Weather / Storms

Tornadoes & severe storms.

Texas severe weather can turn dangerous fast - tornadoes, baseball-size hail, deadly lightning, and winds that hit hurricane force. The good news is that knowing where to go, and acting on a warning, keeps you safe.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes can happen in Texas in any month, though spring is usually the busiest stretch. North and Central Texas see frequent severe-storm setups, but no part of the state should ignore a tornado warning. This is where watch versus warning matters most.

• -A mobile or manufactured home is not safe in a tornado. Pick a sturdy building or storm shelter ahead of time and go there during the watch, before the warning makes travel dangerous.
• -If you are outside or driving, get to the closest sturdy shelter. If that is impossible, NWS says there is no single risk-free last resort: get low in the car and cover your head, or leave it for a low-lying spot away from traffic and trees. Never shelter under an overpass.
• -Do not shelter under a highway overpass - wind speeds up there and debris flies. It's one of the worst places to be.

Thunderstorms - hail, lightning & wind

Texas thunderstorms can turn severe fast. NWS says the strongest can produce hail larger than a softball or winds over 100 mph, along with tornadoes, lightning, and flash flooding.