Posted: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:16 AM - 8,938 Readers

By: Mitch Mitchell

Strong wind gusts between 60 and 80 mph and hail were reported in northern Tarrant and southern Denton counties, and emergency warning sirens were activated in the area as the system moved east toward Dallas.

An unconfirmed tornado was sighted near Trophy Club around 7 p.m. moving east at 40 mph, said Jason Dunn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Storm spotters and Doppler radar later observed a tornado near Plano.



Power lines were reported down, disrupting power, and flying debris was reported in northern Tarrant County, which had been under a tornado warning until 7:45 p.m. Oncor electric services confirmed power outages in the storm's path but was unable to determine how widespread they were.

A police cruiser carrying two officers was struck by lightning about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to dispatchers. The police officers were not seriously injured. The lightning strike occurred as they were patrolling in the 6300 block of Shady Oaks Manor, the dispatchers said.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the Fort Worth area between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., with winds gusting to about 80 mph, Dunn said.

The storm system then moved east into Dallas County toward Garland, Sachse and Rowlett.

The Texas Rangers' game in Arlington went into a rain delay and then was postponed and will be made up Sept. 1.

A tornado warning issued by the weather service for Tarrant, northeastern Dallas and southern Collin counties in north central Texas expired at 7:45 p.m.

The cities of North Richland Hills and Fort Worth had sounded their sirens about 6:30 p.m., according to authorities.

The Fort Worth Emergency Management Office set off sirens in the northern and western quadrants of the city due to reports of some rotation in the skies.

Much of North Texas, including Tarrant and Dallas counties, remained under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 tonight, according to the weather service.

The watch includes 28 counties along and north of Interstate 20.

The storms are ahead of a cold front arriving from the northwest.

The thunderstorms are expected to increase across North Texas later this evening and may continue overnight. Hail was expected to be the primary severe weather threat, the weather service said.

Warmer air and dry conditions were expected this weekend into next week, but humidity will remain high.

The "cold front" is not expected to cool things off much. Lows will remain in the 70s with highs in the mid- to upper 90s for the foreseeable future.

*  Story Contributed by: Mitch Mitchell