Dangerous Weather Approaching East Texas, Tornado Watch Now in Effect

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, has issued a Tornado Watch effective until 9 p.m. Lufkin, Nacogdoches, and much of Deep East Texas is included in the watch.

These Texas Counties Are Included in the Tornado Watch

Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Hardin, Harrison, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith and Tyler Counties are in the watch region.

Primary Severe Weather Threats

A few tornadoes are likely throughout the watch area. A couple of intense tornadoes are also possible (EF2+). Scattered damaging winds with isolated significant gusts up to 75 mph possible. Isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter are possible. as well.

A line of thunderstorms with embedded supercells will spread eastward over east Texas into Louisiana this afternoon and evening.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles north and south of a line from 10 miles west southwest of Lufkin, Texas to 25 miles northeast of Alexandria, Louisiana.

Tornado-warned storms have already been issued for portions of East Texas, including Buffalo, Grapeland, Palestine, and Whitehouse, Texas.

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.

People in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.