The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Dallas County.
The alert means conditions are right for a tornado to form near the watch area.
Residents are urged to stay apprised of the situation due to the risk of danger to life and property.
The tornado watch will remain in effect until 10 p.m., the Fort Worth-based weather service said.
The watch also includes much of North Texas, including Tarrant and Collin counties.
Strong storms moved into the Dallas area Thursday afternoon.
The Dallas Independent School District canceled all after-school activities because of the threat.
Forecasters warned stormy weather would hit as early as 2 p.m. Thursday.
“All of north and central Texas should remain extremely vigilant … this evening as widespread severe thunderstorms are expected to develop with damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail all possible. Stay weather aware!” the weather service tweeted.
A sturdy home is the safest place to be, the weather service advised in another tweet.
“The lowest floor of a house in an interior room away from windows is going to be your best bet. Mobile homes and vehicles are the last places you want to be during a tornado,” the post read.
Late Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to prepare emergency response resources.
“Texans across the state should remain weather-aware as this severe storm system moves across portions of Texas this week,” Abbott said in a statement.
“The State of Texas is fully prepared to assist local officials and emergency response personnel on the ground to keep our communities safe. We remain on standby to provide any additional resources that may be necessary over the course of this storm.”
The first severe thunderstorm warning in North Texas on Thursday was issued for Wise County, 60 miles northwest of Dallas. Frequent lightning, hail, and heavy rain moved through the county seat of Decatur, according to the weather service.
