A tornado pummeled two apartment complexes and a swath of The Rim shopping center on the Northwest Side early Wednesday.

It tore off part of the roof off a four-story apartment building at the Oasis San Antonio complex — near the main campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio — and forced the evacuation of dozens of units, according to San Antonio officials. 

Amelia Gomez helps resident Jaffer Murphy, of Marion, Iowa, moves items from his apartment into a vehicle at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Amelia Gomez helps resident Jaffer Murphy, of Marion, Iowa, moves items from his apartment into a vehicle at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsA damaged parking cover is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

A damaged parking cover is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsCrews work at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Crews work at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsResident John Rodriguez Jr. walks by debris with an umbrella at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Resident John Rodriguez Jr. walks by debris with an umbrella at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsA damaged parking cover is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

A damaged parking cover is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsDebris fills an outdoor area at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Debris fills an outdoor area at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsCrews work at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Crews work at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsIgnacio Garcia, left, and José Mejía with Greater Landscape clean up debris on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Ignacio Garcia, left, and José Mejía with Greater Landscape clean up debris on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-NewsGratr Landscapes employees gingerly remove a tree which fell on an SUV after a tornado touched down in The Rim and other areas of Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026. The owner of the vehicle, who works at an area business, saw the tornado coming and parked her vehicle and fled into her workplace.

Gratr Landscapes employees gingerly remove a tree which fell on an SUV after a tornado touched down in The Rim and other areas of Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026. The owner of the vehicle, who works at an area business, saw the tornado coming and parked her vehicle and fled into her workplace.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-NewsWorkers clean up debris of Santikos Palladium on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Workers clean up debris of Santikos Palladium on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-NewsWorkers clean up debris of Santikos Palladium on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Workers clean up debris of Santikos Palladium on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-NewsSantikos Palladium theater at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio was one of numerous buildings damaged by a tornado on Wednesday morning, July 15, 2026 at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio. Santikos employees and contract workers taped off areas in front of the theater to help remove the building debris.

Santikos Palladium theater at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio was one of numerous buildings damaged by a tornado on Wednesday morning, July 15, 2026 at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio. Santikos employees and contract workers taped off areas in front of the theater to help remove the building debris.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-NewsPeople clean up a broken gate outside of Bass Pro Shop on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

People clean up a broken gate outside of Bass Pro Shop on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-NewsDebris fills an outdoor area at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Debris fills an outdoor area at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsAmelia Gomez helps resident Jaffer Murphy, of Marion, Iowa, moves items from his apartment into a vehicle at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Amelia Gomez helps resident Jaffer Murphy, of Marion, Iowa, moves items from his apartment into a vehicle at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsDamage on the roof is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Damage on the roof is shown at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsA “pool closed” sign is shown by debris at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

A “pool closed” sign is shown by debris at The Oasis San Antonio near UTSA after a tornado touched down in the area on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Katina Zentz/San Antonio Express-NewsJosé Mejía, left, and Ignacio Garcia with Greater Landscape clean up debris on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

José Mejía, left, and Ignacio Garcia with Greater Landscape clean up debris on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at The Rim in San Antonio. An early morning tornado caused damage in the area.

Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-NewsThe New York Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship after beating the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the NBA Championship at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, June13, 2026. The Knicks won the final game 94 to 90.

The New York Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship after beating the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the NBA Championship at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, June13, 2026. The Knicks won the final game 94 to 90.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-NewsSantikos employees sweeps up debris caused by a tornado on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio. The Palladium theater and other area businesses were damaged along with trees, vegetation and signs by the early morning storm.

Santikos employees sweeps up debris caused by a tornado on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio. The Palladium theater and other area businesses were damaged along with trees, vegetation and signs by the early morning storm.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-NewsCity of San Antonio maintenance worker Nahum Calderon seals up the trunk of a tree that was damaged in Wednesday morning’s tornado which touched down at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026.

