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Dallas Tornado Map: What Path Did the Tornado Take?

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dallas tornado map
Dallas Fire and Rescue
A Dallas fire station sustained tornado damage. Maps show the tornado's path.

A tornado devastated parts of Dallas, Texas, and photos and videos online show destroyed businesses and homes, smashed 18 wheelers, and uprooted trees. What path did the tornado take? You can see maps and get details on the tornado’s track below, as well as see photos and videos (including aerial views) documenting the destruction and powerful twister itself. The tornado was described as “large” and “violent.” The tornado cut a path to Richardson and Midlothian.

Scanner traffic captured fire and rescue officials confirming a collapse “at the Home Depot” located at at 11682 Forest Lane. (See photos and videos of the Home Depot damage here.) Throughout the early morning hours of October 21, 2019, rescue officials were conducting searches, investigating gas leaks, and discussed a person being taken to the hospital. The twister elevated debris 20,000 feet high, according to The Washington Post. “An NWS survey team has determined that the estimated maximum winds for the tornado in North Dallas is 140 mph, consistent with an EF-3 rating,” the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office wrote on Twitter.

The damage centered around the Love Field Area, including Walnut Hill Lane and along Interstate-635. Luckily, though, no deaths were reported. You can listen to archived scanner audio of the hours after the tornado hit later in this article. The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office was conducting damage surveys on October 21, and released this map:

Maps showed the twister’s roughly 15-mile path. Intersections that were hit hard included Bowser at Buckingham in Richardson and Pemberton Drive and Tibbs Street in Dallas. According to Fox4News, the tornado struck North Dallas and “traveled east through Garland, Richardson, Rockwall and Sachse.” (A person in Arkansas died from the storm.)

Here’s another look at the storm’s track.

“Currently, there are approximately 35 traffic signals with no communication and crews are responding for repairs. Residents should call 3-1-1 to report downed traffic lights,” Dallas police wrote in an update right after the storm hit. Here’s how the damage looked in the bright light of day:

Here’s an aerial view of north Dallas:

Here’s another view of the tornado damage:

More:

Not to be overshadowed by the Dallas devastation, Richardson was also dealing with the twister’s aftermath.

In Dallas, the tornado tore through affluent neighborhoods.

The tornado struck around 9 p.m. near Dallas Love Field airport, and then ripped a path through homes and businesses to the east. More than 100,000 people were left without power, but only a handful of non life-threatening injuries resulted.

According to NBC Dallas, the tornado touched down “near I-35E and I-635 and then continued to travel east towards Richardson and Garland.” Photos and videos showed major damage to a church as well.

NBC Dallas also reported that the front of the Floors Masters building along Harry Hines Boulevard, just south of Walnut Hill Lane, had collapsed.

According to the television station, searches were occurring east of the 9600 block of Brockbank Drive and “along St. Michaels Drive, just north of Royal Lane, about a mile west of U.S. Hwy 75.” Damage in the latter area consisted of downed trees and powerlines, the television station reported. There was also major damage in “Richardson, near Richland College,” NBC reported.

Here’s the rotation track of the tornado:

“Residents are encouraged to stay indoors if they are in an area with storm damage due to downed trees, power lines and debris,” Dallas police wrote.

“There are reports of gas leaks north of Walnut Hill. If residents smell natural gas or suspect a natural gas leak, leave the area immediately and from a safe distance, call 9-1-1 and the Atmos Energy 24/7emergency line at 866-322-8667.” (See a full list of street and school closures here.)

Videos captured the ominous twister. This was one of the most widely shared – and frightening – videos of the Dallas twister. Here’s a round up of ways you can help the area recover from the destruction.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Tornado’s Path Damaged Schools, Six of Them Extensively, But the Flag at Home Depot Was Still Standing

The Dallas School District reported, “UPDATE: Due to the severe weather, a number of @dallasschools campuses sustained extensive damage…” As for closures, the district said: “Now up to 20 @dallasschools. 14 closures due to power outages, six due to extensive damage.” Here’s a link to the district website with more information.

St. Mark’s campus was also hit. “St. Mark’s campus takes a direct hit from a tornado on Sunday evening. All people on campus reported as safe. No school on Monday as school administrators assess damage. Please avoid visiting campus until further notice,” the school wrote on Twitter.

At least three people were injured, but no deaths have been reported, as of the morning of October 21, 2019. The Home Depot store was among the buildings most severely damaged, suffering a “direct hit.”

The flag at the Home Depot was still standing, though. NWS Fort Worth wrote on October 21, “We have several teams conducting damage surveys today (Monday) and possibly tomorrow across parts of Dallas County and Van Zandt County.”

Listen to archived scanner audio from Broadcastify, shortly after 9 p.m. on October 20.

And:

And:

One man was stuck in his car when the tornado hit.

