June 19, 2019
What a Father's Day! Turns out, DFW got two massive storms, both on Sundays, two weeks in a row. This is quite surprising because it's Summer and Severe Weather typically slows down around now. Let's recap the weather.
The Father's Day Forecast showed Severe Storms developing in the West and rushing east with Extreme winds but a low risk for tornadoes. At about 3:00 PM, a line of storms developed in the west, several miles west of Fort Worth. At around 3:30 PM, these storms intensified due to a a surprising amount of moisture it found in the atmosphere and it was moving east at 45mph (very fast). This storm was now classified as a Severe Thunderstorm because it began to develop some hail and some intense winds. Meteorologists predicted this storm would break up and an air mass would develop just in front of the old storm creating a new line of thunderstorms several miles to the east. Instead, the air mass mixed with the original storm creating a strong updraft on moisture into the strong wind shear turning this storm into a Mesocyclone. A Mesocyclone is a vortex of air that forms in a strong storm, rising and rotating continually in a region of low pressure. The Thunderstorm of course started to rotate and a lowering of its base clouds was seen, forming a lower layer of ominous clouds known as Shelf Clouds. Minutes later the Shelf cloud dropped down a funnel, then a tornado. The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for parts of Fort Worth and North Dallas. Sirens sounded for many and the storm unleashed its power causing powerful 70+ MPH winds in North Dallas and Fort Worth and damaging roofs, trees, buildings, etc. As the storm moved North it soon started to spiral out of rhythm and it soon lost its rotation. Still, Plano areas got 50-60 MPH straight line winds for about 15 minutes. Soon after the storm passed, the National Weather Service confirmed 3 Tornadoes. An EF-1 in Arlington, and two EF-0 Tornadoes, one west of Keller and one over Eagle Mountain Lake. And just like that, another Damaging Sunday Storm.
Slow Motion Video of Lightning taken by Me
Future Weather:
A new round of possible severe Thunderstorms could move into the DFW area today. Storms will start to develop anywhere from 1:00 to 4:00 PM and will continue until Midnight. We are currently under a Enhanced risk (Orange) and the main concern is Very Strong winds and Large hail. There is some concerning data coming in today about this destructive hail and winds that could appear and that its a big deal. SPC is showing that they may even upgrade to a Moderate (Red) Risk later today for an area including DFW which just shows the overall concern for this destructive storm potential. Chances right now for severe storms for DFW is pretty good especially since Storm Prediction Center just came out with a new risk over DFW area when before we were in the Slight (Yellow). This severe weather threat is forming because of a strong warm front that will move into DFW and Northeastern states causing a strong CAPE. Whether the CAPE breaks or the storms develop as forecasted, we aren't sure. Could we miss the severe weather? Maybe, not likely though. Unfortunately, the atmosphere also has shown potential for a tornado risk and that it could increase more the later it gets into the day. Stay tuned with the latest weather with Forum Posts. Due to the intense storms that DFW could see, there may be another blog sent out at around 3-4:00 PM to keep others up to date with this Severe Weather. (Please understand that this blog was sent out early to inform others about this serious storm before it hit.)
Stay Weather Aware...
Weather Forecast:
Today- Thunderstorms, High 94'. Severe Storms Likely in the Afternoon/ Evening. Large hail and Destructive Winds Possible.
Thursday- Mostly Sunny, High 99'
Friday- Cloudy, High 94'. Small chance of thunderstorms late afternoon
Saturday- Scattered Thunderstorms in afternoon, High 86'
Sunday- Thunderstorms, High 89'. Some storms could be Strong to Severe
Monday- Cloudy, then Thunderstorms in evening, High 83'
Tuesday- Scattered thunderstorms, High 89'
Wednesday- Mostly Cloudy, high 90'. Small Chance of Thunderstorms Late afternoon
This Weeks Weather Question:
How do Tornadoes Form?
Tornadoes are one of the most violent types of weather. They consist of a fast rotating column of air that develops from a thunderstorm. A storm capable of producing a tornado needs good moisture and some cool dry air from the north to meet as one large air mass forming a storm system. Once there is a storm, the jet stream needs to be right over that storm system to cause a good wind shear. The Jet stream is a channel of fast flowing air in the atmosphere that directs storm systems. After that, the rising air (updraft) from the ground will rise into that horizontal wind from the jet stream and cause rotation. Rotation typically only occurs in low pressure. Soon, this swirling air will descend lower to the ground forming a Shelf Cloud. This Shelf cloud will then suck up warm air from the surface and strengthen the storm. If the instability of the atmosphere is still good, then a funnel may appear. Many factors come into play when a funnel appears. Everything must be right for that funnel to grow and then reach the ground. Once it does, It is a Tornado and the National Weather Service will Issue a Tornado Warning. The intensity scale is called the Enhanced Fajita Scale. This scale is based on wind speeds and damage reported.
|EF-0 | 65-85 MPH | Small trees uprooted, Shingle damage
|EF-1 | 86-110 MPH | Tree limbs torn off, Roof damage, downed power lines
|EF-2 | 111-135 MPH | Medium size trees uprooted, damaged roof, damaged mobile homes
|EF-3 | 136-165 MPH | Trees Severely damaged, serious roof damage, cars dragged around
|EF-4 | 166-200 MPH | Large Trees uprooted, Roof torn off house, brick walls damaged, Cars overturned.
|EF-5 | over 200 MPH | Large Trees tossed in air, Strong homes Severely damaged, town homes leveled, concrete torn up, cars tossed in air, neighborhoods destroyed.
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So long,
Weather Center