Tornadoes level 650 homes in Dallas-Forth Worth area of Texas

A severe weather storm spawned about 10 to 16 tornadoes in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area on Apr. 3.

Preliminary estimates by catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide, citing Red Cross figures, suggest 650 homes were destroyed in the area.

The National Weather Service is completing damage surveys of the affected regions of North Texas, at which time the insured damages will be better known. The National Weather Service plans to issue public information statements with further damage information by the evening of Apr. 4.

As of the morning of Apr. 4, catastrophe modeler AIR Worldwide reported “fully 650 homes and many businesses in suburban communities around Dallas have been damaged.”

AIR Worldwide noted powerful winds peeled roofs from homes, leveled businesses and tossed empty big rigs nearly 100 feet into the air. Nearly 14,000 homes and businesses in the region are still without electricity. The National Weather Service indicates hail the size of golf balls and baseballs hit several regions of North Texas.

“On average, April and May are the most active months for severe thunderstorm activity in Central Texas, and Tuesday’s activity was typical for the time of year,” AIR Worldwide says. “However, given the location of this specific cluster of tornadoes, the impact of these storms was magnified.”