SAN ANTONIO – An EF-1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 100 mph tore through San Antonio’s northwest side Wednesday morning, damaging businesses, apartment complexes and knocking out power to thousands of residents in The Rim.
The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down around 7:50 a.m. near Shawano Park before crossing Interstate 10 between Dominion and Shawano Park. He remained on the ground for about eight minutes, cutting a path of about four miles as heavy rain and flooding swept through the area.
The tornado caused significant damage to the Palladium IMAX theater, Oasis San Antonio Apartments and other nearby commercial properties.
“I honestly didn’t even know it was a tornado until I got the warning about 10 minutes later,” Oasis resident William Hodges said. “We didn’t know it then, but there was no roof.”
Emergency calls began coming in just before 8 a.m., Leon Valley Fire Chief David Frausto said. When firefighters arrived, they found a large portion of the roof ripped off a residence in the Oasis complex.
Three apartments on the fourth floor were damaged. Firefighters also responded to reports of a possible person trapped in another apartment complex, but after a thorough search they confirmed no one was injured.
The storm also damaged scaffolding and caused structural problems in several buildings.
Outside of the apartment complexes, crews reported extensive damage throughout The Rim, including damaged storefronts and commercial buildings, fallen trees, scattered debris and damaged signs.
Firefighters and public works crews continue to clear hazards and assess damage. Officials are urging the public to stay away from damaged buildings, downed power lines and other hazardous areas.
No injuries reported.
The storm also disrupted efforts to restore power throughout the city. CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza said widespread flooding made it difficult for crews to safely access damaged equipment.
Garza said some electrical circuits need to be temporarily de-energized so crews can safely repair downed power lines. While many customers had power restored early Wednesday thanks to the utility’s power supply equipment, additional outages are now being caused by lightning strikes and storm damage to infrastructure.
CPS Energy is also asking residents to avoid downed power lines and report them immediately to CPS Energy or 911. Officials also warned residents to be aware of the smell of natural gas and to report any suspected leaks.
UTSA Police Chief Stephanie Schoenborn said the university is working with the American Red Cross and San Antonio police to help students displaced by damage at Oasis Apartments.
Officials estimate 10 to 12 UTSA students may be temporarily displaced. Despite the immediate damage, university operations remained normal on Wednesday.
Nearby theme park Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced it would be closed Wednesday due to severe weather as crews continued to assess storm damage.
Heavy rain and flash flood warnings remain in effect for much of the San Antonio area, and forecasters warn that additional rain is expected throughout the day.