# Tornado outbreak of October 20–22, 2019

A significant tornado outbreak impacted the South Central United States between October 20–22, 2019. Forecasters first identified the threat on October 16 as a large upper-level trough was expected to combine with an unstable atmosphere across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas particularly. On the evening of October 20, discrete supercell thunderstorms developed across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, contributing to several tornadoes. One of those tornadoes caused EF3 damage in the Dallas suburbs, becoming the costliest tornado event in Texas history, at $1.55 billion. A later squall line contributed to additional tornadoes and a widespread swath of damaging winds as the system tracked eastward.

## Meteorological synopsis

The first signs of organized severe weather across the South Central United States came on October 16, when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) first delineated a risk area across portions of northern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, and adjacent portions of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. In their day 3 outlook on October 18, the organization introduced a broad Marginal risk for much of the same areas. A small Slight risk was added across northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, and western Arkansas on October 19, but as confidence in a higher-end event increased, these same areas were raised to an Enhanced risk. In advance of the outbreak, the SPC monitored several weather features of interest. In the upper levels of the atmosphere, an upper-level trough was expected to amplify as it progressed eastward into the U.S. Plains, providing increasing wind shear throughout the region. Simultaneously, a low-pressure area and associated cold front were anticipated to shift eastward across an unstable environment, leading to the formation of severe thunderstorms. Forecasters noted that while the overall environment supported the potential for significant (EF2+) tornadoes, questions about whether storms would be supercellular or instead evolve into a quasi-linear convective system prevented the addition a significant risk area. By the late afternoon hours of October 20, thunderstorms began to develop across eastern Oklahoma within a rapidly moistening environment. At 7:58 p.m. CDT, the first tornado watch was issued across the Ark-La-Tex region; several more watches were introduced over subsequent hours. A pair of long-tracked supercells developed across Tarrant and Johnson counties, intersecting a very unstable regime and producing significant tornadoes as a result. A squall line formed along the cold front farther west, producing a wide swath of damaging winds and additional tornadoes as it tracked across the South-Central United States.

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating :
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
| 0 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
Confirmed tornadoes during the tornado outbreak of October 20–22, 2019 :
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Date | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
| EF0 | SW of Beckville | Panola | TX | 32°08′49″N 94°32′39″W﻿ / ﻿32.1470°N 94.5443°W﻿ / 32.1470; -94.5443﻿ (Beckville (Oct. 20, EF0)) | October 20 | 00:36–00:38 | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | Several trees were snapped or uprooted. A home's roof was damaged. |
| EF1 | SSE of Greenwood | Caddo | LA | 32°22′26″N 93°58′34″W﻿ / ﻿32.3738°N 93.976°W﻿ / 32.3738; -93.976﻿ (Greenwood (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 01:42–01:49 | 3.59 mi (5.78 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | A greenhouse was destroyed, shingled were ripped off the roofs of two homes, and an RV trailer was rolled onto its side. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| EF3 | North Dallas to Richardson | Dallas | TX | 32°52′07″N 96°54′54″W﻿ / ﻿32.8685°N 96.9149°W﻿ / 32.8685; -96.9149﻿ (Dallas (Oct. 20, EF3)) | October 20 | 01:58–02:30 | 15.76 mi (25.36 km) | 1,300 yd (1,200 m) | See section on this tornado |
