The tornado touched down at 8:58 p.m. just southwest of [[Northwest Highway (Texas)|State Highway 348]] and near Luna Road, where it would begin to snap large tree branches and inflict minor damage to the roofs of buildings at EF0 intensity. The tornado began to track east-northeastward, crossing State Highway 348 and approaching [[Interstate 35E (Texas)|Interstate 35E]]. As the tornado crossed the interstate, it turned sharply to the east and began to strengthen, inflicting EF1 to EF2 damage to numerous commercial buildings as it approached Harry Hines Boulevard. The tornado struck a strip mall along Walnut Hill Lane and Shady Trail, collapsing several exterior walls at EF2 intensity with estimated speed winds of {{Convert|122|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. The tornado then tracked south of the Harry Hines Boulevard/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, where numerous homes and businesses sustained EF1 to EF2-rated damage. The tornado maintained its intensity as it began to track just south of Walnut Hill Lane, where several gas stations, churches, and large commercial buildings sustained significant damage to their exterior walls and roofs, with at least one apartment complex being impacted as well. A large retail building along Walnut Hill Lane sustained high-end EF2 damage, with several exterior walls collapsing. Additionally, a smaller retail building along the same road was extensively damaged, with portions of the structure collapsing.
The tornado touched down at 8:58 p.m. just southwest of [[Northwest Highway (Texas)|State Highway 348]] and near Luna Road, where it would begin to snap large tree branches and inflict minor damage to the roofs of buildings at EF0 intensity. The tornado began to track east-northeastward, crossing State Highway 348 and approaching [[Interstate 35E (Texas)|Interstate 35E]]. As the tornado crossed the interstate, it turned sharply to the east and began to strengthen, inflicting EF1 to EF2 damage to numerous commercial buildings as it approached Harry Hines Boulevard. The tornado struck a strip mall along Walnut Hill Lane and Shady Trail, collapsing several exterior walls at EF2 intensity with estimated speed winds of {{Convert|122|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. The tornado then tracked south of the Harry Hines Boulevard/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, where numerous homes and businesses sustained EF1 to EF2-rated damage. The tornado maintained its intensity as it began to track just south of Walnut Hill Lane, where several gas stations, churches, and large commercial buildings sustained significant damage to their exterior walls and roofs, with at least one apartment complex being impacted as well. A large retail building along Walnut Hill Lane sustained high-end EF2 damage, with several exterior walls collapsing. Additionally, a smaller retail building along the same road was extensively damaged, with portions of the structure collapsing.
The tornado continued to inflict EF1 to EF2 damage as the tornado tracked east-northeast, crossing Walnut Hill Lane and striking an apartment building along Glenrio Lane, tearing the entire roof off at EF2-strength. The tornado then tracked across Marsh Lane, with numerous homes and several businesses sustaining damage east of this road. A small professional building along the Marsh Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection sustained EF2 damage, with the entire structure collapsing. The tornado then struck the Primera Iglesia Bautista of Dallas that was along the Betty Jane Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, with one man that was inside managing to seek shelter underneath a [[breezeway]] and escape unharmed. The church lost the majority of its roof, and several buildings on the property sustained severe damage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayala |first=Eva-Marie |last2=Booke |first2=Erin |last3= |first3= |date=2019-10-21 |title=‘If I would have died, that would have been God’s plan.’ Faith remains despite church collapsing around him during tornado |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2019/10/21/faith-holds-steady-for-congregations-after-tornado-storm-destroyed-houses-of-worship/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[Dallas News]] |language=en}}</ref> The tornado then struck the Northway Church, tearing portions of the roof off.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Matt |date=2021-08-27 |title=Almost Two Years After the Tornado, Northway Church Is Still Without Its Sanctuary |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2021/08/almost-two-years-after-the-tornado-northway-church-is-still-without-its-sanctuary/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[D Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-13 |title=Sanctuary ‘Had To Be Completely Torn Down’: North Dallas Church Still Recovering From 2019 Tornado – CBS Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/sanctuary-torn-down-dallas-texas-church-recovering-2019-tornado/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
The tornado continued to inflict EF1 to EF2 damage as the tornado tracked east-northeast, crossing Walnut Hill Lane and striking an apartment building along Glenrio Lane, tearing the entire roof off at EF2-strength. The tornado then tracked across Marsh Lane, with numerous homes and several businesses sustaining damage east of this road. A small professional building along the Marsh Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection sustained EF2 damage, with the entire structure collapsing. The tornado then struck the Primera Iglesia Bautista of Dallas along the Betty Jane Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, with one man that was inside managing to seek shelter underneath a [[breezeway]] and escape unharmed. The church lost the majority of its roof, and several buildings on the property sustained severe damage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayala |first=Eva-Marie |last2=Booke |first2=Erin |last3= |first3= |date=2019-10-21 |title=‘If I would have died, that would have been God’s plan.’ Faith remains despite church collapsing around him during tornado |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2019/10/21/faith-holds-steady-for-congregations-after-tornado-storm-destroyed-houses-of-worship/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[Dallas News]] |language=en}}</ref> The tornado then struck the Northway Church, tearing portions of the roof off.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Matt |date=2021-08-27 |title=Almost Two Years After the Tornado, Northway Church Is Still Without Its Sanctuary |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2021/08/almost-two-years-after-the-tornado-northway-church-is-still-without-its-sanctuary/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[D Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-13 |title=Sanctuary ‘Had To Be Completely Torn Down’: North Dallas Church Still Recovering From 2019 Tornado – CBS Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/sanctuary-torn-down-dallas-texas-church-recovering-2019-tornado/ |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notes ==
