Weather: Northern East Texas under severe thunderstorm warning

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, March 30, 2016

By CORY MCCOY, comccoy@tylerpaper.com

 

 

Update 3:59 p.m.:Tyler ISD buses on route north of Loop 323 were called back after the threat arose but are now back on route, according to school officials.

Lindale Independent School District officials are reporting that they are holding children the safest places at on each campus and following tornado drill procedures. Parents who came to pick up their children have been allowed to take shelter at the campuses as well. 

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Update 3:38 p.m.: According to scanner traffic Lindale Police are reporting that a tornado has touched down in the area.  The 11 miles southeast of Mineola. The storm will likely move across Lindale. Officials received reports of a possible tornado near Interstate 20 at Highway 110.



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East Texans are once again bracing for severe weather.

As a series of thunderstorms moves into the area hail, damaging wind and a possibility of tornados is expected.

“As we head into the 2 or 3 o’clock we start seeing thunderstorms and they will increase into evening,” KYTX CBS19 Meteorologist Alberto Romero said. “Hail, wind and tornados are all in the mix. Hail will be the main threat.“

Camp, Titus, Franklin Van Zandt, Henderson and Wood Counties were seeing the bulk of the rain at 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to Chief Meteorologist John Adams. Those counties were at risk of 60 mile per hour winds and quarter-sized hail. At 2:30 p.m. parts of East Texas, including Smith County were put under a tornado watch until 10 p.m.

“We’re expecting to see some more activity develop through the evening,” Adams said.

Adams said the severe weather would continue through the evening before finally tapering off at about noon Thursday.

Commuters Thursday morning can expect spotted showers on their drive to work.

The severe weather comes as East Texans are struggling to recover from the heavy rain event that led to widespread flooding and road closures earlier in the month. More than 4.5 inches of rain fell on March 9. Most areas of East Texas have seen about 10 inches of rain so far in March. Another 1 to 2 inches is expected across the area Wednesday.

Twitter: @TMT_Cory