| EF1 | N of Midlothian | Ellis | TX | 32°29′53″N 96°59′37″W﻿ / ﻿32.4981°N 96.9935°W﻿ / 32.4981; -96.9935﻿ (Midlothian (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 02:10–02:15 | 2.83 mi (4.55 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | Several church and retail buildings had their roofs damaged and windows blown out. One structure attached to the church was severely damaged as most of its roof was ripped off, and its south-facing wall was collapsed. Two buildings had sheet metal peeled away, while one of the structures had its metal roof purlins bent. Several homes suffered significant roof damage and had windows blown out, one of which had its garage door collapsed. Trees were snapped or uprooted as well. Walnut Grove Middle School suffered a direct hit, but with only power lines being destroyed. The school was closed for a day then reopened the following day. |
| EF2 | Garland | Dallas | TX | 32°53′51″N 96°40′31″W﻿ / ﻿32.8974°N 96.6753°W﻿ / 32.8974; -96.6753﻿ (Garland (Oct. 20, EF2)) | October 20 | 02:24–02:30 | 2.48 mi (3.99 km) | 265 yd (242 m) | This high-end EF2 tornado caused significant damage in Garland. A wide section of the roof to a Sear's Facility warehouse was peeled off, tearing away the adjacent metal walls and causing some of the interior support columns and beams to bend. An empty 18-wheeler and a van were tipped onto their sides. Nearby, a newly built warehouse collapsed as its support columns were bent to the ground. debris from this structure caused additional damage to nearby homes. Along the remainder of the tornado path, numerous homes were heavily damaged, some of which had their roofs torn off. Many trees were snapped or uprooted as well. Damage totaled $400 million. |
| EF1 | Rowlett to Wylie | Dallas | TX | 32°55′25″N 96°34′11″W﻿ / ﻿32.9237°N 96.5697°W﻿ / 32.9237; -96.5697﻿ (Rowlett (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 02:36–02:45 | 6.02 mi (9.69 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | This high-end EF1 tornado moved through residential areas, damaging numerous homes. Some homes had large portions of their roofs torn off. Several outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed, and trees were downed. |
| EF0 | W of Ferris | Ellis | TX | 32°32′00″N 96°39′59″W﻿ / ﻿32.5332°N 96.6664°W﻿ / 32.5332; -96.6664﻿ (Ferris (Oct. 20, EF0)) | October 20 | 02:42–02:44 | 0.18 mi (0.29 km) | 170 yd (160 m) | A silo was damaged and partially collapsed, multiple businesses sustained roof damage, a power pole was downed, and trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| EF1 | Rockwall | Rockwall | TX | 32°55′52″N 96°29′11″W﻿ / ﻿32.9312°N 96.4864°W﻿ / 32.9312; -96.4864﻿ (Rockwall (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 02:48–02:54 | 1.96 mi (3.15 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several homes suffered significant roof damage. Trees and fences were downed. |
| EF1 | S of Asher | Pontotoc | OK | 34°55′N 96°55′W﻿ / ﻿34.91°N 96.92°W﻿ / 34.91; -96.92﻿ (Asher (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 03:01–03:02 | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | A barn was destroyed, and a few other farm buildings were damaged. |
| EF1 | ENE of Konawa | Seminole | OK | 34°59′N 96°42′W﻿ / ﻿34.98°N 96.70°W﻿ / 34.98; -96.70﻿ (Konawa (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 03:12–03:15 | 2.8 mi (4.5 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Several wooden power poles were snapped, and trees were damaged. |
| EF0 | N of Kaufman | Kaufman | TX | 32°39′58″N 96°19′27″W﻿ / ﻿32.6661°N 96.3241°W﻿ / 32.6661; -96.3241﻿ (Kaufman (Oct. 20, EF0)) | October 20 | 03:27–03:28 | 0.13 mi (0.21 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | A home lost a portion of its metal roofing. A nearby power pole was partially snapped. |
| EF1 | SE of Elmo | Kaufman | TX | 32°40′15″N 96°08′21″W﻿ / ﻿32.6708°N 96.1393°W﻿ / 32.6708; -96.1393﻿ (Elmo (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 03:39–03:41 | 0.53 mi (0.85 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | Sheet metal was ripped from an outbuilding, two power poles were snapped, and a metal barn was severely damaged, with its metal roof almost completely ripped off and its steel trusses severely bent. Several large trees were snapped or damaged. A personal weather station measured a wind gust of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). |
