Large hail pummels majority of North Texas
Strong storms rolled through North Texas Friday night, bringing up to baseball-sized hail and strong winds.
The threat of severe weather will diminish overnight and leave behind colder temperatures.
The majority of North Texas remains under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until midnight.
LIVE RADAR & LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS
In Collin County, hail was reported in Plano, Allen and McKinney. There was also a tornado warning briefly issued for the area.
Viewers in various areas like Prosper, Celina, and Plano also sent videos and pictures of golf ball-sized hail in the area.
One Celina resident, Jeff Radcliff, says they’ve dealt with some hail damage last year, which cost them a thousand dollars. This year, he didn’t take any chances.
“I just knew it was coming. We were watching the news. I just put the hail protector on,” Radcliff said. “My truck doesn't fit in the garage. So that's the only way I can protect it. And it paid off.”
Others weren't so lucky. Radcliff’s neighbor had some minor hail damage to their windshield. Overall, no major damage was reported.
Ahead of Friday’s Roughriders game in Frisco, residents and fans heard several rounds of sirens. A ballpark employee says the incoming weather interrupted the opposing team's on-field practice before the game as ballpark personnel brought out a tarp to cover the field.
Announcements in the ballpark urged fans to seek shelter before the game. And while some did, others weren't too concerned. After a quick round of rain, the weather cleared out in time for the Roughriders to play ball.
In Rockwall County, powerful winds brought down tree limbs and damaged power lines. There was also a little hail damage in a few neighborhoods.
The storms brought an onslaught of lightning across the skies in Rockwall County. Once the storm moved over, it brought small hail, walls of rain and some strong winds. It even damaged some power lines.
Some residents reported larger hail near Downtown Rockwall, especially in some of the older homes nearby. People in the area have already started patching up over holes the hail punched in the windows.
The Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park got a late start thanks to the rain. A tarp was rolled out over the field and fans took cover. The game against the Blue Jays started an hour late at 7:40 p.m.
Texas Motor Speedway has a comprehensive plan in place in case of severe weather. NASCAR fans have been camped out all week in anticipation of this weekend's races. A siren warns of a tornado, weather alerts also go out on the Big Hoss TV and social media. TMS officials and police go through the campgrounds to alert fans when the weather gets bad.
When people wake up on Saturday morning, it will be much cooler. Temperatures will be in the 30s across most of the area and highs aren’t expected to get out of the 40s.