Severe storms blast Dallas-Fort Worth with hurricane-force wind gusts as powerful storms push east
Tens of millions of people from the Plains to the Southeast are bracing for what could be a significant severe weather outbreak, with forecasters warning of thunderstorms that will be capable of producing hurricane-force wind gusts, large hail and even tornadoes.
Severe storms barrel across Texas, Oklahoma as threat shifts to Southeast
A line of powerful storms raced across portions of Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday morning, and now the threat of severe weather is going to shift to the Deep South, Gulf Coast and Southeast. FOX Weather Meteorologists Stephen Morgan and Marissa Torres break down the latest forecast.
DALLAS – Power outages have skyrocketed and significant damage has been reported in several communities as severe weather raced across portions of Texas and Oklahoma early Tuesday morning.
Tens of millions of people from the Plains to the Southeast are bracing for a potential significant severe weather outbreak, with forecasters warning of thunderstorms that will be capable of producing hurricane-force wind gusts, large hail and even tornadoes.
A Tornado Watch is in effect for portions of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Emergency response underway in Texas, Oklahoma communities
First responders have been racing to communities that were impacted by the severe weather overnight and into Tuesday morning.
Officials in Ada, Oklahoma, are urging residents to stay off the roads if possible. A large emergency response is underway in the city after a possible tornado tore through it early on Tuesday.
Damaging wind gusts have also been reported across the region including Hillsboro, Texas. The city reported a 62-mph wind gust early Tuesday morning, while Dallas Fort Worth International Airport reported a 74-mph wind gust, which is as strong as a Category 1 hurricane.
Irving, Texas, was also hit hard by the storms, and police have been asking residents to avoid some areas due to the damage.
Watch: Gas station sign toppled during tornado-warned storm in Irving, Texas
Scott Hudek captured this footage Tuesday morning showing the huge gas sign lying at the entrance to a Raceway station in Irving, Texas. The roof and sign of the gas station was also seen damaged, with broken metal hanging down over the filling station’s service window.
Numerous reports of tractor-trailers being knocked over during the severe weather have also been made. According to a report from FOX 4 Dallas, a tractor-trailer was blown over on Interstate 35 in Glenn Heights near the Dallas-Ellis County line.
Major damage was also reported in the community of Lewisville, Texas.
Warehouse badly damaged amid severe weather in Lewisville, TX
New video in of an apparent roof collapse at the Benjamin Moore Paint warehouse in Lewisville, TX off Highway 121. Some of the walls of the warehouse were also missing, pieces of yellow insulation were found as far away as the highway. Parts of the roof were seen strewn across the packing lot on top of 18-wheel tractor trailers. No word on the extent of any injuries (Video Credit: KDFW).
Officials said the storms moved through around 5:30 a.m. local time, bringing down multiple power lines and trees and causing power outages across the city.
New video recorded in Lewisville shows damage after an apparent roof collapse at a Benjamin Moore Paint warehouse in the city. Some of the walls were ripped away from the structure, and pieces of yellow insulation were found scattered across the area.
Several injuries were also reported in Camp County, Texas, after storms knocked over several camping trailers at Big Al's Barefoot Bay in the community of Pittsburgh. Officials said there were multiple injuries as a result, but the extent of those injuries is unknown at this time.
This photo shows significant damage to the roof of the Irving Family Advocacy Center on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (City of Irving / FOX Weather)
A photo shared by officials shows significant damage to the roof of the Irving Family Advocacy Center building. Officials said a temporary shelter has been set up for those impacted by the severe weather.
According to a report from FOX 4 Dallas, the tin roof at Plano West High School was ripped off by powerful winds as the storms tore through the area on Tuesday. One of the school's football coaches suggested that the damage also impacted the gym and locker room.
Roof partially torn of Texas high school during severe storms
Part of the tin roof on Plano West Senior High School was torn off during severe weather Tuesday morning. No injuries have been reported (Video Credit: KDFW).
FOX 4 Dallas said that school was still in session on Tuesday, and the damaged areas have been closed off.
Power outages have been skyrocketing all morning, and at one point, more than 400,000 outages were reported in Texas. Oklahoma was reporting more than 30,000 outages, according to FindEnergy.com.
Severe weather outbreak possible across South on Tuesday
More than 50 million people from East Texas to the Southeast are at risk of severe weather on Tuesday.
However, on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale, the SPC placed more than 9 million people at a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe weather. This includes cities such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport in Louisiana, Mobile in Alabama and Jackson in Mississippi.
"Severe thunderstorms with a threat for tornadoes, damaging winds and isolated hail are possible today from eastern portions of the southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast," the SPC said. "A couple strong tornadoes will be possible."