On March 28, 2000, the skies above North Texas unleashed a fury of severe weather, spawning F3 tornadoes (158–206 mph wind speeds at their peak) that tore through Fort Worth, Arlington, and beyond.
Though the morning was relatively calm, conditions rapidly deteriorated as the afternoon heated up, leading meteorologists to issue a tornado watch shortly before 3:00 PM. At 6:18 PM, a tornado was spotted in Fort Worth, cutting a path of destruction through downtown and causing widespread damage. Among the hardest hit was the 35-story Bank One Tower, where extreme winds shattered the majority of its glass panes. Linwood, a neighborhood just to the west, was nearly decimated by the storm’s impact.
After the Fort Worth tornado dissipated, another thunderstorm moved northeast into Tarrant County, merging with the supercell that had spawned the first strike. A second tornado was spotted around 7:05 PM, intensifying rapidly as it touched down near the intersection of Matlock and Bardin Roads in South Arlington.
Officials estimated this tornado remained on the ground for 10 minutes, cutting a northeasterly swath approximately five miles long and 125 yards wide. Over a thousand homes and businesses were damaged as the storm tore through the area. Among the hardest-hit locations were the Arlington Municipal Airport, where several hangars were destroyed, and the Bell Helicopter facility.
The storm system eventually began to subside, though it touched down once more in Grand Prairie, causing damage that was similar, albeit less extensive.
The final toll in Tarrant County included five fatalities (including Howard D. Thornton of Arlington), 80 injuries, and damage estimated at $450 million. While ten tornadoes were confirmed across Texas that day, the two strongest were those that struck Fort Worth and Arlington. Although other tornadoes have impacted Tarrant County before and since, this event remains one of the most memorable in North Texas history.
In the aftermath, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram compiled a book titled, Shattered: The Tarrant Tornadoes, documenting the harrowing night through first-hand accounts and photography.
Photos & Articles
Here are some Arlington-related photos and articles of the storm from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Arlington’s south side hit hard by twister
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 29, 2000
Newspapers.com
Path of destruction in Arlington and Grand Prairie
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 31, 2000
Newspapers.com
A more detailed look at the tornado’s path and ensuing damage
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 30, 2000
Newspapers.com
Damage in Southeast Arlington
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 30, 2000
Newspapers.com
Damage in Southeast Arlington
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 30, 2000
Newspapers.com
Howard D. Thornton (1947-2000) of Arlington – one of the fatalities
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 30, 2000
Newspapers.com
Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 03-28-26
Jason S. Sullivan 