Six Tornadoes Now Confirmed in Northeast Texas

EAST TEXAS — Friday evening to Saturday morning was a terrifying and destructive time in East Texas with damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes and deadly flash flooding. And after a survey by the National Weather Service, two more tornadoes have been added to the list. One was in the Alto area in Cherokee County. Officials in Cherokee County have declared a state of disaster following the Friday night storms.

The National Weather Service also confirms a tornado in the northern part of Harrison County.

Previously, four tornadoes were confirmed to have touched down in East Texas. The first tornado touched down in Lindale at 5:50 Friday night near the intersection of HWY 69 & Mayor Street. As it crossed Highway 69, the damage was catastrophic to the Hibbett Sports and Dollar Tree stores. The tornado was rated as an EF-2, with winds between 110-115 mph.

An EF-2, multi-vortex tornado, with winds between 120-125 mph, was reported in Wood County & Upshur Counties, causing damage to a house and two mobile homes. Damage was reported around the Holly Lake area and north of Hawkins where the Ozarka Water Bottling Plant had major roof damage. The tornado continued to move northeast and went just east of Holly Lake and went into Upshur County. Two injuries were reported. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office reports multiple trees down on FM 1002 in Big Sandy all the way to Highway 154 at the Upshur/Wood County line. Deputies stated drivers should keep off the road in this area, due to live downed power lines and flooding. No injuries have been reported. In Wood County, the National Weather Service reports at least one home was damaged in the area of FM 14 and FM 2869.

A third tornado touched down about 14 miles Southeast of Marshall at 10:20. It was rated an EF-1 with winds at 95 mph. An EF-1 tornado touched down just 4 miles northwest of Waskom. Two mobile homes were severely damaged.