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On October 21, 2019, the City of Dallas PD released this list of street closures:

Street Closures for the Northwest Section of the City:
Shady Trail/Southwell Road
Webb Chapel Road/Kinkaid Drive
Marsh Lane/Woodleigh Drive
Walnut Hill Lane/Shady Trail
Harry Hines Boulevard/Brenner Drive
Dallas Police Dept
Walnut Hill Lane/Webb Chapel Road
Walnut Hill Lane/Midway Road
Shady Trail/Andjon Drive
Walnut Hill Lane/Marsh Lane
Walnut Hill Lane/Woodleigh Drive
Preston Road/Norway Road

Street Closures for the Northwest Section of the City:
Marsh Lane/Walnut Hill Lane
Harry Hines Boulevard/Manana Drive
Denton Drive/Lombardy Lane
Walnut Hill Lane/Monroe Drive
Harry Hines Boulevard/Freewood Drive
Harry Hines Boulevard/Walnut Hill Lane

Street Closures for the North Central Section of the City:
Hillcrest Road/Walnut Hill Lane
Hillcrest Road/Royal Lane
Westbound Royal Lane at St. Michaels Drive
Northbound St. Michaels Drive at Royal Lane
Preston Road/Royal Lane

In nearby Richardson, The city released three maps of roads under repair. “Major roads currently closed and under repair are:

Centennial Blvd. between Bowser Rd. and Grove Rd.
Abrams Rd. between Buckingham Rd. and Park Bend Dr.
Bowser Rd. between Centennial Blvd. and Buckingham Rd.
Coit Rd. at Spring Valley Rd (open but treated as a 4-way stop).”

Here are those maps:

City of Richardson

City of Richardson

City of Richardson

The tornado cut a swath through residential areas as well, knocking out power. “Multiple Dallas Fire-Rescue units are still searching an impacted area on Strait Lane. Some of the largest houses in Dallas are located on this street. Unknown damage at this time,” DFW scanner wrote on Twitter, in the moments after the tornado first hit.

Trees were uprooted throughout Dallas.

The Dallas Police Department wrote on Twitter that “Dallas officers are going door to door east of the 9600 block of Brockbank Drive to check the status of residents after the severe storm left damages.” The area of Walnut Hill Lane and Marsh all the way into Richardson had damage, according to scanner traffic. “A lot of really big trees down also,” a rescue official said on the scanner.

You can listen to Dallas Fire and Rescue on Broadcastify here. “Confirmed Tornado touchdown in North Dallas, extensive damage reported,” the page says. Rescue workers were conducting searches in sectored off areas, according to scanner traffic.

Tyler Seguin’s Mansion Was Among the Structures Destroyed

Dallas Stars player Tyler Seguin’s home was among those destroyed.

WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely posted photos of a destroyed home (later revealed to be Seguin’s), writing that the damage occurred “near Dallas North Tollway and Royal Lane in North Dallas.” He included a map with that tweet.

The City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management wrote, “If you’re in an area with storm damage, stay indoors and safe if possible. There are trees and power lines down along with other debris in the area. Please use caution if you have to be out. @DallasFireRes_q & @DallasPD are on scene.” The office also wrote, “We did sound the sirens for tonight’s tornado in NW & NE Dallas. @DallasFireRes_qand @DallasPD are on scene assessing the situations. Please exercise caution in these areas.”

This photo showed a tree on a car:

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Here’s what else is known about the tornado’s location:

The National Weather Service Confirmed Visual Confirmation of a Tornado in Northern Dallas, North of 635 & East of 75

At 10:30 p.m, the National Weather Service Fort Worth Office (which also serves Dallas), wrote, “Severe storms containing large hail and damaging winds are moving east at 35 mph into Kaufman and Hunt Co(s). These storms could become tornadic at any time! Take cover in these areas and downstream!” At 10:25 p.m., NWS wrote, “1025 PM: Severe storm continues across Kaufman County and is capable of producing a tornado. Take Shelter in Terrell and Oak Ridge! #dfwwx.”

About an hour before that, NWS reported, “We now have visual CONFIRMATION of a tornado in Northern Dallas north of 635 and east of 75. Everyone in northeast Dallas needs to take shelter now!! #dfwwx.”

According to Fox4 News, the tornado struck in the the Dallas Love Field area just after 9 p.m. It moved east to the city boundaries of Richardson and Garland, the television station reported, adding that the tornado “touched down near 635 and Skillman.”

Photos of the twister spread on social media.

CBS Local reported that there was damage along 635 in Dallas.

The television station reported that the tornado touched down on “75 and Royal.”

Fox4 News also reported that the tornado “touched down near Abrams Rd. & Park Ln. in Dallas.”

A woman wrote, “A tornado went past us on 75 and Forest Lane. We took underground cover and the tornado sounded like a train. There’s debris everywhere. ”

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A WFAA photojournalist shared a video showing damage and wrote, “Appears a tornado hit Preston Hollow in north Dallas. This is Walnut Hill at Montclair.”

There was tornado damage on 35.

A man wrote on Twitter, “My stepsister’s friend sent her this video of the tornado damage from the Preston Royal shopping mall in Dallas, Texas. He was almost trapped at work but thankfully made it out ok.”

People expressed shock on social media.

This post is being updated as more information is learned about the Dallas tornado.

READ NEXT: Dallas Tornado Damage.

Jessica McBride is a reporter covering sports for Heavy. She is a former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Waukesha Freeman newspapers in Wisconsin and is a senior journalism instructor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. More about Jessica McBride

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