Severe weather struck Tarrant County on Wednesday evening, destroying structures at a Fort Worth equestrian center and damaging multiple commercial buildings and homes in the adjacent community of Watauga. The storms arrived with little warning, leaving property owners to assess extensive losses.
Trinity River Farm and Equestrian Center, located in Fort Worth, suffered heavy damage from the pop-up storms. A large pecan tree was uprooted by high winds and fell into the facility’s pavilion and picnic area, crushing both structures. The center, which has operated for 20 years, provides riding lessons, summer camps, and educational events.
Owner Julie Amendola stated that the business is currently uninsured, casting uncertainty over its future operations. She noted that the facility had just concluded an 11-week summer camp session that served approximately 90 children. While no employees were injured during the incident, one horse sustained a gash from flying debris. Amendola described the situation as sad.
In Watauga, which is located near Fort Worth, city officials reported that between 20 and 30 trees were damaged by the high winds. Two businesses on Rufe Snow Drive sustained heavy damage, and a residential home was struck by an uprooted tree.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth tracked winds at 55 miles per hour but estimated they may have reached 65 to 70 miles per hour based on the observed damage.
Additional impacts were reported in Keller, where viewer footage captured severe winds and hail. A power station on Alta Vista Road was damaged in that area. Around 6 p.m., a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for parts of Denton, Tarrant, Wise, and Dallas counties.
