. It is not clear how the fire started, but southerly winds and an open garage door on the southern side of the home allowed extra air to enter the structure and contribute to the intensity of the fire.
Herald Democrat, Drew Smith, April 7, 2017

Massive Texas tire fire required EPA rescue -- A large tire fire in Odessa, Texas due to hot temperatures. Nearly 100,000 tires caught fire Sunday and the closest fire hydrant was about four miles away, allowing plenty of time for toxic smoke to fill the air. Local firefighters did not have the resources to handle the major fire, so the EPA was called in to provide additional assistance Monday morning. Local residents were warned to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Several roads were shut down due to the thick black smoke.
Gizmodo, Rhett Jones, April 10, 2017

Drought

Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification

Drought fears fade on spring showers -- Most of Texas now has optimal soil moisture as the result of timely spring rainfall. Nearly 85% of the state has adequate moisture, according to the US Drought Monitor. Just 0.01% of Texas is in severe drought, with 1.7% in moderate drought, down from nearly 3% last week. Plainview is ahead of normal rainfall with the year-to-date total of 3.53 inches against an average of 2.92 inches.
Plainview Daily Herald, Doug Mcdonough, April 14, 2017

Drought fear fades amid golfball-size hail -- Marble to golfball-sized hail early Saturday morning due to a slow-moving supercell thunderstorm near Dimmitt caused numerous downed power lines and damage to roofs and windows of homes. Highway 86 and US 385 were closed in all directions outside of Dimmitt due to flooding. Radar estimated rainfall was up to 8 inches from the storm system.
Plainview Daily Herald, Doug McDonough, April 15, 2017

Agriculture/Livestock

Texas Crop and Weather Report -- Above average temperatures throughout late winter and early spring caused researchers to expect an earlier-than-usual emergence of insects. Producers should also be prepared for higher numbers of multi-generational species. Cattle fever ticks continue to be a major problem for producers in South Texas, as the pest has moved north and been found in 41 locations outside the quarantine zone along the Texas-Mexico border. Sugarcane aphids have also caused annual losses in millions of dollars to Texas sorghum producers. The aphids have been spotted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley several weeks earlier than usual this year.
Agrilife Today, Adam Russell, April 4, 2017

Slim pickings predicted for this year’s Hill Country peach crop -- The warm winter was good for most crops around the state, but peach crops, which depend on an adequate number of chill hours, are suffering from the warmer temperatures. Peach farmers estimate nearly 30 percent of their crop is left for harvesting because most buds did not get the blasts of cold temperatures needed to break out of dormancy. Plants that don’t get enough chill hours are slow to leaf out, which typically leads to poorly developed fruit or no fruit at all.
San Antonio Express-News, Lynn Brezosky, April 20, 2017

Texas calf crop looking good – Calf crops across the state are flourishing in the current springtime conditions. Texas pastures and rangelands were improved by unusually warm winter and early spring temperatures along with some spring rainfall events. These conditions allowed enhanced cattle grazing during the late winter and early spring and should continue as small rain events are forecasted for this summer.
Abilene Reporter News, Adam Russell, April 23. 2017

Texas Crop and Weather Report - April 25 -- Crawfish demand has increased significantly this season and producers are expecting a good year. A mild 2016 winter paired with heavy 2017 spring rains in the Texas Coastal Bend region have increased overall crawfish production. With these prime production conditions, crawfish are able to remain active longer and continue to grow allowing for an earlier beginning to the season’s kickoff.
AgriLife Today, Adam Russell, April 25, 2017

Significant Weather

Rainfall/Flooding

What to expect Monday and Tuesday, as rain pounds Central Texas -- Conditions are favorable for heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding. Between one and three inches of rain is expected Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, with locally higher amounts near four inches possible. All of Central Texas has been placed under a slight risk by the Storm Prediction Center. The rain hazards Monday are large hail up to golf balls and damaging straight line winds. The tornado threat is low for Monday.
NBC DFW, Zachary Scott, April 10, 2017

