This week saw extreme weather around the world, but Texas was particularly hard hit in the U.S. Officials estimated that between six and 12 tornadoes hit North Texas on Tuesday, reported the Associated Press.
By Wednesday, residents began assessing the damage done by the intense storms. According to AP, no fatalities and "only a handful" of injuries were reported by late Tuesday. The Red Cross estimated that around 650 homes were damaged by the storms that hit the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Some of the most striking images from the Texas twisters included videos of big-rig trucks that were tossed effortlessly by the tornadoes. Life's Little Mysteries explains how the storms were able to move such large objects.
In other Texas weather news, the National Weather Service warned this week that the drought relief brought by a wet winter won't necessarily last. AP reported that an "unusually wet winter" is "no guarantee that bone-dry conditions won't return to Texas later this year."
An avalanche near a Pakistani military complex buried over 135 people this weekend. Despite rescue efforts, no survivors had been found after over 12 hours.
HuffPost's Cara Santa Maria looked at earthquake preparedness this week and when the next "big one" could hit the U.S.
Below, check out some of the week's wildest weather photos from around the world.
(01 of24)
From AP: Homes in Lancaster, Texas lay destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Tornadoes tore through the Dallas area Tuesday, peeling roofs off homes, tossing big-rig trucks into the air and leaving flattened tractor trailers strewn along highways and parking lots. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Khampha Bouaphanh) (credit:AP)
(02 of24)
From Getty: Two trucks lie on their sides on a bridge at Toyama city, western Japan on April 3, 2012. A typhoon-like spring storm brought strong gusts and heavy rains to Japan, causing traffic chaos, with meteorologists urging the public to stay indoors if possible. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS (credit:Getty)
(03 of24)
From Getty: A woman walks her dog past a tree which fell partly on top of a vehicle during a storm in Buenos Aires, taken on April 6, 2012. At least 14 people died overnight into Thursday in Argentina following storms that saw strong winds cause damage across the capital region. The Buenos Aires parks and recreation chief said 114 trees had collapsed, destroying many vehicles and blocking roads, while parts of the capital and the suburbs were in the dark after the power was cut. AFP PHOTO/JUAN MABROMATA (credit:Getty)
(04 of24)
From Getty: Floodwaters inundate the tourist town of Nadi on the island of Viti Levu on April 2, 2012 as Fiji braced for gale force winds which were expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone. A state of emergency was declared in the South Pacific nation as flash floods claimed at least three lives and forced 8,000 people to seek refuge in evacuation centres. AFP PHOTO / Neil SANDS (credit:Getty)
(05 of24)
From Getty: A car stops to turn in a street blocked by branches that fell during a storm in the eve, in Buenos Aires, on April 5, 2012. At least 14 people died overnight into Thursday in Argentina following storms that saw strong winds cause damage across the capital region. The Buenos Aires parks and recreation chief said 114 trees had collapsed, destroying many vehicles and blocking roads, while parts of the capital and the suburbs were in the dark after the power was cut. AFP PHOTO/JUAN MABROMATA (credit:Getty)
(06 of24)
From Getty: Floodwaters inundate the tourist town of Nadi on the island of Viti Levu on April 2, 2012 as Fiji braced for gale force winds which were expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone. A state of emergency was declared in the South Pacific nation as flash floods claimed at least three lives and forced 8,000 people to seek refuge in evacuation centres. AFP PHOTO / Neil SANDS (credit:Getty)
(07 of24)
From AP: Lightning streaks across the sky in Tyler, Texas as a powerful line of thunderstorms, several spawning tornados moved across Texas, Tuesday evening, April 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Dr. Scott M. Lieberman) (credit:AP)
(08 of24)
From Getty: People try to get past a tree that fell during a storm in Buenos Aires, on April 5, 2012. At least 14 people died overnight into Thursday in Argentina following storms that saw strong winds cause damage across the capital region. The Buenos Aires parks and recreation chief said 114 trees had collapsed, destroying many vehicles and blocking roads, while parts of the capital and the suburbs were in the dark after the power was cut. AFP PHOTO/JUAN MABROMATA (credit:Getty)
(09 of24)
From AP: As first light rises over Lancaster, Texas on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, the devastation from a tornado on Tuesday runs a mile long down a series of neighborhoods. The National Weather Service says possibly as many as a dozen twisters moved across the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday, bouncing in and out of neighborhoods, and destroying homes at random. The Red Cross estimates that 650 homes were damaged in Lancaster, one of the hardest hit areas. (AP Photo/Robert Ray) (credit:AP)
(10 of24)
From Getty: DALLAS, TX - APRIL 04: Workers prepare to move a damaged semi trailer from a trucking company lot on April 4, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(11 of24)