| EF0 | N of Wills Point | Van Zandt | TX | 32°44′07″N 96°00′19″W﻿ / ﻿32.7353°N 96.0054°W﻿ / 32.7353; -96.0054﻿ (Wills Point (Oct. 20, EF0)) | October 20 | 03:59–04:04 | 0.63 mi (1.01 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Multiple roofs sustained damaged. Multiple sheds and carports were overturned and damaged. A few small trees were uprooted and tree branches were broken. |
| EF1 | E of Coweta | Wagoner | OK | 35°56′37″N 95°33′39″W﻿ / ﻿35.9436°N 95.5608°W﻿ / 35.9436; -95.5608﻿ (Coweta (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 04:08–04:15 | 7.2 mi (11.6 km) | 1,100 yd (1,000 m) | A home was damaged, and trees and power poles were toppled. |
| EF1 | N of Wainwright | Muskogee | OK | 35°38′06″N 95°37′52″W﻿ / ﻿35.6351°N 95.6311°W﻿ / 35.6351; -95.6311﻿ (Wainwright (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 04:12–04:22 | 8.3 mi (13.4 km) | 400 yd (370 m) | A couple of trees were snapped or uprooted and a power pole was blown down. |
| EF1 | NW of Scraper | Cherokee | OK | 36°07′08″N 94°57′59″W﻿ / ﻿36.1189°N 94.9665°W﻿ / 36.1189; -94.9665﻿ (Scraper (Oct. 20, EF1)) | October 20 | 04:39–04:43 | 2.9 mi (4.7 km) | 600 yd (550 m) | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| EF1 | NW of Watts to SE of Siloam Springs | Adair (OK), Benton (AR) | OK, AR | 36°08′28″N 94°39′52″W﻿ / ﻿36.1410°N 94.6644°W﻿ / 36.1410; -94.6644﻿ (Watts (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 05:00–05:09 | 9.1 mi (14.6 km) | 900 yd (820 m) | Outbuildings were destroyed, homes were damaged, power poles were snapped, and numerous trees were uprooted. |
| EF2 | Siloam Springs to NE of Rogers | Benton | AR | 36°10′40″N 94°31′52″W﻿ / ﻿36.1778°N 94.5310°W﻿ / 36.1778; -94.5310﻿ (Siloam Springs (Oct. 21, EF2)) | October 21 | 05:08–05:38 | 31.4 mi (50.5 km) | 2,640 yd (2,410 m) | This massive, long-tracked, wedge tornado touched down in Siloam Springs, where hangars at the Siloam Springs Airport were damaged. The roof was blown off a business, and several others were damaged. Numerous homes in town were damaged as well. The tornado continued to the northeast of town, where well-built outbuildings were destroyed, a house had its roof torn off, and other homes were damaged and had windows blown out. The tornado then moved through Highfill, Cave Springs and Rogers before dissipating. Numerous homes and businesses were damaged along this segment of the path, and a large metal building sustained severe damage. Many trees and power poles were snapped throughout the path. |
| EF0 | Northwestern Allen | Collin | TX | 33°07′01″N 96°43′38″W﻿ / ﻿33.1169°N 96.7272°W﻿ / 33.1169; -96.7272﻿ (Allen (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 05:22–05:27 | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) | 500 yd (460 m) | Shingles were ripped off a number of residences, and a number of other homes sustained roof and facade damage. Wood fencing and a stone wall was blown down, and large trees were snapped. |
| EF0 | SSE of Battlefield | Christian, Greene | MO | 37°04′53″N 93°26′50″W﻿ / ﻿37.0814°N 93.4471°W﻿ / 37.0814; -93.4471﻿ (Battlefield (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 05:57–06:04 | 4.72 mi (7.60 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Numerous trees were snapped, four metal power poles and power lines were downed, and a home sustained damage to its roof, gutters, and vinyl siding. |
| EF1 | Highlandville | Christian | MO | 36°56′18″N 93°17′04″W﻿ / ﻿36.9383°N 93.2845°W﻿ / 36.9383; -93.2845﻿ (Highlandville (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 06:03–06:16 | 11.88 mi (19.12 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | This tornado uprooted or snapped dozens of trees. |
| EF0 | Southeastern Springfield | Greene | MO | 37°08′55″N 93°13′21″W﻿ / ﻿37.1486°N 93.2225°W﻿ / 37.1486; -93.2225﻿ (Springfield (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 06:11–06:15 | 1.41 mi (2.27 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | Large tree limbs were snapped, a few street signs were bent, and an aluminum fence was damaged. A home suffered minor roof damage too. |
| EF1 | Southeast of Rogersville | Christian, Webster | MO | 37°03′26″N 93°04′09″W﻿ / ﻿37.0573°N 93.0693°W﻿ / 37.0573; -93.0693﻿ (Linden (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 06:18–06:28 | 6.29 mi (10.12 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | Along the path numerous trees were uprooted or broken along with numerous outbuildings damaged or destroyed. |
