Tornado Spotted Near Tynan

Just before noon today, the national weather service issued a Tornado Warning for portions of Bee, Live Oak, and San Patricio counties after a tornado was spotted near Tynan. The funnel cloud was reported by local law enforcement to be located about 6 miles south of Skidmore, traveling in a northwesterly direction.

Update: An hour or so after the first Tornado Warning, a second warning was issued when a tornado was spotted near Woodsboro heading towards Skidmore! We can only assume the tornado dissipated as the storm fueling it passed to the north. Further scattered NWS reports came in over the course of the afternoon of tornados developing west of Beeville, near Berclair, and in the vicinity of George West and Three Rivers. As of yet, we've heard no reports of significant damage by these storms.

The National Weather Service offers the following advice if you find yourself in the path of a tornado.

Do not use highway overpasses for shelter. Overpasses do not provide protection from tornadic winds. Vehicles stopped under bridges block traffic and prevent people from getting out of the storm's path and to shelter. If you cannot drive away from the tornado, get out of your vehicle and lie flat in a ditch as a last resort.

The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement. Get under a workbench or other piece of sturdy furniture. If no basement is available, seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an interior hallway or room such as a closet. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body and always stay away from windows.

If in mobile homes or vehicles, evacuate them and get inside a substantial shelter. If no shelter is available, lie flat in the nearest ditch or other low spot and cover your head with your hands.