Severe Weather, Including a Few Tornadoes, Threatens the Southern Plains Through Monday; Tornadoes, Flooding Reported Near Dallas Sunday Evening

Brian Donegan
Published: January 15,2017
Severe thunderstorms are expected to flare up through Monday in parts of the southern Plains on the warm side of Winter Storm Jupiter. Sunday evening, portions of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area got struck by strong storms with reported tornadoes and flash flooding.
(MORE: Winter Storm Jupiter a Major Ice Threat)
A tornado was reported Sunday evening south of Laguna Park, Texas. More tornado reports came in later Sunday evening in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, including Arlington.
Additionally, hail larger than quarter-size coated the ground near Del Rio, Texas, early Sunday evening. The hail grew bigger, to as large as teacups, later Sunday evening near Rocksprings, Texas. Near Medina, Texas, egg-size hail produced car dents.
Strong winds caused damage to turkey farms to the southwest of Clifton, Texas, Sunday evening. Several trees were also downed in the city of Clifton itself. Near Whitney, Texas, 4 to 5 houses were damaged, including one that lost its roof, and trees and powerlines were downed in the area, as well.
Soon after the Packers defeated the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a tornado-warned storm moved toward the stadium, and anyone remaining inside was not allowed to exit. For any fans who attended the game and already left, they were allowed to re-enter the stadium to seek shelter.
(NEWS: Water Rescues Reported In Fort Worth Amid Tornado Threat)
The setup involves a compact upper-level low-pressure system pivoting out of northern Mexico over a somewhat warm and humid air mass over parts of the southern Plains.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

Here's a look at what to expect.

Severe Weather Forecast

Sunday Night

• A line of thunderstorms, some of which will be severe, will push through central and east Texas.
• The primary severe threats will be damaging straight-line winds and hail.
• However, a few more tornadoes cannot be ruled out, both in any discrete supercells and embedded in the line of storms.

Sunday Night's Thunderstorm Forecast

Monday/Monday Night

• The severe threat will be lower, but a few severe storms are possible from east Texas into northwest Louisiana and Arkansas.
• Strong straight-line winds will be the primary severe threat.
• Heavy rain and local flash flooding will also be a threat, as these storms may only move very slowly east.

Monday's Thunderstorm Forecast

(MAPS: 7-Day Rain/Snow Forecast)

Rainfall Outlook

In general, 1 to 2 inches of rain are expected across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and northwest Louisiana through Monday night, with a few spots seeing more than 3 inches, especially in east Texas.

Rainfall Forecast

A widespread and major flood event is unexpected at this time, since this rain falls over a period of several days.
However, localized flooding cannot be ruled out where any areas of heavy rain stall over the same location for several consecutive hours, known as training.
(MORE: January Thaw Ahead for Parts of South, East)

MORE: Flooding in Texas