Power Outage in Dallas, TX

A brief tornado formed in the central portion of the City of Irving, near the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and State Highway 183. Near this formation point, an auto dealership sustained damage to the roof and front facade of the main showroom building. An adjacent power pole was also pushed over. Damage at this dealership was consistent with low end EF-1 intensity windspeeds of approximately 105 mph. The tornado moved northeast through adjacent apartment complexes and residential areas, producing tree damage and occasional roof damage consistent with 65-80 mph winds. The tornado dissipated near the intersection of Rochelle Road and O'Conner Road.

Extreme cold gripped the county for several days. Overnight lows were near or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit almost all week. The period of February 15-16th was the coldest with low temperatures in the single digits, and the maximum temperature on the 15th was only in the mid teens. Wind chill values during the 14th-16th were between 0 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time. The cold temperatures resulted in an extreme amount of damage to pipes, infrastructure, and power. Two men are believed to have died due to poisoning from a generator. The County Medical Examiner also confirmed hypothermia to be at least a factor in the cause of death in 8 males during this period.

A 71 MPH wind gust was reported by the Dallas Love Field Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS). Amateur radio reported power poles and billboards down along with roof damage near Dallas Love Field Airport. A social media report indicated wind damage to a roof and door of a hangar at Dallas Love Field Airport.

Carrollton Police Department reported a power pole down near the intersection of Josey Lane and Frankford Road.

A social media report showed power lines down near Alamo Rd between Campbell Street and N Collins Rd.

The automated weather station at KDAL measured a 59 kt wind gust. The strong winds snapped trees and tree limbs in the area around the airport which damaged cars and power lines.

Amateur radio reported that multiple trees were blown down and the power knocked out at the Dallas Zoo.

Numerous power lines were reported as being knocked down along Greenville Ave in North Dallas. Some vehicles may have also been damaged in that area as well. The Dallas Morning News also reported that 2 transformers were knocked down on Greenville Ave.

Seventy mph winds were measured by a low level wind shear sensor on Dallas Love Field (KDAL). A semi-truck trailer was flipper over in the area. Trees in the area were uprooted, shingles were peeled off roofs, power lines were down, and fences and sheds were damaged.

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Highland Park. On Winston Street near Stonewall Jackson Elementary, an uprooted tree crushed 2 cars. Numerous power outages were reported across the Highland Park and surrounding areas.

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees in Oak Lawn. Some of the trees were over a century old. Numerous power outages were reported across the Oak Lawn and surrounding areas.

Several trees were knocked down in the east Dallas area and around the White Rock area. Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree down onto a car approximately 6 miles east of Dallas. A tree fell on the overhead power lines for the DART train service near the White Rock Station.

An average of 1-3 of ice and sleet accumulated in Dallas County. Most of the accumulations were due to sleet and the heaviest amounts fell in the northwestern portions of the county. 2.5 of sleet was reported on Coppell, and 0.30 of freezing rain was reported in Mesquite. Irving reported 2.75 of ice and sleet. Half an inch of freezing rain/ice was reported in Dallas. Hundreds of traffic accidents occurred on the icy streets and hundreds of tree branches broke due to the weight of the ice. Several power lines also snapped due to the weight of the ice. The clean-up from the ice storm took several weeks. A male died after his car lost control on icy roads at Preston and Royal in Dallas, an elderly woman died after falling on some ice in her yard, and another woman died from exposure to the cold.

An EF-0 tornado with maximum estimated around 85 mph occurred in west Irving. The twister damaged a metal awning at a house and uprooted trees along Avenida Loop by the Irving Mall. Continuing to the northeast, the twister damaged part of the roof of the Goodwill store on N Belt Line Rd and blew HVAC units off the rooftop of the store. Wood power poles were leaning near W Rochelle Rd and N Belt Line Rd. Near the end of the track, trees were uprooted and minor damage was noted at Townsell Elementary School. Two air conditioning units at the school were damaged and so was a gas line. The path length was non-continuous and was approximately 1.3 miles long with a narrow width of 30 yards.

