Texans are bracing for potentially rough weather this weekend as storms sweep across the state.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth, a Flood Watch was issued on October 23 with widespread rain expected to continue into Saturday and Sunday.
The NWS also forecasted a series of showers and storms across Texas, potentially bringing in another 1 to 3 inches of scattered rain. Weather experts warn that this could lead to flash flooding, particularly in “low-lying urban zones” specifically located near the Trinity River.
A powerful storm cell has already unleashed a bit of chaos across North Texas early Friday morning, sparking at least six structure fires, including lightning-related blazes in Frisco, while setting the stage for more severe weather through the weekend.
Morning Storms Ignite Fires
Emergency crews responded to multiple structure fires across North Texas following heavy thunderstorms early Friday. At least six fires, including incidents at two-story homes in Denton County and a high-rise in Dallas, were reported by Fox 4 KDFW. Lightning strikes caused at least two of the blazes, including one in Frisco, though investigations into the remaining fires are ongoing. No injuries have been reported.
Severe Weather Forecast
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for central Oklahoma and North Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, and Oklahoma City, from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday. A slow-moving storm system is expected to bring widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with some areas potentially seeing 4 to 5 inches. The heaviest rain is forecast to hit Friday night, with storms developing in West Texas during the afternoon and moving east into the DFW area by 9 to 10 p.m.
Weekend Outlook
After a brief lull on Friday morning, another round of storms is expected Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, bringing the risk of flooding, hail, and strong winds, particularly south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Sunday will see lingering showers in eastern areas, but it is expected to clear up soon after.
Looking Back At Some Of The Most Severe Recent “Weather Events” In Texas
Over the past decade, Texas has been hit by waves of “extreme weather events,” with hundreds of billions in disaster costs, according to NOAA data. Some of the biggest storms and hurricanes in Texas over the past few years include:
- 2025 Guadalupe River Flash Floods (July): Remnants of Tropical Storm Barry dumped up to 20 inches of rain on the Texas Hill Country, causing catastrophic flash flooding that killed an estimated 138-141 people—the deadliest American flash flood recorded in 49 years.
- Hurricane Beryl (July 2024): The Category 5 hurricane slammed into Texas, delivering 110 mph winds, up to 12 inches of rain, and massive outages for 2.7 million residents, leading to 44 deaths (mostly from fallen trees and heat-related issues during prolonged blackouts). Preliminary property damages alone were listed at $7.2 billion.
- Winter Storm Uri (February 2021): A winter blast that brought surprising sub-zero temperatures, and a blanket of statewide blackouts that resulted in 246 deaths (a majority on record from hypothermia), per The Houston Chronicle. It was the costliest winter storm on record at $27.2 billion, crippling the power grid and causing burst pipes in millions of homes.
- Hurricane Harvey (August 2017): A Category 4 storm that stalled over Texas, unleashing record-breaking rainfall of up to 60 inches and catastrophic flooding that displaced more than 30,000 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused 68 deaths in Texas—the highest from a tropical cyclone in the state since 1919. It ranks as the second-costliest U.S. hurricane on record at $125 billion in damages.