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Texas Braces for Tornadoes and Hail as Severe Weather Lashes East Coast Texas Braces for Tornadoes and Hail as Severe Weather Lashes East Coast
(32 minutes later)
Tornadoes, hail the size of baseballs and possible hurricane-strength winds threatened to sweep through parts of central Texas on Friday, while a spate of severe weather with thunderstorms stretched along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast states, forecasters said.Tornadoes, hail the size of baseballs and possible hurricane-strength winds threatened to sweep through parts of central Texas on Friday, while a spate of severe weather with thunderstorms stretched along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast states, forecasters said.
Destructive hail possibly three or more inches in size and wind gusts that could intensify to more than 75 miles per hour were bearing down on central Texas in the late afternoon and evening on Friday, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.Destructive hail possibly three or more inches in size and wind gusts that could intensify to more than 75 miles per hour were bearing down on central Texas in the late afternoon and evening on Friday, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.
A few tornadoes could be in the mix, from North Central Texas into the southwestern part of the state and portions of the Rio Grande Valley, the forecast desk, in College Park, Md., predicted.A few tornadoes could be in the mix, from North Central Texas into the southwestern part of the state and portions of the Rio Grande Valley, the forecast desk, in College Park, Md., predicted.
Large population centers including the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas could expect damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.Large population centers including the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas could expect damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.
On Friday afternoon, there were reports of a possible tornado near the U.S. Army base Fort Hood. On Friday afternoon, there were reports of a possible tornado near Fort Hood, the U.S. Army base outside Killeen, Texas.
At least 5 million people in Texas were under an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms on Friday, the Weather Service said.At least 5 million people in Texas were under an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms on Friday, the Weather Service said.
Along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast on Friday, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across a broad swath of states, the Weather Service said. Multiple rounds of moderate-to-heavy rainfall will last through Sunday morning, tracking northeast through the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, it said.
Along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast on Friday, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across a broad swath of states, the Weather Service said. The multiple rounds of moderate-to-heavy rainfall will last through Sunday morning, tracking northeast through the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, it said.
The severe weather prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit on Friday.The severe weather prompted Major League Baseball to cancel games in Washington and Detroit on Friday.
Areas from Northern Virginia through New Jersey could get up to 2 inches of rainfall, though some areas could get 3 inches or more, meteorologists said.Areas from Northern Virginia through New Jersey could get up to 2 inches of rainfall, though some areas could get 3 inches or more, meteorologists said.
The severe weather came after at least three tornadoes hit Florida late Thursday, the worst of them striking just before 4 p.m. in the unincorporated community of Hosford, Fla., about 30 miles west of Tallahassee, said Wright Dobbs, a meteorologist with the Weather Service. The storms on Friday followed several days of severe weather in the central and southern United States.
On Friday, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were assessing the extent of the destruction in Hosford overnight, identifying residential areas and roads that were damaged by the tornadoes and in need debris removal. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but homes were damaged and trees and power lines downed, according to local officials. At least three tornadoes hit Florida late Thursday, the worst of them striking just before 4 p.m. in the unincorporated community of Hosford, about 30 miles west of Tallahassee, said Wright Dobbs, a meteorologist with the Weather Service. And on Wednesday, hail as large as baseballs fell in Texas and thunderstorms whipped across parts of the South.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not uncommon at this time of year. Less common, however, was the large hail that was reported across the region in the past several days, said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast desk in College Park. “That’s unusual,” he said. On Friday, the Liberty County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office said deputies were assessing the extent of the destruction in Hosford overnight, identifying residential areas and roads that were damaged by the tornadoes and in need of debris removal. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but homes were damaged and there were downed trees and power lines, according to local officials.
In Texas, the storms were rolling in just two days after softball-size hail battered parts of the state. In Florida, Thursday’s spate of tornadoes has also been a repeat of severe weather, after damaging weather and torrential rain inundated the state earlier this month. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are not uncommon at this time of year — Florida was inundated with torrential rain earlier this month. Less common, however, was the large hail that was reported across the region in the past several days, said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Service forecast desk in College Park. “That’s unusual,” he said.
Images posted to social media appeared to show downed trees and crumpled rooftops in Hosford. About 50 miles southwest, in the city of Lynn Haven, residents reported golf ball-size hail had smashed into their homes and cars. Trees and roofs had also been damaged, an operator with the Lynn Haven Police Department said by phone. After tornadoes swept through Florida on Thursday, images posted to social media appeared to show downed trees and crumpled rooftops in Hosford. About 50 miles to the southwest, in the city of Lynn Haven, residents reported that golf ball-size hail had smashed into their homes and cars. Trees and roofs had also been damaged, an operator with the Lynn Haven Police Department said by phone.
On Thursday afternoon, a 33-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by lightning on a pier in Panama City Beach, Fla., the city’s Police Department said in a statementOn Thursday afternoon, a 33-year-old man was seriously injured after being struck by lightning on a pier in Panama City Beach, Fla., the city’s Police Department said in a statement
Johnny Diaz and Judson Jones contributed reporting. Johnny Diaz Eduardo Medina and Judson Jones contributed reporting.