A NWS Storm Survey determined that straight-line winds damaged several trees at an apartment complex in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas, located southeast of Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL). Power lines were also knocked down, and a man died of electrocution from the fallen power lines. It is believed he went outside after the storm had passed and was electrocuted by the power line laying on the ground, possibly hidden under a fallen tree branch or leaves.

Power poles were bent over and 10 grain houses suffered damage in the city of Seagoville. Tree damage was also reported around the city.

An average of 9-12 of snow fell across the county. An NWS employee measured 12.5 in Garland. Power outages and vehicles sliding off the road were numerous around the county. About 50 major accidents were reported and nearly 200 minor accidents. No serious injuries were reported. Several carports collapsed in Coppell with cars under them and several more collapsed carports were reported around the county. Just west of Dallas on Interstate 30, the roof of a tire warehouse partially collapsed around 5:30 AM on the 12th. The roof of the sanctuary at Central Pointe Church of Christ in the Red Bird area also collapsed and the sanctuary was considered a total loss.

Numerous trees were uprooted or knocked down in Coppell. Tree limbs were also knocked down. Many of the trees that were knocked over were bradford pears. Power outages also occurred.

A trained spotter in Rowlett reported trees and power lines down. KDAL measured a 48 mph wind gust in association with strong winds on the back edge of the precipitation shield of the MCS. A combination of the winds and lightning knocked out power to approximately 25,000 customers.

Icy tree limbs fell on power lines, causing about 48,000 residents and businesses to experience power outages across the metroplex.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth found that a tornado touched down in DeSoto along Meadowbrook Road just west of Hampton Road. The tornado traveled east-northeast to the eastern edge of the city just north of Wintergreen Road. Several homes suffered roof damage with one home losing the majority of its roof. There were around twenty homes that sustained damage. Many downed trees, power poles, and power lines were noted along with damage to sheds and outbuildings. This tornado was rated an EF-1 with estimated maximum wind speeds of 95 MPH.

A trailer overturned near Lake Ray Roberts Dam due to strong winds. The winds also caused arcing power lines which sparked several small fires.

Large limbs blown down and power flashes reported just northwest of Addison Airport.

Numerous trees and power lines downed. Power out to about 300,000 houses and businesses in the metroplex. Plymouth House Apartments in Oak Cliff suffered major roof damage, with a large portion of the roof thrown across the road. About 60 to 70 residents were displaced. In addition to wind damage, the units also suffered water damage. In Grand Prairie, the roof of a 20,000 square foot warehouse was torn off, damaging the walls and the fuse box. An overhead sign was ripped down on Interstate 20.

Hundreds of power lines, trees, and other structures were blown down by high winds, which were between 20 to 30 MPH sustained and gusted between 50 and 60 MPH for hours. In addition, signs and fences were blown down and shingles were blown off roofs. About 50,000 businesses and residents in the county were without power by mid-afternoon. |Fires were also a problem, as the winds sparked electrical equipment and arcing power lines fell onto structures and grass. Small grassfires became large blazes due to the winds.|Visibilities dropped as low as one mile at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as a cloud of dust overspread the region. The dust cloud was clearly visible by satellite and was estimated to be 400 miles long, 70 miles wide, and about 18,000 feet high. Operations were suspended at area airports due to the strength of the wind.

Several roads were closed due to icing during this event, including U.S. Highway 67 in Cedar Hill, and Spur 408 at Intersate 20. Large limbs were downed due to the icing in Duncanville. Hundreds of accidents were reported with cars sliding off roads and into one another. One woman died when her car slid into a tractor-trailer on Interstate 30. About 400 flights were cancelled from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Around 2,500 people in the county were without power as power lines were downed by falling branches and trees laden with ice.