Watch: Water rushes through Texas State as floods hit San Marcos -- Severe weather in San Marcos caused flooding at Texas State University and the closure of many roads in the San Marcos area. Texas State cancelled its afternoon classes at its main campus due to the inclement weather.
The Austin American-Statesman, Eric Webb, April 11, 2017

Heavy storms to elevate flood threat across Texas into Tuesday night -- Heavy thunderstorms and flooding will pose dangers to residents across Texas into Tuesday afternoon. Flash flooding, damaging winds, and large hail were reported throughout the state. A high amount of moisture is expected to be available for these storms to take advantage of, so flash flooding will remain a concern. San Antonio, Houston, and Laredo are among the cities threatened by the severe weather.
AccuWeather, Renee Duff, April 11, 2017

Search continues at Fort Hood for man swept away by Texas Flooding -- The search continued Wednesday for a man swept away from their vehicle at Fort hood early Tuesday as heavy rain caused flash flooding in central Texas. Three other people, including at least one soldier, escaped their respective vehicles Monday night after being caught up in high water on the base.
The Weather Channel, Sean Breslin and Pam Wright, April 12, 2017

Flood watch issued for Lubbock, West Texas as storms move through region -- Lubbock County and much of the South Plains and Rolling Plains are under a flood watch through 7 am Thursday as steady rainfall continues through the overnight hours. A meteorologist for the Lubbock NWS said that low lying areas may become inundated with some section roads becoming impassable. To the east of the Caprock Escarpment, runoff may trigger stream rises resulting in localized flooding.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, A-J Media, April 12, 2017

Showers across portions of Texas this Easter Sunday -- Despite a few showers due to a low pressure system and a passing front, Easter weekend is expected to remain non-severe. Precipitation across the state will be mainly spotty but occasional thunderstorms are possible. By late afternoon, a line of thunderstorms is expected to move into the panhandle, causing heavier showers.
The Weather Network, Mario Picazo, April 14, 2017

Flooding in Texas sends gators on the move -- A sheriff’s deputy in Fort Bend County, on the southwest side of Houston, spotted a massive gator sitting in the road during a thunderstorm. Heavy rain in the region may have forced the gator out into the open. According to senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman of The Weather Channel, a stalled band of rain in Brazoria and Galveston Counties is dropping 2 to 3 inches of rain per hour.
The Weather Channel, Eric Chaney, April 18, 2017

Rain in southeast Texas brings flooding, closes schools -- A storm system has dropped up to 10 inches of rain in parts of southeast Texas, flooding neighborhoods and closing schools. The highest rainfall totals were recorded in Brazoria County where the Danbury school district closed its schools Tuesday after the heavy rains overnight. Danbury and the Santa Fe were affected by waterways such as the Brazos River nearing flood stage.
US News, Staff Writer, April 18, 2017

Flash flooding leaves homes, farms flooded southeast of Houston, Texas -- Strong storms dumped several inches of rain on Santa Fe, southeast of Houston, leaving much of the city under water and flooding some homes. Livestock were displaced to escape the water.
WTVY, Staff Writer, April 19, 2017

Warm Weather

Here’s when you can expect your first 80 and 90 degree temperatures -- On average, the first 80 degree temperature is reached in January in parts of south Texas, including San Antonio. Areas along the Gulf Coast, such as Houston, typically report 80 degrees for the first time in February. The first 90 degree day for this region on average occurs in March to mid-April.
The Weather Channel, Brian Donegan, April 13, 2017

Your Easter Sunday weather forecast for north Texas -- Most of the region will be dry for Easter Sunday, with the best chances for non-severe thunderstorms west and north of the northern Texas area. Highs are expected to be in the upper 70s and low 80s. Scattered storms with lows around the mid 60s are expected for tonight and the rest of the week is expected to be dry.
KDFW, Staff Writer, April 16, 2017

Brisk, Sunny & Mild Day Ahead-- The current dry conditions are expected to continue in Northern Texas through this week exacerbated by southerly winds and high temperatures in the upper 80s. Some heat relief is expect for the end of the week and early into the next as a series of storm systems will bring a few weak cold fronts through the region.
The Dallas Morning News, Staff Writer, April 23, 2017