== Notes ==
 |
|
| Formed | October 20, 2019, 8:58 p.m. CDT |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | October 20, 2019, 9:30 p.m. CDT |
| Duration | 32 minutes |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Max width | 1,300 yards (0.74 mi; 1.2 km) |
| Path length | 15.76 miles (25.36 km) |
| Highest winds | 140 mph (230 km/h) |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Damage | $1.55 billion (2019 USD) (6th costliest tornado in US history) |
| Areas affected | North Dallas, Texas, Richardson, Texas |
| Power outages | >100,000 |
| Houses destroyed | 106[note 1] |
|
Part of the Tornado outbreak of October 20–22, 2019 and Tornadoes of 2019 |
|
During the evening hours of October 20, 2019, a large, intense, and extremely costly nocturnal tornado tracked 15.76 miles through North Dallas and Richardson, Texas, inflicting widespread damage to numerous structures. The tornado caused $1.55 billion (2019 USD)[note 2] in damages, making it the costilest tornadic event in Texas’s history, and the sixth-costilest tornado in United States history. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged to some degree by the tornado, with 106 structures being completely destroyed. The tornado first touched down in northwest Dallas, just north of the Trinity River Greenbelt Park, and dissipated near Duck Creek after being on the ground for 32 minutes. Over 100,000 customers lost power in the wake of the tornado, and several schools, shopping centers, churches, and a Home Depot were destroyed. Despite the significant damage done, no injuries or fatalites were associated with the tornado.
Meteorological synopsis
[edit]
At 1:00 a.m. CDT[note 3] on October 20, 2019, the Storm Prediction Center outlined an enhanced risk for southeastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and portions of northern Texas, as a strengthening trough tracked from the Rocky Mountains into the Great Plains, with strengthening wind shear and increasing moisture ahead of a cold front being present. Additonally, a slight risk was outlined for larger portions of the same regions. A 10% hatched risk[note 4] was outlined for portions of southeastern Oklahoma, and a 2% probability of a tornado within 25 miles (40 km) of a point was highlighted for surronding regions, which included Dallas and surronding areas.[1] At 11:30 a.m., the Storm Prediction Center expanded the areas where a risk of tornadoes was present, with a 5% probability of a tornado within 25 miles (40 km) of a point including much of northeastern Texas, as a trough and strengthening polar jet positioned over the High Plains, and moisture continued to collect ahead of a cold front that was tracking southeastward, making the environment favorable for severe weather.[2] On the evening of October 20, numerous thunderstorms began to develop over the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, with several storms developing ahead of a cold front, and additional storms developing into a squall line. These storms produced a total of 10 tornadoes, with the strongest being the EF3 that tracked through northern portions of Dallas County.[3]
The tornado touched down at 8:58 p.m. just southwest of State Highway 348 and near Luna Road, where it would begin to snap large tree branches and inflict minor damage to the roofs of buildings at EF0 intensity. The tornado began to track east-northeastward, crossing State Highway 348 and approaching Interstate 35E. As the tornado crossed the interstate, it turned sharply to the east and began to strengthen, inflicting EF1 to EF2 damage to numerous commercial buildings as it approached Harry Hines Boulevard. The tornado struck a strip mall along Walnut Hill Lane and Shady Trail, collapsing several exterior walls at EF2 intensity with estimated speed winds of 122 mph (196 km/h). The tornado then tracked south of the Harry Hines Boulevard/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, where numerous homes and businesses sustained EF1 to EF2-rated damage. The tornado maintained its intensity as it began to track just south of Walnut Hill Lane, where several gas stations, churches, and large commercial buildings sustained significant damage to their exterior walls and roofs, with at least one apartment complex being impacted as well. A large retail building along Walnut Hill Lane sustained high-end EF2 damage, with several exterior walls collapsing. Additionally, a smaller retail building along the same road was extensively damaged, with portions of the structure collapsing.
The tornado continued to inflict EF1 to EF2 damage as the tornado tracked east-northeast, crossing Walnut Hill Lane and striking an apartment building along Glenrio Lane, tearing the entire roof off at EF2-strength. The tornado then tracked across Marsh Lane, with numerous homes and several businesses sustaining damage east of this road. A small professional building along the Marsh Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection sustained EF2 damage, with the entire structure collapsing. The tornado then struck the Primera Iglesia Bautista of Dallas along the Betty Jane Lane/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, with one man that was inside managing to seek shelter underneath a breezeway and escape unharmed. The church lost the majority of its roof, and several buildings on the property sustained severe damage.[4] The tornado then struck the Northway Church near the Hedgeway Drive/Walnut Hill Lane intersection, tearing portions of the roof off.[5][6]
- ^ This figure likely includes more structures than just homes.
- ^ All amounts of money are in 2019 USD unless stated otherwise.
- ^ All times listed in the article are in CDT unless stated otherwise.
- ^ A hatched risk is a 10% or greater probability of EF2+ tornadoes within 25 miles of a point within an area.
