North Texas Hit with Tornadoes, Large Hail

The National Weather Service said as many as 12 tornadoes and hail the size of softballs pounded portions of north Texas overnight. The storms turned violent beginning near Rising Star in Eastland County and proceeded eastward for about 100 miles.

Representatives from the National Weather Service office in Fort Worth are assessing the damage today in the areas of Glen Rose, Rio Vista, Cleburne, Dublin and Stephenville. There were no reports of injuries, but property damage is widespread.

In Stephenville, State Farm agent Lindy Boyd said the city of 15,000 was hit Saturday with hurricane force winds and hail and then again last night, with even more damaging hail.

“I’ve got claims pouring in over the phone and my office is filling up,” said Boyd. “There is damage all over the city.”

Janice Shoot with the Cowboy Capital Insurance Group in Stephenville, said both Stephenville and nearby Dublin were hit hard.

“In Dublin, my son’s two new Ford pick-up trucks were literally destroyed by hail. The hail went through the windshields and the rain ruined the inside. They were beat all to pieces,” Shoot said.

Her own home also received heavy damage from the hail. “My ceiling fan started throwing water after hail came through our roof.”

Shoot said the area looked like the aftermath of a winter storm. She said the hail and wind was so intense, that power lines were knocked down.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Fort Worth said the state has been getting pounded from severe thunderstorms for the past two weeks, but overnight was the first outbreak of multiple tornadoes.

“Here in north Texas we have had our fair share of weather events. It’s that time of the year,” said Matt Stalley, a NWS meteorologist.

Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, said there have been multiple reports of large hail and wind damage this month all across the state.

“In the past 10 days we have had reports of tornado damage in north and east Texas along with hail damage from the panhandle to the Texas coast,” Hanna said. “We urge property owners to contact their insurance agent or company to get their claims handled quickly and done right.”

Source: The Insurance Council of Texas