STORM2K

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Storms across North Texas have caused 50,000 customers in the Dallas area to lose power, said a spokesman for TXU Electric Delivery.

The primary area said to be impacted included the northern suburbs, which included Farmers Branch, Addison and Plano.

Storms have also been keeping the Dallas Fire Department busy throughout the night.

Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to a crash at Thackery.

Crews have also responded to at least 16 calls of downed power lines. Most of those reports are from north central and Northwest Dallas. There have also been several reports in Mesquite, Rowlett and Highland Park.

In Lancaster, the power went temporarily out at the police station.

Wind blown trees fell into yards and blocked streets in North Dallas, and businesses and traffic lights went dark along Northwest Highway.

TXU working to restore power to customers

By TY A. ALLISON / The Dallas Morning News

TXU Electric Delivery crews were working Thursday morning to restore power to thousands of customers after heavy lightning, 70 mph wind gusts and nickel-size hail hit parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

About 18,000 customers, mostly in Dallas north of Interstate 30 and in the eastern part of the region, including Mesquite and Garland, were without electricity, said Carol Peters, a spokeswoman for TXU Electric Delivery. That was down from a high of 60,000 customers across Dallas and Collin counties who lost power Wednesday night.

Officials intend to have all customers back on line by Friday evening.

"This was a fast-moving storm with high winds and lightning, which always has an impact on an outdoor system like ours," Peters said.

Peters said the recent hurricanes that knocked out power in Louisiana and Southeast Texas had not depleted labor resources in North Texas. Currently, 1,300 employees and contractors are restoring damage from Hurricane Rita.

"Our crews are staggered. They have two-week rotations in Lufkin, so we have a time line to keep adequate crews in the area," she said. "That's part of our planning to ensure that we're covered throughout our system in case of a storm."

Authorities blamed several Wednesday evening house fires on lightning, and high winds damaged roofs and downed power lines.

Wylie officials said firefighters were battling a house fire in the 400 block of Pleasant Run Road. At least two other house fires were reported in Wylie, officials said.

The storms formed along a cold front that is expected to bring significantly lower temperatures to the area, said Pete Delkus, a meteorologist for WFAA-TV (Channel 8). After Wednesday's high of 104 degrees at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the forecast calls for highs in the mid- to upper 70s with clouds and wind gusts Thursday morning.

Wind damage was reported in some areas. Trees and power lines were blown down in Rowlett, where gusts up to 70 mph were recorded. Some homes and businesses were damaged by winds and falling trees.

Dallas Love Field reported gusts of more than 50 mph. The airport had recorded 0.08 inch of rain by 10:30 p.m. East Dallas, Mesquite and Garland also received rain, said Daniel Huckaby, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. D/FW Airport had reported 0.4 inch of rain.

DallasNews.com staff writer Linda Leavell contributed to this report.


LOUIS DeLUCA / Dallas Morning News
Storms moved over North Texas on Wednesday night, darkening the sky over Fair Park in Dallas. Lightning, wind gusts up to 70 mph and nickel-sized hail hit parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.