UPDATE: Tornado sighted in Hays County

Staff

UPDATE: At 5:25 p.m. a tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service to have touched down in Wimberley moving north at about 25 MPH. If you are in the area, officials recommend people take cover. 

Hays County is now under a Tornado Watch until 6:15 p.m. Reports from the National Weather Service are indicating that there are good chances for severe storms along and east of U.S. 281 starting midday today through the early hours of Tuesday, March 22. Storms are expected to develop by mid-afternoon near US-281 and move east through the evening. 

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for South-Central Texas…

TODAY AND TONIGHT

Severe thunderstorms with primary threats of large hail and tornadoes are possibly this afternoon into early evening. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains this afternoon. A Wind Advisory is in effect this afternoon for Val Verde and Edwards Counties.

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

Elevated to critical fire weather conditions are expected to continue through Saturday, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Tuesday afternoon for the Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains. Red Flag Warnings for critical fire weather conditions may be needed on additional days. Take care to prevent the start of wildfires.

AFFECTED COUNTIES

Llano • Burnet • Williamson • Val Verde • Edwards • Real • Kerr • Bandera • Gillespie • Kendall • Blanco • Hays • Travis • Bastrop • Lee • Kinney • Uvalde • Medina • Bexar • Comal • Guadalupe • Caldwell • Fayette • Maverick • Zavala • Frio • Atascosa • Wilson • Karnes • Gonzales • De Witt • Lavaca • Dimmit

TORNADO CLASSIFICATION AND SAFETY

The state of Texas is entering tornado season. Tornadoes are more common in April, May, and June.

According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes can occur in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from a few yards to over one mile in width.

Tornadoes can change intensity quickly and should all be considered dangerous. 

Tornadoes are classified into three broad groups based on their estimated wind speeds and resultant damage:

This article was updated at 3:29 p.m, 5:59 p.m, and 6:20 p.m. to provide developing weather warnings.