Texas city
Tornadoes in Dallas
The DFW metroplex is the largest urban area in Tornado Alley — 8 million people living where violent tornadoes have repeatedly struck. Here is Dallas's tornado history and what residents should know.
The local risk
- North Texas sits at the southern anchor of Tornado Alley.
- The 2000 Fort Worth F2 hit downtown directly, shattering skyscraper glass.
- The 2019 Dallas EF3 tracked through the northern city at night — $1.5B damage, zero deaths.
- The metroplex's sheer size means some part of it is under a warning nearly every spring.
- Peak months: April-May, with a smaller fall season.
Notable events
- April 2, 1957 Dallas F3 — 10 dead; famously photographed and filmed, advancing tornado science.
- March 28, 2000 Fort Worth F2 — direct downtown hit, 3 dead.
- May 15, 2013 Granbury EF4 — 6 dead, southwest of the metro.
- December 26, 2015 Garland-Rowlett EF4 — 10 dead on I-30 during the Boxing Day outbreak.
- October 20, 2019 Dallas EF3 — nighttime track through north Dallas, $1.5B damage, zero deaths.
How warnings reach you here
- The local NWS office issues tornado watches and warnings for the metro.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts push warnings to every phone in the polygon — no signup needed.
- Outdoor sirens cover most of the metro but are designed for people outdoors.
- NOAA Weather Radio with SAME county programming is the most reliable overnight alert.
- Local TV meteorologists provide wall-to-wall coverage during outbreaks.
Preparedness for this area
- Few DFW homes have basements — identify your interior lowest-floor room now.
- The 2015 Garland deaths were mostly people in vehicles on the highway — do not drive during warnings.
- December tornadoes are real here (2015 Boxing Day) — winter warnings deserve full response.
- High-rise dwellers: interior stairwell on a low floor, away from glass.
- The 2019 EF3 killed nobody at night in a huge city — WEA compliance works; keep alerts on.
Check your personal odds
Use our [tornado risk calculator](/tornado-risk-calculator/) to estimate your annual, 10-year, and lifetime odds of death, injury, or property damage — adjusted for your home type and shelter access.