Dallas-Fort Worth had more rain on Thursday than any previous March 7 in the past seven decades.
In fact, more rain fell on Thursday than in all of the previous month. By the end of the day, 2.67 inches of rainfall was recorded at DFW International Airport. In some areas, like Glen Rose, almost 3 inches of rain fell.
Not only did Thursday’s downpour break the previous record, it smashed it. The previous reigning — or rather, raining — champion was in 1947, when 1.12 inches of rain was recorded, less than half the new record.
Severe weather has not just been isolated to North Texas. A spring storm system has been moving across the eastern and southeastern United States. On Friday, Level 2 severe weather ratings blanketed a large portion of the Interstate 20 corridor stretching from Texas to Alabama.
The challenging weather is being driven by an elongated low-pressure zone that covers the area between the Texas-Louisiana border up to the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Winds are pushing warm and moist air northwards, creating ideal thunderstorm conditions.
While it would seem the clouds have produced as much precipitation as possible, more rain remains in the forecast. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook notification warning of possible thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and evening, with potential for hail and strong winds. Once the rain does move out, colder weather is expected.
A flood warning was also extended for the Trinity River at Dallas until Saturday morning. On Thursday evening, several roads in North Texas were forced to close due to surging floodwaters.
