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Hail and High Winds Hit Texas as Severe Weather Lashes East Coast Hail and High Winds Hit Texas as Severe Weather Lashes East Coast
(about 2 hours later)
Tornadoes, hail the size of baseballs and possible hurricane-strength winds threatened to sweep through parts of central Texas on Friday, while a spate of severe weather with thunderstorms stretched along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast states, forecasters said. Strong winds and golf-ball sized hail pummeled central Texas on Friday as a powerful storm system coursed through the state and headed eastward, threatening southern Georgia and Florida with a similar blend of dangerous weather into the weekend, forecasters said.
Destructive hail possibly three or more inches in size and wind gusts of up to at least 75 miles per hour were bearing down on central Texas on Friday evening, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said. As of late Friday night, there were no reports of widespread damage in Texas. But the storm had still “lived up to its potential,” producing thunderstorms that put millions of people on alert and wind speeds as high as 76 miles per hour in areas near Dallas and Fort Worth, said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
A few tornadoes could be in the mix, from North Central Texas into the southwestern part of the state and portions of the Rio Grande Valley, the forecast desk, in College Park, Md., predicted. A severe thunderstorm watch had been issued for large population centers, including the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas. The region south of Dallas-Fort Worth had been under a tornado watch, but no tornadoes were confirmed, though there were reports of one near Fort Hood.
Large population centers including the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas were bracing for damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. Late Friday night, a severe thunderstorm watch was still in place for parts of Texas along the southeastern coastline, according to the Weather Service. Mr. Oravec said the severe weather threat was expected to dissipate around midnight before the storm moved across the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.
On Friday afternoon, there were reports of a possible tornado near Fort Hood, the U.S. Army base outside Killeen, Texas. A tornado watch was in effect until 8 p.m. Central for the region south of Dallas, including Waco, Hillsboro, Temple and Mexia.
More than 13 million people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding counties were under a severe thunderstorm watch at about 7 p.m. on Friday, according to the Weather Service.
Along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast on Friday, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across a broad swath of states, the Weather Service said. Multiple rounds of moderate-to-heavy rainfall will last through Sunday morning, tracking northeast through the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, it said.Along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast on Friday, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across a broad swath of states, the Weather Service said. Multiple rounds of moderate-to-heavy rainfall will last through Sunday morning, tracking northeast through the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, it said.
The severe weather prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit on Friday.The severe weather prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit on Friday.
Areas from Northern Virginia through New Jersey could get up to 2 inches of rainfall, though some areas could get 3 inches or more, meteorologists said.Areas from Northern Virginia through New Jersey could get up to 2 inches of rainfall, though some areas could get 3 inches or more, meteorologists said.
The storms on Friday followed several days of severe weather in the central and southern United States.The storms on Friday followed several days of severe weather in the central and southern United States.
At least three tornadoes hit Florida late Thursday, the worst of them striking just before 4 p.m. in the unincorporated community of Hosford, about 30 miles west of Tallahassee, said Wright Dobbs, a meteorologist with the Weather Service. And on Wednesday, hail as large as baseballs fell in Texas and thunderstorms whipped across parts of the South.At least three tornadoes hit Florida late Thursday, the worst of them striking just before 4 p.m. in the unincorporated community of Hosford, about 30 miles west of Tallahassee, said Wright Dobbs, a meteorologist with the Weather Service. And on Wednesday, hail as large as baseballs fell in Texas and thunderstorms whipped across parts of the South.
On Friday, the Liberty County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office said deputies were assessing the extent of the destruction in Hosford overnight, identifying residential areas and roads that were damaged by the tornadoes and in need of debris removal. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but homes were damaged and there were downed trees and power lines, according to local officials.On Friday, the Liberty County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office said deputies were assessing the extent of the destruction in Hosford overnight, identifying residential areas and roads that were damaged by the tornadoes and in need of debris removal. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but homes were damaged and there were downed trees and power lines, according to local officials.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not uncommon at this time of year — Florida was inundated with torrential rain earlier this month. Less common, however, was the large hail that was reported across the region in the past several days, said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast desk in College Park. “That’s unusual,” he said.Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not uncommon at this time of year — Florida was inundated with torrential rain earlier this month. Less common, however, was the large hail that was reported across the region in the past several days, said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast desk in College Park. “That’s unusual,” he said.
After tornadoes swept through Florida on Thursday, images posted to social media appeared to show downed trees and crumpled rooftops in Hosford. About 50 miles to the southwest, in the city of Lynn Haven, residents reported that golf ball-size hail had smashed into their homes and cars. Trees and roofs had also been damaged, an operator with the Lynn Haven Police Department said by phone.After tornadoes swept through Florida on Thursday, images posted to social media appeared to show downed trees and crumpled rooftops in Hosford. About 50 miles to the southwest, in the city of Lynn Haven, residents reported that golf ball-size hail had smashed into their homes and cars. Trees and roofs had also been damaged, an operator with the Lynn Haven Police Department said by phone.
On Thursday afternoon, a 33-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by lightning on a pier in Panama City Beach, Fla., the city’s Police Department said in a statement
Livia Albeck-Ripka and Judson Jones contributed reporting.Livia Albeck-Ripka and Judson Jones contributed reporting.