The strongest tornado threat the US has seen in more than five months was created Friday when an early winter blast and record-breaking autumn warmth combined to produce a strong, severe storm system in the South.
Texas experienced tornadoes on Friday afternoon, and damage was found west of Paris and close to Sulphur Springs in the northeastern part of the state.
damaging tornadoes tear through northeast Texas
(Photo : Nikolas Noonan/Unsplash)
A tornado watch is in effect for portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas through midnight on Friday as the system moves east, as per CNN.
Another lasts through 8 p.m. Local time is used in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Texas.
According to the Storm Prediction Center's Friday severe weather outlook, several tornadoes are likely to occur over far southeast Oklahoma and eastern Texas.
A few strong tornadoes may also develop from late afternoon into the early evening.
According to the sheriff's office in Hopkins County, Texas, a tornado damaged at least four homes there. There were no reported injuries. Paris is the county seat of neighboring Lamar County, which also reported damage.
Eastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas, and northwestern Louisiana are at "moderate risk" (Level 4 of 5) for severe thunderstorms on Friday, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area continues to be at increased risk on Friday (Level 3 out of 4).
Up until 8 p.m., a tornado watch is in effect. includes northeastern and central Texas, eastern and southern Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas, and has a population of 12 million. Dallas, Waco, and Tyler are located in Texas; Tulsa is in Oklahoma; Fort Smith and Fayetteville are located in Arkansas.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, the watch is in effect until midnight and covers parts of western and central Arkansas, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, and east and northeast Texas.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, scattered large to very large hail larger than a golf ball (2 inches in diameter) is also possible in addition to strong tornadoes.
As thunderstorms align and move into Arkansas and Louisiana on Friday afternoon and evening, the main threat will change from tornadoes to damaging winds overnight.
A significant widespread and destructive wind event is expected later on Friday evening across parts of the Ark-La-Tex region as the storms move east. Because of this, the threat level for Friday has been raised by the prediction center.
Read more: In a Rare Occurence, Tornado Wrecks Havoc in Victoria, Australia
Tornadoes rip apart homes and uproot trees as storms move
Major damage was done in Oklahoma and Texas as a result of several destructive tornadoes that were spawned by Friday's severe weather across the Plains.
Some of the National Weather Service's most severe warnings, such as a Tornado Emergency and Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Warning, had to be issued, as per FoxNews.
West of Paris, Texas, a confirmed tornado was seen on Friday afternoon. The damage will need to be assessed by the National Weather Service.
Photos taken by weather observers in Paris after the storm cell passed showed trees and power poles leaning.
Additionally, a tornado struck and completely destroyed the Texas town of Powderly. On Friday afternoon, the town was in the path of a storm that had a tornado warning. Tree branches were stripped bare and homes were brought to the ground, as seen in photos taken shortly after the storm passed through.
According to Census Reporter, Powderly, which is in Lamar County northeast of Dallas, has 966 residents with a median age of 56.9 years.
A tornado wrapped in rain was seen moving through Athens in the video below, which was captured by a weather observer.
Major damage was done to homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Chicota and Athens, Texas.
Related article: Puerto Rico: Rare Tornado Wreaks Havoc Across the City of Arecibo
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