City of San Antonio maintenance worker Nahum Calderon seals up the trunk of a tree that was damaged in Wednesday morning’s tornado which touched down at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-NewsCity of San Antonio maintenance worker Nahum Calderon drags tree branches snapped off by Wednesday morning’s tornado which touched down at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026.

City of San Antonio maintenance worker Nahum Calderon drags tree branches snapped off by Wednesday morning’s tornado which touched down at The Rim in Northwest San Antonio on July 15, 2026.

Michel Fortier/San Antonio Express-News

From there, the tornado barreled northwest toward Six Flags Fiesta Texas and The Rim, where it smashed the storefronts of the Santikos Palladium movie theater, Bass Pro Shops and other businesses.

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Tribute at the Rim apartments, located near the shopping center, also sustained damage. Fire Chief Valerie Frausto said at a news conference that the building was empty because it was closed for renovations when the tornado hit. High winds damaged some of the construction scaffolding. 

No injuries were reported at The Rim or the two apartment complexes, authorities said. 

The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down just before 8 a.m. Based on radar imagery, it struck near Hausman Road, just south of UTSA, and was on the ground for several minutes as it churned northeast toward Six Flags Fiesta Texas and The Rim.

Fire crews were called to the Oasis San Antonio apartments at 6023 UTSA Boulevard, where many renters are university students, shortly after the tornado cut through the complex, Frausto said.

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City crews shut off the building’s electricity and water and began assessing the damage and clearing debris.

It is was unclear how many tenants in the building were displaced or when they would be allowed to return to their apartments. Fifty-two of the building’s 56 units were leased, City Manager Erik Walsh said.

UTSA police chief Stephanie Schoenborn said about a dozen UTSA students might not be allowed to return to their apartments Wednesday.

“We are working very closely with the Red Cross to support any of our community that is displaced,” Schoenborn said. “We are prepared to shelter anybody that needs it, working closely with the Red Cross on our campus and working closely also with San Antonio police to do that. Operations are normal at UTSA.”

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Residents spent Wednesday afternoon loading whatever they could salvage into their vehicles, standing in the rain with suitcases, laundry baskets and backpacks. 

Firefighters escorted tenants to their apartments to retrieve essentials before the damaged building was sealed off. The front doors of apartments deemed unsafe were marked with a large X.

Several residents expressed frustration.

“We have work, and they’re telling us we can’t go inside,” tenant Jedidiah Fields said. “Where are we supposed to go?”

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Walsh said city crews are assessing and clearing downed limbs and other debris as far south as De Zavala and Hausman roads and as far north as The Rim. Residents can call 311 to get help clearing debris from roadways.

Northside Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez said several neighborhoods and less populated areas around UTSA, Camp Bullis, Crownridge and the Dominion experienced “significant damage” as the tornado passed through. 

“We are focused on damage assessment and cleanup and making sure that people are aware of the weather,” Walsh said.

The National Weather Service will conduct a damage survey in the coming days to determine the exact path and strength of the tornado.

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Big V Property Group has owned the roughly 2-million-square-foot Rim since 2021. The shopping center off of Interstate 10 has more than 100 stores, restaurants and service businesses.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based owner did not respond to an inquiry about damage on Wednesday. But in an Instagram post, the company said it is “actively working through recovery location by location.”

The Rim drew 16.6 million visitors in 2025, making it the most popular shopping center in the state, according to JLL, a commercial real estate firm.

The Palladium was closed Wednesday due to storm damage, its owner announced on social media. The tornado left debris scattered outside the theater’s front entrance and tree branches strewn across the parking lot.

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Six Flags Fiesta Texas and its adjacent Hurricane Harbor were also closed Wednesday because the storm “interrupted the park’s power supply,” spokesperson Cyle Perez said in a statement. But no one at the amusement park was injured and there was no structural damage.

Meteorologist Anthony Franze and reporter Madison Iszler contributed to this report.