A mixture of freezing rain, snow, and sleet fell across the metroplex, causing 2,700 power outages across the area. Hundreds of accidents were reported as well, with several hundred flights cancelled at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Power was knocked out to at least 17,000 households Wednesday morning in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as sustained strong winds knocked over power poles and transformers. Large trees and limbs were knocked down throughout the county. Fences, signs, trampolines, and other outdoor items were blown around as well. Additionally, 160 flight were cancelled at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

At least one power line was blown down. The former Dallas City Manager was electrocuted and killed while investigating the downed power line.

A fast moving cold front brought strong northwest winds and blowing dust to north Texas Friday afternoon. Visibilities dropped to 3 miles in some locations due to the blowing dust. Measured wind gusts reached 51 MPH at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth and at Addison Airport in north Dallas. Several thousand people lost power. Minor damage was reported around the area, with several windows blown out of downtown Dallas skyscrapers. Downed trees and power lines were also reported.

Large tree limbs down and power poles snapped.

Trees and power lines blown down over roadway.

5 inch tree limbs broken off causing widespread power outages.

20 apartment units were unroofed and flooded in Pleasant Grove. There were also numerous reports of trees and power lines blown down.

Power lines and power poles were blown down by high winds. One power pole was blown down onto acar and the side of a church in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas.

Power lines were blown down 3 miles east of Love Field.

Warm/moist air rising above a sub-freezing arctic airmass generated freezing rain and sleet across much of North and Central Texas during the last few days of January through February 2nd. This was a complex event with several rounds of freezing drizzle, sleet, and freezing rain. The beginning of this event is discussed in the January 2023 Storm Data summary, but on February 1st & 2nd freezing rain was the primary form of precipitation leading to ice accumulations up to 0.75 across parts of Central and far Northeast Texas. Tree damage and power outages were the primary impacts during the early February days. Because the winter event had begun a few days before, travel impacts were more notable in late January, but icy roads continued February 1st & 2nd.

A historic winter storm, that began on February 9th, 2021, continued to cripple the region through February 19th. One wave of winter precipitation moved across the region February 13-15th, with another round of snow and ice on February 16-17th. Snowfall totals for both rounds ranged from 1 inch to nearly 10 inches with the largest snowfall totals across the eastern counties of the CWA. Icing totals were highest across parts of Central Texas again where over a half inch of ice was reported in some areas. While the snow and ice had impacts to transportation, power and more, the largest impacts were from the record breaking cold temperatures and wind chills.||Extremely cold temperatures and wind chills gripped the region during this period. The impacts and damages to the region during this historic event were largely due to the cold temperatures/wind chills. The cold temperatures resulted in days-long power outages for some, and an immeasurable amount of pipe, infrastructure and building damage. Damage totals that have been reported so far are near 140 million for North and Central Texas, and most of that is likely contributed to the cold weather. In addition, 30 deaths were officially reported during this period/event. Many of the details of each case were unknown at the time of publication due to pending information from county officials, but many of the known causes were due to hypothermia or the cold weather.

Large scale lift ahead of an upper level shortwave, combined with ample instability and adequate moisture across the region, resulted in numerous thunderstorms across the region. Scattered convection developed in the afternoon hours but a linear MCS had formed by the late afternoon hours. Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported but the most significant damage occurred in Dallas County due to damaging wind gusts. A weak tornado produced minor damage in west Dallas, but damaging downburst winds produced numerous tree damage and brought down power lines across areas in and around the city of Dallas. Heavy rainfall also produced flash flooding in Dallas and also in Hunt County. One fatality was reported in the Dallas area due to a car crash on a wet roadway.

