Severe weather threat shifts to Gulf Coast after Dallas sees flash flooding Thursday
Flash Flood Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued across portions of Texas Thursday morning, including for those living and working in cities like Dallas, Arlington and Plano.
Flooding reported in Dallas as cross-country storm produces torrential rain, severe weather
Millions of people in the Dallas area could be facing a tough Thursday morning commute after the region saw several reports of flooding and severe weather overnight. And as FOX Weather Meteorologists Britta Merwin and Jane Minar report, the severe weather threat will shift off to the east later in the day on Thursday.
FAST FACTS:
- Soaking rain to fall across more than 20 states as cross-country storm slides east.
- FOX Forecast Center expects most severe thunderstorm activity between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT.
- 12 million across 10 states under Flood Watches.
MONROE, La. - A storm system continuing on its trek across the nation has brought a renewed threat of flooding rain and severe weather later Thursday that has communities in the Ark-La-Tex region on alert.
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Daytime heating is providing more atmospheric energy to the system as it moves east toward Louisiana and the northern Gulf Coast, enhancing a severe weather threat.
Damaging wind gusts and hail appear to be the main threats from any severe thunderstorms that develop, but tornadoes are also possible.
STAY OR GO? TRUSTING YOUR GUT CAN BE LIFESAVING WHEN MULTIPLE WEATHER WARNINGS ARE ISSUED
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed more than 15 million people in portions of five states on alert for severe weather on Thursday.
However, more than 1.5 million people across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and a sliver of Arkansas have been placed in a Level 2 out of 5 threat on the SPC’s 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
This threat includes Monroe, Alexandria and Lafayette in Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi.
The FOX Forecast Center said that as daytime heating gets underway, the prime time for strong to severe thunderstorms to develop across the region will be from about 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. CT.
As the sun sets and heating is no longer a factor, the storm intensity and coverage should then begin to diminish.
PLAN, PREPARE, PROTECT: HOW TO BEST COVER YOUR PROPERTY AGAINST FLOODS
Flooding is also a concern as torrential rain from the strong storm system advances toward the East Coast and Northeast.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) placed cities from northeastern Texas to Kentucky in a Level 2 out of 4 risk of flash flooding on Thursday.
Flood alerts are now in effect across portions of 10 states from Texas to Pennsylvania as the system dumps heavy rain across those regions.
Storm system slams Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on Thursday morning
Earlier in the day Thursday, the storm swept through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, faced a slow morning commute on Thursday as the region was slammed with flooding and severe weather from a cross-country storm that has millions of people on alert.
Flash Flood Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued across portions of Texas Thursday morning, including for those living and working in cities like Dallas, Arlington and Plano.
Watch: Cars drive over flooded roadway in Dallas-Fort Worth area
A video shared from the Dallas-Fort Worth area shows vehicle driving over a flooded roadway as torrential rain and thunderstorms moved over the region on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Roads across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex were flooded Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and video shared from the area showed vehicles driving over flooded roadways as torrential rain fell and lightning was seen illuminating the sky.
Some impressive rain totals were reported by forecasters with the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth.
As of early Thursday morning, at least 4.45 inches of rain was reported in Grand Prairie, 4.32 inches of rain was reported at the Mesquite Airport and 3.91 inches was recorded at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Watch: Car stranded on Dallas street due to flooding
A video shared by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth shows a vehicle that became stranded due to high water on a road near Dallas Love Field on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2025.
The severe weather and flood threats stem from the same storm that brought snow to portions of the Southwest and Rockies, and also brought beneficial rain to Southern California earlier this week.