According to the Storm Prediction Center, 27 reported tornadoes were spotted from Tuesday through early Wednesday morning. These reports will need to be surveyed and confirmed; crews from the National Weather Service will review the damage and determine how many tornadoes were actually in progress during this event.
The greatest concentration of tornadoes was in north Texas and southern Oklahoma, in a region generally northwest of Fort Worth and southwest of Oklahoma City.
One of those tornadoes struck Mineral Wells, Texas, Tuesday evening before sunset with reports of a roof collapse of a vacated bank building downtown. Photos from the scene showed damage to some awnings downtown, and large tree limbs were snapped in parts of the city.
A possible tornado caused structural damage to several condos in Runaway Bay, Texas. Resident Brad Snodgrass took shelter with neighbors as the storm bore down on the city, but before hunkering down, he could hear the strong winds from the storm's rotation, according to CBS DFW.
"We don't know what's left upstairs," Snodgrass told CBS DFW. "Probably nothing, because the roof's completely gone."
Here's a look just south of Bridgeport. Piles of debris leftover from last night's severe weather. #txwx #dfwwx pic.twitter.com/2Y1zvVlNSg
โ Lexy Cruz (@lexybcruz) May 20, 2015
Wise County emergency managers said residential structures collapsed and large trees and power lines were knocked down in the small hamlet of Boonsville, a few miles south of Runaway Bay. Storm damage was also reported in Bridgeport, where firefighters confirmed to NBC DFW that more than a dozen homes and mobile homes were damaged and one person was injured.
Chopper 5 and @AmesChopper5 flying above Runaway Bay in Wise Co. Tornado destroyed this home last night. pic.twitter.com/GOwZsOvEe7
โ Grant Johnston (@GrantJNBC5) May 20, 2015
In Giddings, Texas, which is around 60 miles east of Austin, an EF0 tornado struck and left at least one person injured. A Ramada Inn was damaged by the short-lived twister.
"Early (Tuesday) afternoon a tornado developed near Giddings, Texas, and there were also a couple of reports of funnel clouds in the area. A remnant outflow boundary may have helped in the formation of the tornado and funnel clouds," weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam said.
KEYE reports that a Giddings man was injured when the tornado sent debris through a window and hit his face. The man's injuries are non-life threatening.
8 pm mineral wells pic.twitter.com/aJNSAPjhsg
โ Lesliegarcia (@LeslieBiglou) May 20, 2015
Tornadoes were spotted near Purcell and Lexington, Oklahoma, south of Norman. There were no immediate reports of damage. Other tornadoes were sighted south of Dallas near Waxahachie, Texas, and in remote areas of southwest Texas. These too appeared to touch down without striking any structures.
Damage from downtown #MineralWells. Pic courtesy @mwindex. #txwx pic.twitter.com/TTW2bYbRm3
โ Brian James (@BrianJamesWx) May 20, 2015
Flash flood warnings were issued for Wise and several nearby counties as thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the area. Radar estimated more than 6 inches of rainfall in areas of Wise County that also reported damage from possible tornadoes.
Flooding was also a problem in Oklahoma. Roads were closed late Tuesday night throughout many areas in Oklahoma due to high water or flood damage, according to Oklahoma Department of Transportation. To check current road conditions, call (888) 425-2385 or check the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety's web site
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