The National Weather Service has revealed preliminary findings for the intensity of the tornadoes that raked North Texas Tuesday afternoon.
NWS meteorologist Jesse Moore said Wednesday that a twister a day earlier in Forney, about 20 miles east of Dallas, appears to have registered as an EF-3 with wind gusts between 136 to 165 mph. The tornado struck at about 3:42 p.m.
The strongest category on the Enhanced Fujita scale is an EF-5.
The tornadoes that hit Lancaster and Arlington appear to be EF-2 twisters with wind gusts between 111 to 135 mph.
Moore said the weather service is still surveying damage throughout the area and the initial EF ratings may still be upgraded.
As many as a dozen twisters touched down across Dallas-Fort Worth as officials warned the Metroplex about two rare and simultaneous Tornado Emergencies. Tornado Emergencies are elevated Tornado Warnings for heavily populated areas where widespread and extensive damage is expected.
Thousands remained without power Wednesday and at least 800 homes were severely damaged by the detached storms.
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Overnight, Arlington nearly tripled their initial estimate of 150 damaged homes to 428. The estimate for Lancaster has held at about 300 homes.
In Forney, the latest number of damaged structures was at 95. Sixteen have been declared unsafe.
Officials reported more than 20 injuries, but no deaths.