| EF1 | W of Gentryville | Douglas | MO | 36°51′11″N 92°26′20″W﻿ / ﻿36.853°N 92.4388°W﻿ / 36.853; -92.4388﻿ (Gentryville (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 07:06–07:21 | 16.32 mi (26.26 km) | 450 yd (410 m) | Hundreds or thousands of trees were snapped or destroyed. One outbuilding was destroyed and several others were damaged. |
| EF1 | NW of Sycamore to NE of Dora | Ozark, Douglas | MO | 36°44′47″N 92°18′39″W﻿ / ﻿36.7464°N 92.3107°W﻿ / 36.7464; -92.3107﻿ (Sycamore (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 07:13–07:25 | 12.94 mi (20.82 km) | 450 yd (410 m) | Numerous outbuildings and trees were heavily damaged. Two mobile homes were also damaged, including one that lost its roof and was pulled off its foundation. |
| EF0 | WSW of Willow Springs | Howell | MO | 36°58′17″N 92°03′09″W﻿ / ﻿36.9715°N 92.0525°W﻿ / 36.9715; -92.0525﻿ (Willow Springs (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 07:30–07:31 | 0.11 mi (0.18 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Several trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| EF1 | WNW of Licking | Texas | MO | 37°30′06″N 91°53′23″W﻿ / ﻿37.5017°N 91.8896°W﻿ / 37.5017; -91.8896﻿ (Licking (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 07:46–07:50 | 1.11 mi (1.79 km) | 450 yd (410 m) | Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. Several homes and outbuildings sustained minor damage. A mobile home was overturned. |
| EF1 | SSW of Douglassville | Cass | TX | 33°06′14″N 94°29′55″W﻿ / ﻿33.1039°N 94.4987°W﻿ / 33.1039; -94.4987﻿ (Douglassville (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 08:08–08:21 | 9.09 mi (14.63 km) | 150 yd (140 m) | The roof was torn off a very small shed, and some tin roofing material from an unknown location was wrapped around some trees. Otherwise, the remainder of the damage was to trees. |
| EF1 | S of Taylor | Lafayette, Columbia | AR | 33°01′34″N 93°29′42″W﻿ / ﻿33.0262°N 93.495°W﻿ / 33.0262; -93.495﻿ (Taylor (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 09:21–09:28 | 5.34 mi (8.59 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | The roof and siding was partially removed from an outbuilding. The roofs of two homes were partially removed. A few trees were snapped. |
| EF1 | Tyronza | Poinsett | AR | 35°28′58″N 90°21′52″W﻿ / ﻿35.4827°N 90.3644°W﻿ / 35.4827; -90.3644﻿ (Tyronza (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 10:50–10:53 | 1.11 mi (1.79 km) | 125 yd (114 m) | Several outbuildings were destroyed, a convenience store and an elementary school were damaged, and numerous trees were toppled. Three people were injured. |
| EF0 | NW of Munford | Tipton (TN), Mississippi (AR) | TN, AR | 35°30′34″N 89°58′39″W﻿ / ﻿35.5095°N 89.9776°W﻿ / 35.5095; -89.9776﻿ (Munford (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 11:20–11:30 | 7.59 mi (12.21 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Several outbuildings were destroyed, a convenience store and an elementary school were damaged, and numerous trees were toppled. Three people were injured. |
| EF1 | Memphis | Shelby | TN | 35°02′43″N 89°59′02″W﻿ / ﻿35.0452°N 89.9839°W﻿ / 35.0452; -89.9839﻿ (Memphis (Oct. 21, EF1)) | October 21 | 11:34–11:43 | 7.42 mi (11.94 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | Significant roof damage was inflicted to an apartment complex. Numerous trees and business signs were downed. |
| EF0 | SW of Ripley | Lauderdale | TN | 35°40′52″N 89°41′07″W﻿ / ﻿35.6811°N 89.6854°W﻿ / 35.6811; -89.6854﻿ (Ripley (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 11:44–11:52 | 7.31 mi (11.76 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | Trees were snapped or uprooted. One home sustained minor roof damage. |
| EF0 | Geismar | Ascension | LA | 30°13′10″N 91°02′01″W﻿ / ﻿30.2194°N 91.0336°W﻿ / 30.2194; -91.0336﻿ (Geismar (Oct. 21, EF0)) | October 21 | 18:00–18:01 | 0.06 mi (0.097 km) | 15 yd (14 m) | Roofing material was blown off a small warehouse building and tossed 50 yd (46 m). The flying debris also inflicted further damage to a larger warehouse building that also saw some its sheet metal ripped from its outside walls. One person was injured by flying debris. |
