North Texas assesses storm damage after storms rip through Fort Worth, Dallas
Parts of North Texas, including Fort Worth, will see strong winds throughout the day Tuesday after a line of storms moved through in the early morning hours and caused widespread wind damage.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding counties were under a tornado watch overnight, which was allowed to expire before 7 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.
Fort Worth activated the outdoor warning siren system due to incoming severe thunderstorms, city officials said on X shortly before 5 a.m.
The outdoor warning system was also activated for the northwest and southwest parts of the city of Dallas due to high winds, officials said on X around 5:30 a.m.
A tornado warning indicated on radar for south Tarrant County, including the Crowley, Burleson, Arlington and Mansfield areas, ended around 5:30 a.m.
Residents commenting on a Crowley Fire Department Facebook post reported damage to roofs, and fences, large trees and carports being knocked over.
A spokesperson for the city of Crowley said around 7:15 a.m. that the storm caused some damage to trees and fences in the area, but no injuries or major damage to structures has been reported.
At least three RV trailers overturned at an RV park on White Settlement Road, Parker County officials said on social media shortly before 5:40 a.m.
Part of Benjamin Moore Paints Distribution Center collapsed in the 2500 block of Texas 121 in Lewisville, and roof damage was reported at a warehouse in the 900 block of South Airport Drive in McKinney.
In Irving, police said that significant storm damage occurred near the intersection of North O’Connor Road and West Pioneer Drive, and some streets in that area were closed to traffic. A photo posted by the Irving Police Department showed the roof and part of the facade ripped away from a building at the Hacienda Apartments. The city set up a temporary shelter at the Georgia Farrow Recreation Center, 530 Davis Drive.
According to the National Weather Service, a tornado may have touched down near Irving, but it hasn’t been confirmed.
A few North Texas schools delayed the start of classes for a couple of hours or closed for the day because of power outages or other storm-related issues. Part of the roof was torn off at Plano West High School, and a fire was reported at Kennedale Junior High School.
Other damage reports across North Texas include an 18-wheeler that rolled over, shutting down lanes on southbound Interstate 35W near Cross Timbers Road in Denton County, according to DFW Scanner.
The storms are moving east quickly, according to National Weather Service Fort Worth meteorologist Monique Sellers. As of 5:40 p.m., the danger of tornadoes had already passed in Fort Worth.
The Fort Worth area did see some small hail early Tuesday morning, according to Sellers.
Strong winds will be a concern throughout the day, Sellers said, and drivers should be cautious during their morning commutes. North Texas is under a wind advisory until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Gusts could reach up to 50 miles per hour in some parts.
Oncor reported more than 250,000 customers without power in its service area as of about 8:30 a.m., with more than 40,000 of those in Tarrant County and over 60,000 in Dallas County. To report an outage, text OUT to 66267, call 888-313-4747, use the MyOncor app, or select “Report an Outage” on the website.
DFW Airport advised its passengers to allow extra time and check their flight status for any delays this morning.
High winds and low humidity following the storm could also make conditions ideal for fires. Fort Worth and areas to the west are under an elevated to critical fire weather risk Tuesday afternoon, according to the NWS.
Jessica Vinzor spent part of the morning March 4 heaving her SUV from the wreckage of the carport beneath her apartment on Deborah Lane in Crowley.
The engine wouldn’t start, so one neighbor popped the car in neutral and guided the wheel as Vinzor and her downstairs neighbor, Sadie Griffith, shoved the front bumper.
“When it comes up, it slaps the windows,” Vinzor said, pointing to the large, loose metal panels still twisting and jumping in the wind.
Vinzor and her children, who sleep in the room overlooking the driveway, were personally unscathed by the violent gusts that roared through Crowley and other parts of North Texas early Tuesday morning.
The storm damaged homes, businesses, and community spaces across the south Tarrant County city. A city spokesperson characterized the bulk of the damage as “minimal to moderate” — felled branches, ripped up shingles, toppled fences.
At least 600 households — Vinzor and Griffith’s among them — still lack power as of 1:15pm Tuesday, the spokesperson added, citing Oncor data.
A short stroll northwest from Vinzor’s apartment, Daniel Suarez gathered branches and debris along the driveway of his home on Peach Street. The gusts had ripped apart some trees and toppled part of his fence, forcing it into the shape of a sine wave.
He managed to get power back, and, he says, his loved ones were fine.
“They were inside all night, so they were pretty good,” Suarez said of the two dogs sitting at his feet.
This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 6:06 AM.
