DALLAS –Powerful thunderstorms packing hurricane-force wind gusts and large hail swept across portions of Texas and Oklahoma on Sunday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of utility customers.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had warned that a potential derecho could develop and track across North Texas overnight. However, the FOX Forecast Center determined that it did not come into fruition.
In addition, two "Particularly Dangerous Situation" (PDS) Severe Thunderstorm Watches were issued in portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
A PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch is extremely rare, with the National Weather Service (NWS) only issuing these 25 times since 2006.
Sunday’s severe weather threat came as cleanup efforts were underway in the Plains and Southeast after deadly storms swept across those regions over the weekend.
More than 200 storm reports were received by the SPC because of the storms on Sunday, including reports of damaging wind gusts and large hail.
A 100-mph wind gust, which is as strong as a Category 2 hurricane, was reported in the community of Goree in Texas. A 90-mph wind gust was reported in Lakeview, Texas, and numerous wind gusts between 80-90 mph were also reported.
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Hail was also an issue, and there was a report of 4.25-inch hail in Claude, Texas. That’s nearly as large as grapefruit.
There were also several reports of hail between 2.5 and 2.75 inches across portions of central and North Texas.
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