Scared of snake encounters with warm weather? Stay cool, experts say -- Increased temperatures during the summer usually lead to more snake sightings throughout Texas. During conditions of relatively warm nighttime temperatures some sightings may also occur. The Texas Park and Wildlife Department advise the public to be aware of possible snake sightings with attention to four especially venomous species: western diamondback rattlesnake, the coral snake, the copperhead, and the cottonmouth.
The Austin American-Statesman, Mark D. Wilson, April 25, 2017

Cool/Winter Weather

Heights weekend weather: cooler temps arriving -- Cooler weather is expected this weekend, with precipitation chances low. High temperatures on Saturday will be near 74 degrees with a low of 50 degrees on Monday. Temperatures will heat back up Monday afternoon with a high of 82 degrees.
Houston Heights Patch, James Brock, April 20, 2017

Say it isn’t snow: Cold weather coming to Amarillo, Texas Panhandle -- The National Weather Service predicted snow for regions within the Texas Panhandle on Saturday. An upper-level disturbance-induced cold front forced cold air from the Rockies to be brought down into the area. Precipitation was expected to form from this system and fall as snow due to the unusually cold temperatures. Expected total snowfall values were expected to be about an inch with previous records for this day being approximately 0.2 inches in 1903.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 27, 2017

Snowfall up to 8 inches expected in some Texas Panhandle counties -- According to National Weather Service forecasts, parts of the Texas Panhandle were at risk of severe conditions that could become blizzard-like for periods through Sunday evening. Dallam and Hartley counties were under winter storm warnings through Sunday as strong winds and up to 8 inches of snow were seen. Amarillo and Dumas observed nearly 3 and 6 inches of snow respectively. Flood Watches and advisories were also issued for these areas and some others in Western Texas as thunderstorms dropped up to 5 inches of rain.
Amarillo Globe-News, Staff Writer, April 29, 2017

Crazy West Texas weather brings snow Saturday, sun and 60s expected Sunday -- The significant contrasting nature of Texas weather was seen distinctly during the April 28th weekend. Intense and unusual snowfall events, torrential rain showers, and subfreezing temperatures followed by mild and sunny conditions were observed throughout West Texas and Panhandle. A strong cold front passing through the region during the day Saturday brought on these conditions, with a return to traditional springtime conditions earlier in the next week.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Erica Pauda, April 29, 2017

Severe Weather

First Alert Weather Day: Risk of severe weather increased for parts of East Texas-- The Storm Prediction Center has added a moderate risk for severe weather for the southern half of East Texas, meaning there is a 45% chance of severe weather within 25 miles of the area. Isolated supercell thunderstorms as well as strong tornadoes are possible. All of East Texas is under a slight risk. For Sunday, the risk for tornadoes, strong wind, and hail during the evening and overnight hours is high.
KLTV, Mark Scirto, April 1, 2017

The Latest: Texas trooper: Tornado touches down; no damage-- A tornado touched down near Center Point, Texas, northwest of San Antonio. There were no reports of major or structural damage, however, the National Weather Service office in Austin/San Antonio and Fort Worth received reports of minor wind damage to trees, up to quarter-sized hail, and minor flooding in south central Texas.
Fox News, Staff Writer, April 2, 2017

Storm system pushes east, clear by afternoon-- The severe weather threat is beginning to leave the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the storms push east. A flash flood watch is still in place until 7 pm for several northern counties. I-35 near Waxahachie was shut down due to flooding from the storms, but has since been reopened. The area will be clear of storms by 3 pm, with chances of spotty showers in the evening across North Texas.
WFAA, Kyle Roberts, April 2, 2017

Strong thunderstorms moving east Texas, Louisiana-- A line of strong thunderstorms will continue to move into East Texas and Louisiana Sunday afternoon. Storms may re-fire in the evening, but they are not expected to be severe. Temperatures will continue to drop into the 60s, and most of next week will see highs in the low to mid-80s.
KPRC, Staff Writer, April 2, 2017

