Thunderstorms raged through North Texas early Thursday, causing scattered damage and leaving up to 85,000 people in the dark
About 70,000 remained without power around the Dallas-Fort Worth area just after daybreak, said TXU Electric Delivery spokeswoman Carol Peters. All available crews have been dispatched for repairs, which could take 24 hours to complete, she said.
Numerous Dallas intersections were left without functioning traffic lights, complicating the area's morning commute.
Wind gusts as high as 77 mph toppled trees and shattered glass in at least one downtown Dallas office tower. One large pecan tree at the historic Belo mansion in downtown Dallas was among the toppled trees, chipping a corner of a mansion canopy.
Rescue crews had to lead motorists from vehicles stalled in standing water on Dallas-area streets early Thursday.
No major injuries were reported.
Most of North Texas was under a flash flood watch, with storms forecast for later Thursday in parts of West, North and East Texas.
