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Hail and High Winds Hit Texas as Severe Weather Lashes East Coast Hail and High Winds Hit Texas as Storm System Heads for Florida
(about 4 hours later)
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. Strong winds and hail the size of golf balls 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.
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. As of late Friday night, there were no reports of widespread damage in Texas. But the storm had “lived up to its potential,” producing thunderstorms that put millions of people on alert and wind speeds that reached 76 miles per hour in areas near Dallas and Fort Worth, said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
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. Severe thunderstorm watches were tapering overnight across the state as the storms moved east across the Gulf of Mexico. A gale warning was scheduled to go into effect for parts of the Gulf at 4 a.m. and last through Saturday evening. Forecasters said they expected gusts of up to about 51 miles per hour, and seas of up to 11 feet.
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. More heavy rain was forecast on Saturday across the Florida Panhandle, southeastern Alabama and southern Georgia, and much Florida was at risk for thunderstorms, damaging winds and a few tornadoes, the Weather Service said in a forecast. By Sunday, showers and thunderstorms were expected to move up the Eastern Seaboard and into New England, dropping up to three inches of rain in some areas.
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 on Friday prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit, after several days of weather-related problems in the central and southern United States.
The severe weather prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit on Friday. 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. On Wednesday, hail as large as baseballs fell in Texas and thunderstorms whipped across parts of the South.
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.
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.
Livia Albeck-Ripka and Judson Jones contributed reporting. Mike Ives, Livia Albeck-Ripka and Judson Jones contributed reporting.