Hail, damaging winds possible Monday into Tuesday -- Sunday’s weather will be pleasant with cloudy skies and a high near 85 degrees. Storms will move into Austin Monday, bringing a 60% chance of precipitation with rain continuing through the night. Strong thunderstorms with the potential to produce hail and damaging wind gusts are expected late Monday night into early Tuesday. The Austin area could see 1 to 3 inches of rain with up to 5 inches in isolated areas.
Austin American-Statesman, Nicole Barrios, April 8, 2017

Storm debris collection continues in areas impacted by severe weather -- Over a week has passed since strong storms, which brought three confirmed tornadoes, tore through North Texas. City crews and trucks contracted by the city will make repeated rounds through neighborhoods impacted by the tornadoes to haul debris piles away.
NBC DFW, Ben Russell, April 7, 2017

Storms return to North Texas on Monday -- The next storm system will move into the area Monday and scattered showers are expected to develop as early as Monday morning. Another wave of showers and storms is likely to develop Monday night into Tuesday. The overall severe weather threat is low, but hail and strong straight-line wind damage is not out of the question. Minor flooding is possible between Monday and Tuesday.
KXAS-TV, Brian James, April 9, 2017

Portions of East Texas under tornado warning as storm system pushed through -- Gregg and Rusk Counties remain under a tornado warning until 8:55 pm. Portions of East Texas were under a tornado warning, and Smith County was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 pm Monday. A funnel cloud was spotted around 8:15 near Kilgore, moving at a rate of about 20 mph. There also was a risk of severe thunderstorms and possibly some isolated large hail through the evening.
Tyler Morning Telegraph, Staff Writer, April 10, 2017

Weather Service: Tornado touched down in Central Texas -- The NWS reported an EF-0 tornado in Central Texas with winds of 65 to 85 mph touched down around 10:45 pm Monday in the Mart area, damaging trees and a few buildings in the area of the Battle Lake Golf Course. No injuries or major damage was noted.
KWTX, Staff Writer, April 11, 2017

Car window shattered in Sierra Blanca as storms pound Western Texas -- Damaging storms in west Texas Wednesday afternoon and evening produced hail large enough to know out a car’s window. Hailstones as large as two and a half inches in diameter fell on the town-- the largest hail reported in Texas during the afternoon.
The Weather Channel, Sean Breslin, April 12, 2017

Search continues at Fort Hood for man swept away by Texas flooding -- The search continued Wednesday for an individual swept away from their vehicle at Fort Hood early Tuesday as heavy rain caused flash flooding in central Texas. According to a Fort Hood statement issued late Tuesday, the person’’s vehicle had been located but not the driver.
The Weather Channel, Sean Breslin and Pam Wright, April 13, 2017

Significant mile-wide tornado, rated EF3, damages several homes near Dimmitt, Texas -- A supercell thunderstorm in the panhandle Friday evening spawned multiple tornadoes, including an EF3 a mile wide just outside Dimmitt. Storm reports include baseball size hail and the destruction of a metal building that was displaced hundreds of feet northwest of its original location.
The Weather Channel, Staff Writer, April 16, 2017

Texas getting early start in tornado season -- According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Texas has nearly 70 reported tornadoes so far in 2017. Between January 1 and April 17, there have been 69 tornadoes, 214 hail reports, and 293 wind reports across the state. Typically, Texas sees 140 tornadoes per year with most occurring in April-June.
KVUE, Staff Writer, April 17, 2017

Supercell storm produces large tornado in Texas panhandle Friday -- A tornado near Dimmitt has been classified as an EF-3 with winds near 140 mph. Damage from the tornado includes throwing a metal building hundreds of feet away from its original location. The tornado was on the ground for about four and a half miles and also damaged several homes in the community.
WTVY, Sean Sporman, April 17, 2017

Strong storms forecast for North Texas, southern plains -- Severe thunderstorms with strong winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes are forecasted for this weekend in north Texas. The Storm Prediction Center says tornadoes are possible in northeast Texas and storms are expected to continue into Friday night before moving out of the region early Saturday.
NBC DFW, Staff Writer, April 21, 2017

