Story and photos by Cary Griffin, Forney Messenger

A band of heavy thunderstorms that struck parts of North Central Texas Wednesday evening, June 10, proved to be the precursor to flooding rains that came through much of the area—including Forney—June 11.

During the evening of June 10, a tornado warning was issued for Rockwall sometime between 6:30 and 7:30 p. m,, and heavy rain began to fall in Forney around 8 p. m. It continued intermittently much of the evening.

The morning storms June 11 surprised many area residents, who had the impression that last Thursday was going to offer only scattered heavy showers. But around 3 a. m., the first wave hit with heavy rain and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. That first round was the vanguard of what turned out to be a steady line of severe thunderstorms that continued until almost 1 p. m. Thursday, with rain of tropical storm intensity and winds sometimes reaching 75 miles an hour. The rough weather snarled traffic, knocked out power in some areas, and played havoc with telephone reception and computers.

In Forney, some 7 inches of rain fell. The morning storms knocked out traffic signals in at least one intersection, and some yards and neighborhood intersections were flooded. Flooding prevented motorists from turning into some neighborhood streets, and water came up to the foundations of homes in some low-lying Forney yards. Shrubbery and small trees were uprooted in several places. Flooding occurred at the building occupied by Curves at 606 E. Main; on the McDonald’s side of Mustang Creek; and at the entrance to Summerhaven Mobile Home Park. The intersection of Bowie and Pinson and the intersection of Heritage Hill at FM 740 were also shut down because of high water.

There was a lull in the rain during the early afternoon, but as early as 3:15 p. m., weather forecasters were warning of more thunderstorm development out to the west. However, no more rain fell in the Forney area after Thursday morning’s onslaught.

During and shortly after the storms, the Forney Police Department, the Forney Fire Department, and members of the Public Works Department all came out to help residents as much as they could.

This story and any accompanying photo(s) were originally published in the Forney Messenger and are Copyright © 2009, Forney Messenger, Inc. and have been used by permission. The Forney Messenger is the publisher of Kaufman County’s oldest newspaper and may be found online at www.ForneyMessengerInc.com