Miami Standard (Fort Worth, TX) – On Wednesday at 12:45 a.m., the NWS Fort Worth issued a warning of heavy thunderstorms until 1:15 a.m. The notice covers Denton, Collin, Cooke, and Grayson counties.

Wind gusts of up to 30 mph and penny-sized hail (0.75 inches) are expected.

“At 12:44 a.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Collinsville, or 8 miles south of Whitesboro, moving southeast at 20 mph,” the National Weather Service informs me. “Strong winds may knock down tree limbs and blow around unprotected objects. “Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”

Strong thunderstorms are expected to hit Gunter around 1:05 a.m. This storm also impacted Ethel, Elmont, Tioga, and Lake Ray Roberts.

According to the NWS, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.” This notice remains in effect until 1:15 a.m.

Lightning strikes the United States around 25 million times per year. The majority of these strikes occur during the summer, resulting in approximately 20 fatalities per year, according to the NWS. The risk of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches, peaking when it is directly overhead. This risk diminishes as the storm moves away.

Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm:

• To decrease the risk of getting struck by lightning, when you go outside, establish a plan to reach a safer place.
• If the sky grows ominous and you hear thunder, seek out a safe place to take shelter.
• Once inside, abstain from touching corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing, and windows and doors.
• Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.

Source: Thunderstorms with penny-sized hail in North Texas Wednesday, says the NWS