Tornadoes touch down near Houston as storms hit Texas

Three Tornado Warnings have been issued for San Jacinto and Polk County northeast of Houston. According to the National Weather Service, one tornado was observed in the vicinity of West Livingston and Indian Springs, Texas. 

A second warning was issued at 2:35 p.m. after a tornado was detected by radar near Onalaska, Point Blank and Cedar Point, Texas.

NWS issued a third Tornado Warning at 2:45 p.m. CT for residents in Livingston, Camden and Leggett, Texas.

Houston, southeast Texas and portions of southern Louisiana remain under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m. CT Monday evening.

The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch on Monday afternoon warning residents of Houston, southeast Texas and Louisiana of extreme weather expected to hit communities along the Gulf Coast Monday afternoon and into the evening.

A “few tornadoes” are likely across southeast Texas and parts of southern Louisiana, according to NWS Houston. These events could be accompanied by scattered hail of up to two inches in diameter in some areas, and strong winds with gusts approaching 70 mph are possible. Note that a Tornado Watch differs from a Tornado Warning: The former warns residents to prepare for a possible tornado, while the latter indicates a tornado has touched down and poses an immediate threat to those in the vicinity. 

Monday’s Tornado Watch will remain in place until 9 p.m. CT. 

On Monday morning, the National Weather Service published a Public Severe Weather Outlook for the Gulf Coast states. Spanning from Southeast Texas to the Florida panhandle, the notice warns of severe thunderstorms harboring potential tornados as well as the possibility of hail and damaging winds for residents in the identified area.

The outlook specifically identifies the possibility of “a few intense tornados,” “scattering damaging winds, some hurricane force,” and “isolated large hail.” 

“Severe thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts and tornados are expected across the Gulf Coast States this afternoon through early Tuesday morning morning,” the NWS stated. “This includes the possibility of strong tornadoes and a significant nighttime severe weather risk for southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi into southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle.” 

Currently, an NWS Wind Advisory is in place for Houston warning of sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph on Monday. Unsecured outdoor objects could be blown away by the storms, and power outages caused by fallen tree limbs are possible Monday, NWS forecasters warn.

Monday’s potential severe weather is brought to us courtesy of a low pressure system moving across the Southeastern United States. The front is pushing ahead of Winter Storm Finn, which is currently smothering the northern states and Midwest with “significant” snowfall and strong winds.

Locally, Houston city officials advised visitors in town for the College Football National Championship game to prepare for high winds and severe weather, according to a report published by FOX 26 on Sunday night. NRG Park has made contingency plans to move some events indoors ahead of Monday’s game, and CenterPoint Energy employees are prepared to address any power outages that could be caused by the severe system, officials told FOX 26.