Warm, moist, and unstable air surged north into East Texas, North Louisiana, and Southern Arkansas during the evening through the early morning hours of April 11th-12th, along a warm front that lifted north across much of East Texas into North Louisiana. Meanwhile, a strong upper level low opened up into a trough as it entered the Southern Plains during the evening of the 11th, with large scale forcing ahead of the trough enhancing shower and thunderstorm development across much of West-central, Central, East and Southeast Texas during the evening through the early morning hours. Given the extent of shear, instability, and upper level forcing in place across the warm sector, numerous showers and thunderstorms developed over these areas, which quickly spread east northeast into East Texas around and shortly after daybreak on the 12th. Some of these storms were severe, producing numerous reports of damaging winds, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall which resulted in isolated flash flooding. Two isolated tornadoes also touched down in Shelby and Southern Harrison Counties.
While there was a lull in the thunderstorms from late morning through much of the afternoon, additional strong to severe thunderstorms developed across portions of Northeast Texas well behind the dry line which had mixed east to near Texarkana into Western Louisiana, and near the center of the upper level trough. Steep lapse rates aloft and the drier low level air mass contributed to areas of damaging winds and isolated instances of large hail, with the majority of the wind damage from a collapsing thunderstorm which originated just east of Dallas, and quickly moved east along the I-20 corridor in East Texas. Aided by strong pressure rises behind an associated cold front, a large swath of damaging winds were noted with the severe gust front, with gusts ranging from 50-70 mph well ahead of the collapsed storm. This resulted in numerous reports of downed trees and power lines across East Texas and Western Louisiana, with AEP Swepco noting that over 64,000 customers were without power at one time in the aftermath of the storms. These damaging winds exited East Texas into Western Louisiana by early evening before gradually weakening.

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSHUR, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:52:00 to 12-APR-20 17:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: UNION GROVE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A 50 foot tall oak tree with a 16 inch wide trunk was blown down across the 5000 block of East Lake Drive in the Union Grove community.

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSHUR, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:53:00 to 12-APR-20 17:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: WEST MTN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A 70+ foot black jack oak tree was blown down onto a shop on Stallion Road, damaging the roof.

Thunderstorm Wind in WOOD, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:45:00 to 12-APR-20 17:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAWKINS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Amateur radio reported an estimated wind gust of 70 mph in the city of Hawkins.

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSHUR, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:58:00 to 12-APR-20 17:58:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST MTN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A large tree snapped and fell on a 60 year old male standing in his driveway, fatally injuring him.

Thunderstorm Wind in RUSK, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 18:12:00 to 12-APR-20 18:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEXTON CITY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees and power lines were downed in the New London area from a damaging gust front.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 18:20:00 to 12-APR-20 18:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter estimated 70 mph wind gusts in Atlanta.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:42:00 to 12-APR-20 17:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: SWAN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Multiple trees were downed near Tyler Pipe in the Swan community.

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSHUR, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:02:00 to 12-APR-20 17:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENOCH
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees and power lines were downed throughout Gilmer and much of Upshur County. Street signs were downed as well.

Tornado in SHELBY, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 08:06:00 to 12-APR-20 08:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: TIMPSON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 90 mph briefly touched down in a primarily wooded area along County Road 4037 just southeast of Timpson. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous hardwood and softwood trees along its path before lifting.

Tornado in HARRISON, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 08:08:00 to 12-APR-20 08:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: GILL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 105 mph touched down just southwest of the Crossroads community near the intersection of Mercer and Eddington Roads, where several trees were snapped. The tornado continued northeast across FM 31 near Hays Road, where multiple trees were snapped and uprooted. A tree also fell on a home, but fortunately, the residents inside were not injured. The tornado tracked northeast, crossing FM 2525, Webb Rogers Road near Sneed Road, and Ireland Williams Road, snapping numerous large limbs and trees. The tornado crossed Interstate 20 and Highway 80, snapping additional large limbs, before lifting near Bellview Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in HARRISON, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 08:17:00 to 12-APR-20 08:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELYSIAN FLDS
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A tree was downed onto a power line on Strickland Springs Road South.

Thunderstorm Wind in HARRISON, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 08:10:00 to 12-APR-20 08:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELYSIAN FLDS
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down on Woodley Road.

Lightning in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 05:57:00 to 12-APR-20 05:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLINT
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A home was struck by lightning in Flint. No injuries were reported.

Hail in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 06:20:00 to 12-APR-20 06:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEACEFUL VLY
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Golfball size hail fell at the Broadway Square Mall in Tyler, as well as Golden Road near Loop 323.

Hail in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 06:25:00 to 12-APR-20 06:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOSTICK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Quarter size hail fell on Northeast Loop 323 in Tyler.

Flash Flood in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 07:13:00 to 12-APR-20 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WHITEHOUSE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A road was flooded and closed in Whitehouse. Vehicles were stranded. Report from mPING.

Flash Flood in HARRISON, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 08:15:00 to 12-APR-20 10:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONGVIEW HGTS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Portions of Highway 80 were temporarily closed due to flood waters.

Thunderstorm Wind in GREGG, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 07:15:00 to 12-APR-20 07:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LONGVIEW
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Trees were downed on Sabine Street in South Longview.

Hail in RUSK, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 07:32:00 to 12-APR-20 07:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: MONROE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Quarter size hail was reported 2 miles south of the East Texas Regional Airport.

Hail in TITUS, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 16:10:00 to 12-APR-20 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GREEN HILL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Quarter size hail was reported north of Mount Pleasant.

Hail in RED RIVER, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 16:32:00 to 12-APR-20 16:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: DIMPLE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Half dollar size hail fell north of Clarksville.

Hail in RED RIVER, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 16:55:00 to 12-APR-20 16:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: AVERY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Dime to penny size hail fell in the city of Avery.

Hail in CASS, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 18:22:00 to 12-APR-20 18:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Penny size hail fell in Atlanta.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 06:07:00 to 12-APR-20 06:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: TEASELVILLE
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

An anemometer from a personal weather station measured a 63 mph wind gust at Emerald Bay on Lake Palestine.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:28:00 to 12-APR-20 17:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINDALE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed on FM 16 west near Hide-A-Way Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind in WOOD, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:40:00 to 12-APR-20 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAWKINS HOLLY ARPT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Sixty foot pine trees were downed at Holly Lake Ranch. Power was also out to the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:45:00 to 12-APR-20 17:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINONA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed near Winona.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:40:00 to 12-APR-20 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHADY GROVE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees were downed near I-20 between Highway 69 and Highway 14, near Lavender Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in SMITH, TEXAS
From 12-APR-20 17:49:00 to 12-APR-20 17:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: TYLER
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Large tree limbs were downed in Mid-Town Tyler. Power was also out to the area.