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Hail pelt the hood of a parked car in Rowlett, Monday, April 27, 2026.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
The National Weather<\/a> Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch and an increased hail threat<\/a> for areas of North Texas until late Tuesday night.<\/p>\n 1:07 p.m. Tornado watch issued<\/p>\n A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Oklahoma and North Texas until 9\u00a0p.m., according to the weather service. Wind gusts of up to 80 mph are also expected along with softball-sized hail.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The weather service emphasized in a statement that hail up to 4.5 inches is the main threat with this afternoon\u2019s storms. Officials said storms are expected to hit during rush hour and encouraged people to stay home if possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThe tornado threat is lower overall, but not zero,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n Towns within Sherman and Graham counties could see hail up to 3 inches in diameter and wind gusts of 60 mph, according to the weather service.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make Dallas News a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The weather service said areas north of Interstate 20 and west of Highway 281 will be under a moderate hail threat from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hail could potentially be larger than baseballs, about 3.5 inches in diameter, forecasters said.<\/p>\n This story will be updated live throughout\u00a0the afternoon and evening with the latest.<\/p>\n What to know about hail, how to protect yourself<\/p>\n Hail<\/a> forms when a raindrop is carried by a thunderstorm updraft to an extremely cold part of the atmosphere. It grows in size as other liquid water droplets collide with the hail and freeze onto the surface, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n When the updraft can no longer support the weight of the hail or the gust weakens, the hailstones will be dropped from the sky. The stones must be at least 0.2 inches to be classified as hail, and to be considered severe, hailstones must be at least one inch in diameter.<\/p>\n Here are a few things to keep in mind.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re outside when a hailstorm strikes, it\u2019s important to seek immediate shelter, the U.S. Forest Service<\/a> said. If it\u2019s not possible to protect your entire body, focus on the head. Driving tips for when it’s storming<\/p>\n If you’re planning on traveling on wet roads, there are some safety tips<\/a> you can use to stay safe in the case of heavy rain or any flash flooding.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Make sure your car is equipped for the rain. Ensure your tires have enough pressure and your windshield wipers are functioning properly. They may need to be replaced. What to do when you hear a weather siren<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use<\/a> and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nIf you\u2019re driving, the forest service recommends pulling over, waiting inside the car and avoiding parking near large trees or under overpasses. It also recommends getting on the floor or\u00a0backseat of the vehicle face down to avoid getting hit by broken glass.
\nA garage is the best way to protect a car against hail, but thick blankets or mats can help soften the landing if covered parking isn\u2019t available.<\/p>\n
\nDon’t use cruise control. It’s more likely to lose control of your car when using this feature when it’s raining.
\nDrive in the tracks of the vehicle in front of you.
\nDrive slow. Avoid hard braking and turning sharply in order to maintain traction on the road.
\nDon’t panic if your vehicle starts to skid. Instead, ease off the gas pedal and continue to steer the car in the direction you want to go. Avoid slamming on the brakes.
\nDon’t ignore the flooded roadway signs. If you drive around them, you could be fined up to $2,000 and\/or up to 180 days in jail. Additionally, tampering with signs can cost you up to $1,000 and\/or up to two years in jail.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775016909_917_rawImage.jpg\" "\\"#\\"")
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