Massive Tornado Watch Issued, 3 Texas Counties Included

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma has issued a Tornado Watch for portions of extreme east Texas as well as regions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The watch is effective until 10 p.m. Saturday evening.

A few tornadoes are likely with the possibility of intense tornadoes. This would include EF2 or greater tornadoes with winds in excess of 111 mph. Scattered damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are also likely across the watch area. Isolate large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter are also possible.

A strong cold front approaching from the west continues to spawn a squall line that continues to intensify. The greatest severe risk will be with bowing segments and/or embedded supercells within that line.

The tornado watch area is approximately 75 statute miles east and west of a line from 35 miles northeast of Dyersburg, Tennessee to 45 miles south of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

The only Texas counties included in the watch area are Shelby, Sabine, and San Augustine. The severe weather threat for those counties should end by 7 p.m.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.

Download our station app to have weather alerts sent to your smartphone. 

Get our free mobile app