Reports: 14 tornadoes may have touched down in Texas

Reports: 14 tornadoes may have touched down in Texas

Severe storms slammed a huge portion of Texas, leading to massive hail, downed trees, and flash flooding that left residents scrambling.

A band of fierce storms swept through Texas over the weekend, and estimates suggest that up to 14 tornadoes touched down in the rural part of the state.

The storms ripped off roofs and flattened structures, forcing people to run for cover, according to an Associated Press report.

Meteorologist Jamie Gudmestad of the National Weather Service was quoted in the report as saying that at least four tornadoes were confirmed southwest of Fort Worth, and as many as 14 touched down at some point, although no injuries were reported.

Locals reported hail the size of ping pong balls that pelted the region, and flash flooding struck some parts, covering roadways.

The hail got so big that it shattered the windshield of some storm chasers, who said that the hail started at about 1 inch in diameter before getting as big as 4 inches or more.

The American Red Cross said in a statement that it was monitoring the situation and determining how much damage, as well as providing assistance to affected families. Red Cross teams “provided cots and blankets for the shelter set up in Maypearl, and stood by for shelter needs” in other counties, said spokeswoman Anita Foster according to the report.

It remains a fluid situation as flash flooding concerns have persisted, Foster added.

More severe weather had been predicted for North and East Texas through Monday, with some predictions calling for winds close to hurricane strength at 70 miles per hour.

Heavy rains slammed a large portion of the state, including up to the panhandle and Amarillo, which got 2 inches of rain yesterday morning. Down in the Southeast, the Houston area got heavy rain on Monday, resulting in damaged structures and downed trees.

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