A winter storm affected much of North and Central Texas for an extended period from December 5th through the 10th. A combination of freezing rain, sleet, and a little snow began falling during the day on the 5th and continued through the morning hours of the 6th. As the ice and sleet settled on the 6th, a thick layer of ice paralyzed most of the area north of a line from Goldthwaite to Cleburne to Ennis to Sulphur Springs. In this area, accumulations of sleet and ice measured up to 5 with the highest amounts from Denton to Sherman to Bonham. Temperatures remained below freezing until the 9th and 10th resulting in a prolonged winter event. Most residents were forced to remain at home for several days. A new term, coined cobblestone ice, was used to describe the condition of the ice on the interstates and highways due to the compaction of ice and sleet. South of this area, lighter amounts of icing occurred producing mainly icy bridges, overpasses, and elevated surfaces.||As a result of the ice storm, significant tree damage occurred with thousands of tree branches falling under the weight of the ice. Power lines were also brought down, and at the peak of the storm, 275,000 customers were without power in the North Texas region. Most schools, especially in the hardest hit areas, were closed for several days. Some businesses were forced to close for a day or two also. Hundreds of injuries were reported due to falls on the ice but exact numbers were not available. Seven fatalities occurred during this event; 4 in vehicles, 2 from exposure, and 1 from a fall on the ice. Early estimates from the insurance council estimated $30 million in residental insured loses. The estimate did not include damage to vehicles or roads. Many roads and bridges were damaged from the ice and/or from attempts by TXDOT to remove the ice using plows and graders. Hundreds of people and semis were stranded for long periods on many of the main highways and interstates including I-35 from Fort Worth to the Oklahoma border and Interstate 20 from Fort Worth going west. The clean-up from this event took weeks and even a few months is some places.

A line of thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front that was moving across the region. These thunderstorms produced mostly wind damage across the eastern half of the CWA. The most significant damage was reported in Collin County where a mobile home was rolled onto its top. In addition to the thunderstorm winds, very strong winds behind the front continued into the following day. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph were common with wind gusts over 50 mph in some locations. These winds caused many power outages across the region and some additional minor damage. Also, the strong winds fueled 2 grass fires which caused some property damage in Bell and McLennan Counties.

A powerful and slow moving upper level low pressure system brought severe weather and flooding to North Texas on the 19th and into the overnight hours of the 20th. The event initially began as severe thunderstorms with hail up to the size of golf balls developed in the western portions of the CWA. Damaging winds and flooding became the main concern after midnight. Several locations across North Texas received over 6 inches of rain from this event. Significant flash flooding occurred in McLennan and Navarro Counties.

A southward moving cold front and an upper level trough combined to aid in the development of a line of severe thunderstorms that primarily affected locations east of Interstate 35. Damaging winds up to 60 mph were the main hazard with this event, but there were also several reports of hail up to the size of golfballs. The damage associated with the high winds was primarily to trees and power lines.

A powerful, negatively-tilted upper level trough moved into the Central Plains during the late afternoon hours which aided in the development of supercell thunderstorms near the intersection of a cold front and dryline in north central Texas. These storms developed near the Interstate 35 corridor and the Red River during the early evening hours, and then continued south-southeast through the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. These storms primarily produced golfball sized hail, however several reports of damaging winds were reported in Dallas County, likely associated with a microburst in the northeastern portion of the county. Unfortunately, a 5-year old boy drowned on Lake Benbrook in Tarrant County when their boat capsized due to strong winds produced by a nearby thunderstorm.

A record snowfall fell across north Texas beginning the early morning hours of February 11th and continuing until the early morning hours of the 12th. Four climate data records for snow at DFW Airport were broken during this event including the highest 24-hour snowfall total. A total of 12.5 of snow was reported by the DFW weather observer. The heaviest snow fell across an area from Emory to DFW to southwest Jack County. The highest snowfall total measured was 14.4 in northwest Tarrant County. This snow storm caused major tree damage and resulted in over 500,000 power outages in north Texas. Some residents were without power for up to 4 days after the event. Many power outages were caused by tree limbs breaking and falling on power lines. Fallen tree limbs also caused problems on area roadways and damage to vehicles and homes. The damage caused by falling trees and to powerlines accounted for most of the monetary damage estimate in the region. The weight of the snow also resulted in the collapse of several metal carports and a few roof collapses. School closings, early releases, and delays were common on both days, and the same applied to numerous government offices and businesses. Also impacted were roadways where the prolonged snowfall event and the weight of the snow caused damage and resulted in pot holes in numerous counties. The roadways themselves remained slushy or clear throughout the event, and most traffic incidents reported were due to vehicles sliding off the roads due to the slickness caused by the slush. However, 1 vehicle fatality was reported and a few more injuries from vehicle accidents were reported. Several hundred flights were canceled at area airports.

