March 6, 2008 Snow

Sat PM - Sun AM Storm Timing

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Sunday

Monday thru Friday

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Here's our latest thinking on storm timing Saturday evening into early Sunday AM. A few storms may occur to the west and northwest of the DFW Metroplex in the evening hours. These storms may be severe with a tornado and hail risk, but the primary hazard will be damaging winds. Thereafter, they will likely grow upscale into a line of storms, resulting in mostly a damaging wind threat. There will be an enhanced threat for brief spin-up tornadoes within the line, as well as with any storms that MAY develop ahead of the line. For midnight and beyond, most activity should be in the form of a squall line promoting a continued risk for damaging winds. Brief spin up tornadoes cannot be out as well as a threat for hail.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for portions of North- Central Texas, in effect until 2:00 AM CDT Sunday. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms. This watch includes the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The main threats tonight will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH and hail larger than one inch in diameter. A few isolated tornadoes will also be possible, especially near the Red River. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio and/or media outlets for additional information and possible warnings.

Chances of showers and thunderstorms will continue through mid morning southeast of a Sulphur Springs to Temple line, followed by decreasing cloudiness. Elsewhere, skies will be mostly sunny. It will be breezy and cooler with highs will be in the 70s. Winds will be northerly at 10 to 20 mph. Gusts over 25 mph are likely through midday.

Low chances of showers and thunderstorms will return Friday east of a Bonham to Hearne line. Otherwise, we will have dry weather next week. Gusty north to northwest winds and drier air behind a cold front Tuesday will result in elevated fire weather concerns.

Here is some information on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Take time to review this information as we prepare for severe weather across the region!

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Heavy Snow Event

March 6, 2008

On 6 March 2008, a convective precipitation band formed across North Texas and quickly transitioned from rain to snow in a 60 km wide zone extending from west of the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex northeast into extreme North Texas near the Red River. The snow persisted for over three hours with accumulations averaging 7 cm and isolated reports up to 30 cm near the heaviest convective precipitation. Frontogenesis and the resulting ageostrophic circulation appeared to play key roles in not only providing significant forcing for ascent but also in modifying the vertical temperature profile to be supportive of a liquid-to-frozen precipitation transition. The presence of atmospheric instability led to isolated thunderstorm development, with occasional cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning observed in the band of heavy snow. This study reviews the complex interactions between moisture, instability, and forcing for ascent that occurred during this convective winter weather event.

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NWS Ft. Worth Research Webpage