Friday’s severe weather right on schedule -- A cold front pushing through north Texas will cause thunderstorms with the potential to turn severe. The convective outlook produced by the Storm Prediction Center has a slight and enhanced risk of severe storms in North Texas. April and May are the most active months for severe weather in North Texas, and the severe weather today is exactly where is is climatologically predicted to occur.
NBC DFW, Samantha Davies, April 21, 2017

Late-night storms bring baseball-size hail to Collin County-- Severe weather across north Texas pummeled Collin County with baseball-sized hail. Richardson and Plano saw hail up to 2 inches in diameter. Damage included broken windshields, windows, and significant hail damage to cats.
Dallas Morning News, Reece Kelley Graham, April 22, 2017

Tornado, Flooding, Golf Ball-Sized Hail as Severe Weather Moves Into Midwest, South -- A line of dangerous severe weather producing an EF1 tornado in southwestern Oklahoma also led to flooding and golf ball-sized hail, which fell in parts of Northern Texas, confirmed by weather spotter reports. This line of severe weather extends from eastern Texas into Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. The line may be expected to contain discrete supercells where tornadoes may possibly occur.
The Weather Channel, Eric Chaney & Ada Carr, April 26, 2017

National Weather Service Issues Severe Thunderstorm Watch for North Texas -- Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for areas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as strong storms pushed through the region, bringing damaging hail and winds. Nearly 20,000 residents lost power on Wednesday due to this strong line of storms. A cold front bringing cooler air passed through the area later on Wednesday, though intense severe storms are expected to return for the upcoming weekend.
NBC DFW, Staff Writer, April 26, 2017

First Alert Weather Day: Late Saturday afternoon through Saturday Night -- East Texas was designated an “Enhanced Risk” area by the Storm Prediction Center during the late afternoon and night as a strong cold front moved through the region where a very warm and moist air mass was present. A 30 percent chance of severe weather including large hail, strong wind gusts, flooding rain values, and isolated tornadoes were forecasted to occur in the East Texas Region.
KLTV, Chief Meteorologist Mark Scirto, April 28, 2017

Large Tornado Hits Canton, Texas, East of Dallas; 1 Killed, 49 Injured -- A destructive tornado left 1 person dead and at least 49 injured in Canton, Texas Saturday Evening. The National Weather Service issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” tornado warning for this area where thousands had gathered for the “First Monday Trade Days Market”. Major damage to the town including the complete demolition of a car dealership, vehicle upheavals from the street onto the adjacent highway, and the loss of life were some of the most devastating effects. This tornado and two others that passed through subsequently also affected the towns of Caney City and Emory.
The Weather Channel, Sean Breslin, April 29, 2017

Parishioners survive East Texas tornado inside church ‘by the grace of God’ -- About 45 people gathered in the St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Emory, Texas during the passage of the Emory tornado Saturday night. The tornado was a direct hit to the church though no person was harmed during the event. Significant damage was sustained by the church and surrounding area structures. Many witnesses of the event deem it miraculous no injuries were observed as the church was nearly completely destroyed.
KSAT, Gisela Crespo, April 30, 2017

Other Climate Impacts

Economics/Technology

Collin County Rated Stormiest in Texas: Report-- Storms in Texas affect more cities in Collin County than any other part of the state, according to an Allstate Insurance report. This report assessed the top 25 Texas counties impacted by severe weather, identifying areas with high wind, hail, and lightning related homeowner property damage claims.
NBC DFW, Courtney Gilmore, April 3, 2017

Next time your roof gets hit by hail, a drone may inspect damage -- After a Denton resident’s roof was damaged by hail, her insurance company told her a drone was sent to inspect the damage. The four-propeller drone with a camera attached hovered over the hail-damaged roof. The use of drones for insurance purposes is expected to increase in the future.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bill Hanna, April 5, 2017

Wind to power 7-Eleven stores in Texas-- 7-Eleven, a Texas based company, has agreed to allow 425 of its stores in the state to be powered 100% by electricity generated from Texas wind farms under TXU Energy. The agreement will begin in June 2018 and will last for eight years.
Wind Power Monthly, Staff Writer, April 4, 2017