A powerful upper level system dipped into north Texas bringing near blizzard conditions to the northwest portions of north Texas. Wind gusts up to 50 mph were reported during the afternoon hours across much of the western half of north Texas. Most of the snowfall fell west of a line from Bonham to Waco to Lampasas. The highest snowfall totals of 9 were reported in Montague and Jack County. During the winter weather event, numerous people across the area had to be rescued from their cars or had their cars towed after sliding off the road. Travelers along HWY 287 in Montague County and I-20 in Eastland County became stranded and many spent the night in their vehicles. After the snowfall ended in the evening hours, the water on the roads froze resulting in icy conditions and hazardous travel conditions on Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning. Several more accidents occurred on the icy roads and numerous cars spun out and were abandoned for the night. Five people were killed by accidents due to the ice. Four died on Christmas Eve and one died a few days later on a patch of ice that remained in a shaded area.

Severe thunderstorms continued to erupt in an unstable environment behind the MCS that moved through north Texas on the 10th. Training cells moved across the northern portions of the Metroplex and Dallas County resulting in significant flash flooding. Numerous water rescues were needed in the Metroplex. Additional power outages continued with an estimated 500,000 customers in the Metroplex losing power from either the earlier MCS or the flooding storms on the 11th.

An MCS moved through north Texas causing significant damage to areas generally along and north of Interstate 20. Significant and widespread tree, fence and power line damage was reported along the path of the MCS. In addition, three tornadoes touched down in the northern portions of the DFW Metroplex. Approximately 250,000 people were left without power in the Metroplex and hundreds of flights were grounded or cancelled at DFW and DAL.

A shallow arctic airmass moved over north Texas as an upper level storm system moved in from the west. Periods of rain, freezing rain, and sleet occurred resulting in thousands of traffic accidents and numerous power outages. Ice accumulations ranged from a tenth to over a half inch. Indirect monetary damages were over a million dollars with dozens of injuries (indirect).

A vigorous upper level system moved over freezing air at the surface, producing rain which froze on contact as it struck trees, fences, and power lines. Around 48,000 people were temporarily without power. Record high temperatures the previous week helped significant icing from occurring on roadways. Only minor travel disruptions were reported over the northwestern half of north Texas.

There were dozens of reports of damage due to strong winds as a powerful low pressure system and cold front moved through the state.

A powerful upper level storm system moved from the desert southwest into west Texas. Storms developed along a dry line Sunday evening. The main area of upper level lift along with an attendant Pacific cold front arrived Monday. As a result, there were several reports of severe weather and flooding.

A strong low pressure system in Kansas caused winds behind a dryline to blow between 20 and 40 MPH sustained, with gusts into the 50 to 60 MPH range, bringing with them a huge cloud of dust. Operations were suspended at area airports due to the strength of the wind. Widespread incidents of wind damage and fires sparked by arcing power lines were reported across much of North Texas. Visibilities dropped as low as one mile at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as the cloud of dust overspread the region. The dust cloud was clearly visible by satellite and was estimated to be 400 miles long, 70 miles wide, and about 18,000 feet high.

