IRVING, Texas — An EF1 tornado was confirmed in Irving Tuesday by the National Weather Service.
Irving PD said more than 350 residents were displaced, causing significant damage to at least two apartment complexes.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth confirmed the tornado began near Pecan Drive, south of West Pioneer Drive, traveled less than half a mile, and had maximum wind speeds of 110 mph.
As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, North O’Connor Road is back open to traffic and Pioneer Drive is partially reopened but remains closed between Sowers and O’Connor Road, which officials hope will reopen later Wednesday.
Video from WFAA crews at the Las Haciendas apartments in the 500 block of North O’Connor Road in Irving showed a wall partially collapsed and broken windows.
Residents described the tornado’s impact as devastating, with bricks scattered across lawns, power lines down in streets, and debris hanging from trees.
Dale Hughes, a 45-year resident of Irving, said the tornado’s destruction was unprecedented.
“I thought a bomb went off,” Hughes said. “I was asleep and then I was laying on the ground trying to get my brother and my uncle. It was just devastating. We lost everything.”
In a post on X, Irving police said Pioneer Drive and North O’Connor Road are still closed to through traffic. Anyone needing access to their homes who weren’t required to evacuate can come into the area.
“All others who don’t live in the area should avoid it until it is accessible to the general public,” police say.
Update 5) 5:50 pm: The @NWSFortWorth confirmed that a brief tornado occurred in Irving at approximately 5:25 am. The EF1 tornado began near Pecan Drive, south of West Pioneer Dr., tracked east-northeast, and dissipated between Cedar Drive and North O’Connor Road. Maximum… pic.twitter.com/Rm1WwdjVUD
— Irving Police Dept. (@IrvingPD) March 4, 2025
Irving police said at about Noon Tuesday that around 350 people were evacuated from the area of the Las Haciendas apartments and the Tree Country apartments in the 700 block of West Pioneer Drive.
Residents were shuttled to Georgia Farrow Recreation Center at 530 Davis Drive, where a temporary shelter for those displaced by the storm was set up. A Red Cross representative acknowledged the emotional toll, saying, “There’s a lot of adrenaline, there’s a lot of emotions.”
“Mostly tree damage was observed along this street [near Pecan Drive] One vehicle was damaged due to falling trees. The tornado then impacted the Tree Country Apartments, causing EF-1 wind damage to the roof of nearly every apartment building in the complex. Tree and roof damage was also noted next door at the Learning Tree Academy. Across the street, the Irving Police Family Advocacy Center lost half of its roof and the covering off a second story balcony. The tornado tracked east-northeast from here and dissipated between Cedar Drive and North O`Connor Road. Damage to the La Hacienda Apartments was caused by RFD-type winds at the end of the tornado track,” the NWS summary reads.
The tornado left thousands without power, creating additional hardship for displaced residents. Angeline, a young girl who lived in one of the damaged complexes, described the challenges to WFAA.
“It feels sad because we don’t have hot water to make coffee or electricity to make food,” she said.
First responders warned that restoration efforts could take days, complicated by continued high winds. An Irving Police Department spokesperson noted that gusty conditions might further delay street clearing and power restoration.
Irving police say officials will allow displaced residents to go back to the buildings after the structures are assessed. As of Tuesday evening, no injuries were reported.
As cleanup efforts begin, many residents are left facing an uncertain future.
“We’re just devastated,” Hughes said, a sentiment echoed by many in the community.
For a full roundup of storm damage in North Texas, click here.
Residents are asked to report any storm damage here.