DALLAS – A Tornado Watch was issued for the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex on Tuesday morning as a line of powerful thunderstorms raced across Texas and Oklahoma, leading to widespread power outages and storm damage.
Tens of millions of people from the Plains to the Southeast are on alert as the region braces for what could be a significant severe weather outbreak, with forecasters warning that thunderstorms could produce damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes.
This graphic shows the active Tornado Watch.
(FOX Weather)
A Tornado Watch was issued for more than 10 million people in portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas on Tuesday morning, which will remain in effect until at least 11 a.m. CT.
The Tornado Watch includes cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, McKinney and Waco in Texas.
Forecasters say that while tornadoes are a concern, damaging winds of up to 75 mph are likely, as well as isolated hail up to the size of ping-pong balls.
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A video shared from Canute, Oklahoma, shows bright flashes of lightning that illuminated the night sky as storms raced across the southern Plains on Monday night.
Vivid lightning was also reported farther south in Texas. A video shared from Abilene shows lightning illuminating the sky as severe weather pushed through that area early Tuesday morning.
There have already been reports of damaging wind gusts and hail that have pelted communities in Texas and Oklahoma.
According to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC), 1-inch hail has been reported in cities such as Jones, Oklahoma, and Christoval, Texas. A wind gust of 62 mph was reported in the area of Hillsboro, Texas, early Tuesday morning.
A wind gust of 74 mph was also reported at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which is as strong as a Category 1 hurricane.
Power outages have been skyrocketing across the region, with FindEnergy.com reporting more than 400,000 outages in Texas and nearly 25,000 in Oklahoma.
There have also been reports of storms bringing down trees and power lines, including reports of vehicles being blown over and barns and outbuildings damaged outside Mill Creek, Oklahoma.
The threat of damaging winds forced officials in Tarrant County, Texas, to activate their sirens to warn residents of the approaching danger. A video shared from the area early Tuesday morning shows lightning flashes as heavy rain fell and eerie sounds from the siren filling the air.
Severe weather outbreak possible across South on Tuesday
This graphic shows the severe weather threat on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
(FOX Weather)
More than 57 million people from Texas to the Southeast are at risk of severe weather on Tuesday.
However, on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale, the SPC placed nearly 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 of strong tornadoes will be possible.”
