Update 8:30 p.m.: Gregg and Rusk counties remained under tornado warning until 8:55 p.m.
Portions of East Texas were under a tornado warning, and Smith County was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Monday, according to a hazardous weather warning from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service indicated Smith County, Rusk and Gregg counties all were under a tornado warning about 7:30 p.m. Monday. The warning was expected to last until about 8:45 p.m.
A funnel cloud was spotted around 8:15 p.m. near Kilgore, moving at a rate of about 20 miles per hour.
There also was a risk of severe thunderstorms and possibly some isolated large hail through the evening. The largest hail reported was in Pittsburg, with reports of people seeing golfball-sized hail. Smaller hail was also seen around various parts of East Texas. Clusters of thunderstorms could bring a damaging wind threat as well, according to the National Weather Service.
Isolated tornadoes were possible as the activity shifted to the southeast. The severe threat was expected to lessen overnight as the cold front became stationary.
Hydrologist C.S. Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport said Monday afternoon there was a 60 percent chance of rain. He expected it would be cloudy with a low of 63 degrees.
"The risk for severe weather this evening is high," Ross said Monday. "There will be thunderstorms and rain showers coming through the area."