Community invited to reflect, remember, and honor resilience
Rowlett, TX – December 23, 2025 – The City of Rowlett will host a Tornado Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, December 26, from 6:00 to 6:56 p.m. at Schrade Bluebonnet Park (4701 Sunny Brook Dr., Rowlett, TX 75088), marking the time the devastating tornado struck the community ten years ago.
The ceremony will bring together residents, first responders, and city leadership for a meaningful evening of reflection and remembrance. Speakers will include representatives from the Rowlett Police and Fire Departments, Mayor Jeff Winget, and citizens directly impacted by the storm. Original dispatch audio from the night of the tornado will also be shared to honor the response efforts and the gravity of that evening.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
On December 26, 2015, a significant tornado outbreak affected portions of North and Central Texas, producing 12 confirmed tornadoes across eight counties. Thirteen individuals lost their lives due to injuries associated with the outbreak, with numerous others injured. More than half of the fatalities occurred near Interstate 30 and the President George Bush Turnpike.
The Sunnyvale–Garland–Rowlett tornado was rated EF-4, with estimated winds of 166–200 mph, and ranks as the highest-rated and deadliest tornado in Dallas County for the month of December. It is also considered the strongest tornado in North Texas since Rowlett records began in 1959.
Rowlett Tornado – By the Numbers:
- Rated EF-4
- 6 minutes on the ground in Rowlett
- 3.5-mile track, up to ½ mile wide
- Nearly 1,100 homes and businesses affected (approximately 5% of the city at the time)
- 46% of affected structures severely damaged or destroyed
- 159 homes destroyed; 311 homes sustained major damage
- 1 fatality and 23 injuries in Rowlett
- Last tornado to impact Rowlett prior to 2015 occurred on October 4, 1959 (EF-3)
The Tornado Remembrance Ceremony is intended to be a quiet, reflective gathering that honors lives lost, recognizes first responders and survivors, and reaffirms the enduring spirit of the Rowlett community.
Submitted by Kristen Weaver, Communications and Media Specialist
