Tornado Watch Issued For North Texas As Cold Front Moves Through Friday

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 9 p.m. for a large portion of North and Central Texas early Friday afternoon. Eastern Wise County is under a tornado warning until 3:30 p.m.

Spring-like temperatures are being followed by storms that could make for a tumultuous Friday as a cold front moves through North Texas.

Several school districts have canceled after-school and evening activities, both indoor and outdoor, because of expected weather. Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, Grand Prairie and Richardson school districts are among them.

The Dallas Zoo tweeted that they, too, are closing early due to weather threats.

Fort Worth's National Weather Service warns that thunderstorms sparked by the cold front could be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and possibly tornadoes.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected Friday afternoon and into the evening, particularly along and east of Interstate 35, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. A flash food watch also is in effect from noon Friday through 3 a.m. Saturday for Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Rockwall, Collin and Hunt counties.  Several rounds of showers and storms could add up to about four inches of rainfall.

Temperatures are expected to drop from the 60s Friday morning to lows near 30 degrees Friday night, which means this cold front could also bring snow to the northernmost areas of North Texas, like Gainesville, Decatur and Graham. The weather service says very light accumulation is possible primarily north of U.S. Route 380. A low chance of flurries could happen along Interstate 20 but nothing that should affect travel.