A severe thunderstorm system that roared through Northeast Texas Sunday night appears to have created at least two small tornadoes. Property damage from apparent tornadoes was reported near Winnsboro and DeKalb. No injuries have been reported. Power outages were widespread throughout the region, particularly in the DeKalb area.
In Winnsboro, in northern Wood County, a possible tornado touched down north of the city about 8:25 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said. Trees and power lines are down in the Winnsboro area, the weather service said.
Crumpled sheet metal was strewn on the ground in front of the Masonic Lodge on West Broadway Street, according to Tyler-based KLTV-TV. Part of a wall at the car wash next door appeared to have been damaged, KLTV said.
An apartment complex had the roof torn off, Winnsboro Mayor Randy Parrish told KLTV. The owner of the complex opened other units for the displaced residents to stay the night, Parrish said. Also, a tree fell through a house on Winn Drive, Parrish said.
The Winnsboro Police Department is asking everyone to stay clear of Winn Drive and Farm-to-Market Road 852 west.
The storm system gathered strength earlier in the evening, when tornado warnings were in effect for parts of Navarro, Henderson, and Van Zandt counties. The storm passed through Canton and then traveled across the southeastern corner of Rains County before entering Wood County.
After leaving the vicinity of Winnsboro, the system moved into Franklin and Titus counties. Law enforcement in both Franklin and Titus counties reported seeing a tornado on the ground in rural areas of those counties, the National Weather Service said.
After crossing the southeastern part of Red River County, the storm then moved into Bowie County, where an apparent tornado touched down near DeKalb, where property damage was reported in and around the town.
DeKalb firefighters responded to a damaged house along Farm-to-Market Road 990, south of DeKalb, according to Shreveport, La.-based KSLA-TV.
Damage was also reported on the east side of U.S. Highway 259 and on Bowie County Road 44 just north of Farm-to-Market Road 4230, KSLA said.
De Kalb ISD will be starting late on Monday due to the storm. Schools will open at 10 A.M.
The tornado and storm produced strong winds, rain and hail throughout East Texas and into Southwestern Arkansas.
Power outages were reported across multiple counties in the area. More than 1,000 customers were without power Sunday night with a majority of them located in Bowie County, KSLA said.
The National Weather Service and local authorities are still assessing the full damage from the storms.
