North Texas has weathered another wave of severe storms.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth expected a wave of widespread severe storms to impact the region on March 16, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Forecasters warned these storms could produce damaging winds.
Bad weather pushed through the Metroplex late afternoon, mostly clearing out by 9 p.m.
The NWS issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for multiple counties and cities — plus tornado warnings for cities such as Fort Worth, Irving, Arlington, North Richland Hills, and more.
The NWS later confirmed one tornado touched down in the city of Irving. The agency rated this tornado as an EF-1 with wind speeds between 105 and 110 miles per hour.
Irving, Texas, buildings suffered some exterior damage due to high-speed winds. The front of a local car dealership was torn apart and surrounded by debris.
David Mullins, the Autos of Dallas general manager, told The Dallas Express he and his staff were outside on the sidewalk watching the storm, then retreated inside as conditions worsened. Mullins said as they went inside, the facade of the building fell onto a vehicle.
Mullins reported the storm harmed no one. Contractors are set to begin repairs.
“It’s all something that can be rebuilt,” Mullins affirmed.
In the wake of these storms, meteorologists expect “quiet and cool” weather the following weekend. The NWS predicted a cold front would arrive behind these storms and drop temperatures.
“For the next several days, through the weekend into early next week, we are going to see temperatures really remaining in the 50s,” said Miles Langfeld with the NWS in Fort Worth.
Langfeld told The Dallas Express temperatures could approach freezing in the overnight hours of March 18 into the morning hours of March 19. The agency advises citizens to bring any sensitive plants inside due to the possibility of frost.
Weather forecasters expect the next significant chance of rain to be late next week.