North Texas faces an unusually high storm threat as a PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch takes effect.
DALLAS — A PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect across North Texas Sunday night into early Monday morning.
A PDS Severe Thunderstorm Watch is a type of alert indicating that the threat of damage from a storm system is unusually high.
According to a 2006 report by meteorologist Charles A. Dean published by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC), PDS thunderstorm watches are issued only when forecasters expect widespread, destructive storms that go beyond the typical threats posed by severe weather. On average, two of these watches are issued annually across the U.S.
What makes a thunderstorm watch "PDS"?
The SPC generally reserves the PDS label for thunderstorms expected to produce widespread damaging winds, extremely large hail (often over 2 inches in diameter), and the potential for embedded tornadoes. While tornadoes may occur, they are not the primary threat in these watches.
The most common scenario leading to a PDS thunderstorm watch is a derecho—a fast-moving, long-lived thunderstorm complex capable of producing hurricane-force winds across hundreds of miles. These storms can leave behind a trail of structural damage, fallen trees and widespread power outages.
A clearer message for public safety
The term “particularly dangerous situation” was first introduced in 1982 by forecaster Robert H. Johns during a high-risk tornado outbreak. Since then, it has expanded to include not just tornado watches but also the most extreme thunderstorm, flash flood and wildfire watches to communicate urgency clearly and directly to the public.
What you should do during a PDS watch
If a PDS severe thunderstorm watch is issued in your area, it means the environment is primed for dangerous weather—likely worse than what most people experience during a routine storm.
- Monitor weather alerts closely.
- Secure outdoor objects, which could become projectiles in high winds.
- Be ready to shelter indoors, away from windows, in a sturdy building.
- Avoid travel, if possible, until the threat has passed.
Source: WFAA.
