Severe weather in North Texas on day after Christmas
The Tornado Watch Wednesday night for the majority of North Texas has expired. However, the threat of flash flooding, strong winds and hail continues.
The line of severe weather brought strong wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour in some areas and plenty of rainfall for all of North Texas. Some places did see pea-sized hail.
Easter Dallas and Ellis County remained under a Flash Flood Warning until 10:45 p.m.
A Tornado Watch has been issued for the majority of East Texas until 4 a.m. Up to quarter-sized hail is possible with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. The possibility of a couple of tornadoes cannot be ruled out. That watch is in effect for Anderson, Henderson, Freestone, Kaufman, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 4 a.m.
The storms came three years to the day that deadly tornadoes hit parts of Rowlett and Garland, killing 13 people and damaging countless homes and businesses.
A planned ceremony to mark the three-year anniversary of the storms was canceled as storms materialized Wednesday afternoon.
READ MORE: Rowlett tornado memorial service canceled due to severe weather concerns
Many area attractions canceled on Wednesday due to the expected weather.
The ServPro First Responder Bowl at Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas’ Fair Park was canceled after less than one quarter of game play due to weather. Six Flags over Texas and Enchant at Globe Life Park in Arlington were also shutting down for the day.
Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie opened as scheduled on Wednesday, but even they decided to close early due to the weather.
Prairie Lights is a resilient attraction. Flooding from nearby Joe Pool Lake did close it for a few days three years ago. But generally, when the weather gets dicey, it shines through.
Prairie Lights has been a tradition for almost two decades with four million lights along a two-mile course that winds through a wooded park.
The rain and minor flooding did close a theatre and a walk portion at the concession area, but the drive-through was open.
“We’ve had people who have prepaid with general admission and fast passes. So we were trying not to disappoint,” said Sharon Davis with Prairie Lights.
Storm clouds may have given some pause, but there was a line at the gate half an hour before it opened.
Prairie Lights is open through December 30. The next couple nights look to be dry.
The weather caused a headache for travelers out of DFW Airport, causing several flight delays and even cancellations.
Several checkpoints and restaurants stayed open late for passengers who were delayed.
DFW Airport remains in a traffic management program with the average delay time of an hour and six minutes.
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