A series of slow moving upper level disturbances produced unusually heavy rain across most of North Central Texas in June. The monthly rainfall ranged from a low of4.08 inches in Eastland County to 20.02 inches at Hudson Oaks in Parker County. Many locations had twice their normal rainfall for the month. The DFW Airport had the second wettest June on Record, and had measurable rain 18 days, the most days in any month with measurable rain. These heavy rains produced periodic flash flooding somewhere in North Central Texas nearly every day of the month. The month began with a northwest flow event on the 1st, with a large hp supercell producing large hail from Jack County southeast to Parker County. The storm had an erratic southeast movement, but when the storm entered Northern Parker County, it made a left turn and moved nearly due east through Tarrant County, producing countywide wind damage, with measured winds up to 86 miles an hour at the Meacham Airport, some large hail, and flash flood producing rains. This became the most destructive storm in Tarrant County since the Mayfest Storm on May 5, 1995. TXU Electric had their worst power outages in the Companies history, as over 500,000 people were without electricity, some for as long as 5 days. They had to bring in work crews from out of state to help restore power. Damage estimates for Tarrant County were well over $100,000,000 from this storm. Sporadic severe weather occurred the rest of the month, but heavy rain and flooding were the main problems.

February 23,24 - Episode NarrativeAnother slow moving storm system brought copious amounts of rain to north Texas and more flash flooding. A stalled boundary helped focus the rain across north Texas, and many reports of flooding were received.The same stalled boundary from the 23rd, together with a nocturnal low level jet stream, allowed for thunderstorm development, mainly north and west of a Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, Canton line. These thunderstorms left additional outflow boundaries which developed more thunderstorms. Due to the cold air aloft, hail and damaging winds were the main events. During the morning hours of the 24th, a supercell thunderstorm moved from Northern Dallas County to Fannin County bringing heavy rain, hail, and strong wind. Additionally, a squall line developed and moved across North Texas bringing mainly wind to the area. Across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, some wind gusts included: DFW Airport, a wind gust to 67 kts, with Alliance Airport in Fort Worth recording a wind gust of 61 kts. Other reports included 32 kts at Dallas Love Field, 45 kts at Fort Worth Meacham Airport, 48 kts at Mineral Wells, 35 kts at Denton Airport and 33 kts at McKinney. Numerous reports of downed power lines, roof and structure damage were received as a result of the strong winds over the area.

Freezing rain downed trees and power lines and caused power outages generally along and north of interstate 20 on the 25th and 26th. Thousands of people were without power along the Red River. Up to 4 inches of ice covered trees and power lines along the Red River from Montague County eastward to Lamar County. This was described by some as the worst ice storm in 51 years.A band of sleet and snow moved across North Central Texas the night of the 27th dropping up to 12 inches of snow on interstate 20 at Ranger Hill in eastern Eastland County. Several thousand people were stranded and had to be rescued by national guard troops in hum-vees. There were two bands of heavy snow on satellite. One extended from northern Hamilton county across northwest Bosque, Erath, eastern Eastland, southeast Stephens, and western Palo Pinto counties. The second band extended from northern Hill County northeast across eastern Johnson, northwest Ellis, and into southern Dallas County. There was a maximum of 7 inches of snow at Itasca, in Hill County, with the second snow band.

A mixture of sleet and freezing rain, with sleet accumulations up to one inch, affected all of North Central Texas from the afternoon of the 12th until midday on the 13th. Hundreds of accidents occurred, with numerous closures of businesses and schools, and hundreds of flights were canceled at the DFW airport. The roof of a supermarket in Boyd, in Wise county, collapsed from accumulations of ice. Electricity outages due to ice covered power lines and trees affected approximately 110,000 people. Some state highways and interstate highways were closed due to ice or accidents.

An arctic cold front moved through North Texas on January 24th, bringing much colder weather to the region. On January 25th, an upper level storm moved southeast across Oklahoma and the northeast Red River counties of North Texas, dropping up to an inch of sleet and snow at Paris. A second and stronger upper level storm moved across North Texas on the 26th and 27th, spreading a mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow over all of North Texas. Ice accumulations ranged from a trace in the southern tier of counties to one quarter inch across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Sleet and snow accumulations ranged from two inches in the Northwest to five inches in the Northeast. At least four deaths were blamed on icy driving conditions with hundreds of accidents on snow and ice covered roads. Numerous minor injuries occured. Numerous schools and business were closed at various time periods due to the ice and snow. Over four hundred flights were cancelled at the D/FW Airport and there were power outages to over 30,000 homes.