Green Texas -- Texas has triple the amount of wind energy than any other state with over 11,000 wind turbines that can produce more than 20,000 megawatts of energy. Texas’s use of renewable energy has helped the United States reduce its carbon footprint and encourage green technology.
Houston Chronicle, Spencer Platt, April 6, 2017

Congress passes bill to help future of weather forecasting -- A bill that passed Congress aims at improving the quality of both short and long range high impact weather events and their effects. The bill gives NOAA and the National Weather Service the ability to establish a number of programs to enhance forecasting and alerts. If signed by Trump, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act will be the first major weather legislation enacted in more than a decade.
The Weather Network, Dalia Ibrahim, April 6, 2017

In windswept West Texas, Austin energy’s future is powers by the sun -- A new solar plant is Austin’s latest plan to combat climate change by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. With solar prices dropping, the city expects to make money from the savings in 10 years without any carbon costs. The Southern Power-owned facilities have 1.2 million solar panels capable of generating 120 megawatts of electricity.
Austin American-Statesman, Nolan Hicks, April 8, 2017

‘Brave New Workers’: A Texas cowboy finds fortune in the wind -- A West Texas farmer spent 10 years herding cattle through intermittent seasons of low rainfall until a prolonged drought in the mid-2000s finally proved too much to handle. That’s when he decided to pursue a career in the wind farm business as an Operations and Maintenance Manager for Invenergy, overseeing wind farms and 27 wind turbine technicians in Texas. Texas currently produces the most wind energy of any state in the country. This year, “wind turbine technician” was named the fastest growing job in the country.
NPR, Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, April 9, 2017

Someone hacked every tornado siren in Dallas. It was loud.-- On Friday night, 18 minutes before midnight, every one of Dallas’s 156 emergency weather sirens started sounding. The sirens are meant to warn residents of a tornado or dangerous storm. They blared for an hour and a half due to a hacker in the Dallas area
The Washington Post, Avi Selk, April 9, 2017

East Texas officials talk severe weather response plan, announce participation in registry to find elderly, disabled people during disasters -- The city of Tyler will participate in a statewide initiative to help find elderly and disabled people during disasters. The free online registry allows people with disabilities or with other functional needs to be accounted for during an emergency. The plan also encourages people to get CPR training.
Tyler Morning Telegraph, Faith Harper, April 19, 2017

Emergency supplies available tax-free -- Since severe weather season is full force across north Texas, emergency items such as batteries, fuel containers, first aid kits, flashlights, phone chargers, and others, will be tax-free this weekend through Monday. Local emergency management officials have set up a website to help residents create personalized disaster plans for any situation tailored to the north Texas region.
CBS DFW, Jennifer Lindgren, April 21, 2017

Canton Car Dealership Takes Direct Hit from Tornado -- The Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Canton saw some of the greatest impacts of the 2017 Canton Tornado as it tore through the town Saturday evening. The widespread damage caused demolition to the showroom and maintenance facility as dozens of cars and trucks were lifted into the air and thrown back down into the structure and parking lot. Many cars were left on their sides and upside down. No patrons were at the dealership at the time of the tornado’s passage.
NBC DFW, Scott Gordon, April 30, 2017

Roads/Traffic/Travel

Cameras, warning lights, flood gauges in Harris County improve flood safety-- Between the Memorial Day flood of 2015, which dumped 162 billion gallons of rain in Harris County and the Tax Day floods a year later, which produced nearly 240 billion gallons of rain, 13 people lost their lives after drowning in their vehicles. To improve flood safety, cameras, warning lights, and updated flood gauges were installed as well as gates to block vehicles from entering flooded areas.
KTRK, Travis Herzog, April 5

Recreation/Leisure/Athletics

River Parade held under flawless weather -- Warm temperatures and light wind provided the perfect conditions for the annual Texas Cavaliers River Parade in San Antonio, Texas. This was a welcome change from the previous year where persistent severe weather during the day nearly caused a cancellation of the event.
San Antonio Express-News, Silvia Foster-Frau & Lauren Caruba