Severe Storms Hit Ellis County, Leaving Trail of Destruction and One Fatality
Homeowners, businesses, and families are picking up the pieces after storms early Saturday raked Ellis County, killing one person and leaving a trail of damage across the county. The severe weather caused widespread destruction, with winds reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, according to meteorologists.
A campsite near the Texas Motorplex racetrack was hit hard, resulting in the death of T.J. Bailey, a 42-year-old father from Midlothian who was with his family. Ellis County Justice of the Peace Chris Macon, a lifelong Ellis County resident, said Sunday he had never seen such high and sustained winds. “I can honestly say, I’ve known the wind to blow, but never like that for that long of a period of time in a row,” he said.
The National Weather Service reported that the storms brought hail to the Waxahachie, Mansfield, and Ennis areas, with the largest hailstones reaching the size of a golf ball. The severe weather also caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, with the roof of a Days Inn in Ennis being ripped off and a car dealership suffering damage.
Assessing the Damage
On Sunday, Ellis County continued to assess the damage and clean up from the severe weather. The county is working to restore power to affected areas, with Oncor reporting that nearly 18,000 customers were without power at the peak of the outage. By Sunday afternoon, about 200 customers were still without power, but crews were working to complete the remaining repairs by the end of the day.
The storms also caused significant damage to homes and businesses in Waxahachie, with marble-sized hail pelting the city and causing windows to shatter. Downtown Waxahachie suffered significant damage, with photographs showing numerous windows with large and small holes punched through. Some homes in the Garden Valley Ranch neighborhood sustained major structural roof damage, according to social media posts.
T.J. Bailey: A Victim of the Storm
T.J. Bailey, a 42-year-old Midlothian man, died as a result of the severe weather. Bailey, his wife Cassie, and their two sons were staying in a camper near the Texas Motorplex racetrack when the camper flipped several times during the storm. All were taken to the hospital, where Bailey died from his injuries. Cassie Bailey remained under observation with non-life-threatening injuries, while the sons had been discharged.
In a post on Facebook, Peter Blach, a race organizer, said Bailey was a “part of the TX2K family” and Tuesday’s event would be held in his honor. “From the moment [Bailey] joined our TX2K car family, we knew how special he was,” his post read. “Words can’t describe the sadness we all feel, our hearts and prayers are with his family.”
Ennis and Waxahachie: Hardest Hit Areas
The storms ripped the roof off a Days Inn along Interstate 45 in Ennis on Saturday morning. About 20 of the rooms were occupied at the time, said Becky Hogle, who works the front desk and lives there. No injuries were reported. The storm tore through a campsite near the Texas Motorplex racetrack early Saturday morning, toppling travel trailers.
In Waxahachie, the storms caused significant damage to homes and businesses. Marble-sized hail pelted the city, causing windows to shatter and roofs to sustain major structural damage. The annual tulip festival, Tulipalooza, was closed until further notice due to the damage.
Was There a Tornado in Ellis County?
Brennen Darrah, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Sunday a tornado was unlikely given the cold temperatures Saturday morning. The National Weather Service said straight-line winds likely caused much of the damage. Peak wind speeds were estimated to be between 80 to 90 miles per hour, Darrah said.
Traffic and Power Outages
During the storm, at least seven tractor-trailers overturned on I-35E in Ellis County near milepost 397, according to a social media post from the Texas Department of Public Safety North Texas Region. Traffic was backed up into the Waxahachie area, and it took until Saturday afternoon to get all the semis upright.
Thousands of people in North Texas were without power following the severe storms Saturday morning. Oncor said on its website that the most significant impact was across the Waxahachie and Ennis areas. By Sunday afternoon, about 200 customers were without power, but crews were working to complete the remaining repairs by the end of the day.
Forecast: More Storms Ahead
The Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced severe weather at the beginning of last week as well. Severe storms Tuesday spawned an EF-1 tornado in Irving and an EF-1 tornado and wind damage in Wise County. More storms blew into the area on Saturday, hitting Ellis County especially hard. Lingering light rain cleared out of North Texas on Sunday, though temperatures remained chilly.
North Texas is forecast to see a dayslong stretch of warm, dry, and breezy weather starting Monday. As a result, the weather service is also warning residents about an elevated wildfire threat in the coming week. On Wednesday, the weather service warned of severe thunderstorms returning to North Texas and are expected to be strongest to the east, near Paris and Palestine. The storms could include hail and damaging winds.
Conclusion
The severe storms that hit Ellis County on Saturday left a trail of destruction and claimed the life of one person. The county is working to restore power and clean up the damage, but the impact of the storms will be felt for some time. Residents are advised to be cautious and prepared for more severe weather in the coming week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the cause of the severe weather in Ellis County?
A: The severe weather was caused by straight-line winds that reached speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Q: How many people were affected by the power outages?
A: Nearly 18,000 customers were without power at the peak of the outage, according to Oncor. By Sunday afternoon, about 200 customers were still without power.