| EF0 | E of Cornelius | Cabarrus | NC | 35°28′52″N 80°46′12″W﻿ / ﻿35.481°N 80.77°W﻿ / 35.481; -80.77﻿ (Cornelius (Oct. 22, EF0)) | October 22 | 16:57–16:59 | 0.26 mi (0.42 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | Multiple trees were snapped or uprooted. Some beehives were overturned. |
| EF0 | NE of Vanceboro | Craven | NC | 35°21′03″N 77°07′33″W﻿ / ﻿35.3508°N 77.1258°W﻿ / 35.3508; -77.1258﻿ (Vanceboro (Oct. 22, EF0)) | October 22 | 23:43–23:44 | 0.04 mi (0.064 km) | 40 yd (37 m) | Several trees were snapped or uprooted. A home suffered very minor roof damage and porch furniture was blown around. |

### North Dallas–Richardson, Texas

At 8:58 p.m. CDT on October 20, a tornado began in Dallas County, Texas, near the interaction of Spur 348 and Luna Road, snapping large tree limbs. The tornado moved east-northeast across Interstate 35E quickly reaching high-end EF2 strength. A strip mall was severely damaged, sustaining roof loss and collapse of multiple exterior walls. Several other retail businesses were also damaged in this area. Along Walnut Hill Lane, a multi-story apartment complex and a commercial building had their roofs ripped off, and also sustained loss of some exterior walls. Numerous homes, along with churches and a gas station also sustained heavy damage in this area. Maintaining EF2 strength, the tornado moved across Marsh Lane and through areas east, heavily damaging Cary Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School. The tornado produced a mixture of EF1 and EF2 damage as it moved through residential neighborhoods to the northeast of this area, downing numerous trees, and causing moderate to significant damage to many houses. Dozens of homes along this portion of the path had their roofs torn off, several of which sustained some failure of exterior walls. The most intense pocket of damage occurred along Northaven Road, where one well-built brick home had its roof torn off, and sustained collapse of most exterior walls. Given the degree of damage, damage surveyors assigned low-end EF3 damage to that home; this was the only EF3 damage point assigned along the path of the tornado. The tornado then shifted to a more northerly course as it crossed US 75 between Forest Lane and Royal Lane, where several businesses, including a car dealership, a Home Depot, and office low-rise buildings, suffered EF2 damage. It crossed the Texas Instruments campus, still on a northeasterly course, causing mainly EF1 damage. The tornado then crossed I-635 at the Greenville Avenue/TI Boulevard exit, still heading northeast. At an apartment complex near Walnut Street and Greenville Avenue, dozens of units had sections of roof missing. The nearby Cutters Point apartment complex was also affected, with significant roof loss consistent with EF2 damage. A low-rise office building at the northeast corner of Walnut St and Abrams Rd. had numerous windows blown out. Many homes in Richardson north of Richland College also suffered EF2 damage before the tornado began to weaken. Widespread tree and roof damage consistent with an EF1 tornado was observed across the Richland Park, Lakes of Buckingham, Richland Meadows, and College Park subdivisions. A few homes had their roofs blown off at high-end EF1 intensity. The weakening tornado then curved sharply to the north, continuing into the Huffhines Park area. Damage along this portion of the path consisted of minor damage to homes, along with numerous trees and tree limbs downed. Weakening further to EF0 strength, the tornado decreased in width and finally dissipated while crossing Jupiter Road. In total, the tornado was on the ground for 15.76 mi (25.36 km), reached a maximum width of 1,300 yd (1,200 m), and remained on the ground for 32 minutes. Additionally, the tornado caused about $1.55 billion in damage, making it the second costliest tornado event in Texas history, just behind the Lubbock tornado in 1970 which caused about $2.03 billion in 2025 USD .

## Impact

Around 8:00 a.m. the next morning, approximately 242,000 people were without power. Six schools in the Dallas ISD cancelled classes on October 21, including Thomas Jefferson High School. Many roads into Dallas were closed due to fallen trees and power lines. The EF3 tornado passed near the home of former President George W. Bush, but no damage was done to the house.