From Getty: FORNEY, TX - APRIL 04: Volunteers help homeowners search through the rubble of their destroyed homes following a tornado on April 4, 2012 in Forney, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down yesterday across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(12 of24)
From Getty: FORNEY, TX - APRIL 04: A general view of a tornado damaged home following a tornado on April 4, 2012 in Forney, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down yesterday across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(13 of24)
From Getty: FORNEY, TX - APRIL 04: Volunteers from the Forney Lions Club help residents search through the remains of their homes after a tornado on April 4, 2012 in Forney, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down yesterday across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(14 of24)
From Getty: ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 03: Residents search for personal belongings after a tornado destroyed their home on April 3, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(15 of24)
From Getty: ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 03: Electrical service crews work to repair damaged power lines after a tornado ripped through the area on April 3, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Multiple tornadoes touched down across the Dallas/Fort Worth area causing extensive damage. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(16 of24)
From AP: People look at damage caused by the collapse of a building's roof in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday April 5, 2012. As many as 11 people were killed after thunderstorms brought strong winds and hail overnight. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Pezzoni, DyN) (credit:AP)
(17 of24)
From AP: Mark Fox, second from right, of National Weather Service Warning & Coordination Meteorologist, and his staff look over the damage in the neighborhood after a severe storm passed the area, Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Preliminary findings indicate one of the tornadoes that struck North Texas had wind gusts ranging from 136 to 165 mph. As many as a dozen twisters touched down across Dallas-Fort Worth. Thousands remained without power Wednesday and hundreds of homes were severely damaged. Officials reported more than 20 injuries, but no deaths. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Paul Moseley) (credit:AP)
(18 of24)
From AP: Downed trees damaged this home in southwest Arlington, Texas as residents deal with the aftermath of a tornado that did extensive damage in the area, Tuesday, April 3, 2012. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison) (credit:AP)
(19 of24)
From AP: A sign is destroyed from a passing storm in South Arlington, Texas on US 287 on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Several reported tornadoes tore through the Dallas area on Tuesday, tossing semis in the air and leaving crumpled tractor trailers strewn along highways and in truck stop parking lots. The National Weather Service reported at least two separate "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes south of Dallas and Fort Worth. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Paul Moseley) (credit:AP)
(20 of24)
From AP: A tree fell on a truck in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Several reported tornadoes tore through the Dallas area on Tuesday, tossing semis in the air and leaving crumpled tractor trailers strewn along highways and in truck stop parking lots. The National Weather Service reported at least two separate "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes south of Dallas and Fort Worth. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ron Jenkins) (credit:AP)
(21 of24)
From AP: Pakistani children riding a donkey-cart, gesture as they get caught in a sand storm on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, April 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) (credit:AP)
(22 of24)
From AP: Part of a roof from a near by business hangs from a water tower in Kennedale, Texas on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 after storms and tornadoes swept through the area, Tuesday. Preliminary findings indicate one of the tornadoes that struck North Texas had wind gusts ranging from 136 to 165 mph. As many as a dozen twisters touched down across Dallas-Fort Worth. Thousands remained without power Wednesday and hundreds of homes were severely damaged. Officials reported more than 20 injuries, but no deaths. (AP Photo/Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison) (credit:AP)
(23 of24)
From AP: Homes in Lancaster, Texas lay destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Tornadoes tore through the Dallas area Tuesday, peeling roofs off homes, tossing big-rig trucks into the air and leaving flattened tractor trailers strewn along highways and parking lots. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Khampha Bouaphanh) (credit:AP)
(24 of24)
From AP: Homes in Kennedale Texas lay destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Tornadoes tore through the Dallas area Tuesday, peeling roofs off homes, tossing big-rig trucks into the air and leaving flattened tractor trailers strewn along highways and parking lots. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Khampha Bouaphanh) (credit:AP)
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