Checking on Jim Becker

[Kodiak]

There is a very bad storm in the Dallas area right now and the worst of it was pretty much headed for Jim's place.
Jim let us know if your OK?

[Jim Becker]

OK so far!

[Kodiak]

Looks like it may be a long afternoon Jim, stay safe.

Ron

[RaymondDurban]

Its pretty nasty down there! Stay safe Jim!

[Jim Becker]

The worst of the storms have moved on, mostly to the northeast (where they are still causing major threats). There have been multiple cells, so having one or more move past doesn't put you in the clear. We still have to pay attenton. One of the areas with heavy damage was in the Lancaster area (roughly I-45 x I-20) where it hit a yard full or semi trucks. There was video of trailers being lifted several hundred feet in the air. Pictures:
http://www.nbcdfw.com/weather/stories/Tornadoes-Touch-Down-in-North-Texas-145972095.html
I believe that was the same cell that came close to here (although weakened) As it approached here, the weather people were reading 1 1/2" hail. The heaviest part evidently passed just south of here, probably straight over Firewheel Mall. It was probably north of where your son lived. Surprisingly, we have had little wind. In the last hour and a half, we have had 2 separate rain storms in the last hour and a half, for about 1.6 inches so far.

American Airlines had to cancel the rest of their schedule for today at DFW. They have 68 AA planes and 33 American Eagle planes that have to be inspected for hail damage before they can fly. They have no place to put incoming flights so those flights are canceled too. They had to divert 37 + 11 incoming.

[VinceD]

Glad everything is OK. Stay safe.

[Kodiak]

Glad your OK,
Firewheel would have placed it very close to them, I'm really glad they are back here in Ga. My daughter-in-law's sister is a Dr. at one of the hospitals in Dallas, they are OK and my son is still checking on other friends they have in the area. So far they are all good.

[Rudi]

All I can say is Holy Mackerel

Flying trailers Right out of Twister... the power of Mama Nature is simply mind boggling.

Glad you and your neighbours faired well Jim and that you is safe

[Jim Becker]

My daughter-in-law's sister is a Dr. at one of the hospitals in Dallas, they are OK and my son is still checking on other friends they have in the area. So far they are all good.

News reports so far indicate a small number of relatively minor injuries and no deaths. Amazing considering how widespread the damage is.

[Mike in Louisiana]

Good thing it occurred in the middle of the day. If it was 2 AM there would have been a lot of injuries.

[Stanton]

Glad to hear you are safe. Saw the video on the news last night with semi-trailers literally flying through the air--hard to believe.

They talked more about the NWS revising their warning system to use more graphic descriptions. Then they made reference to the big EF-5 that hit Joplin last year. Said that one formed out of a relatively minimal storm and developed into an EF-4 quicker than any tornado on record. Interestingly scary.

Thanks for letting us know your situation.

[KETCHAM]

I have some friends in the area also,nothing major happened to them either...some big hail though....Its scary when you see semi-trailers flying thru the air!!! Kevin