A tornado tore through northeastern Burnet County on Thursday, obliterating a house, a large outbuilding, and leaving one driver injured in its wake. Shortly after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado warning at 4:13 p.m., the tornado struck around 4:20 p.m. near County Road 223, as reported by CBS Austin. The severe storm originated from neighboring Lampasas and Coryell counties before descending on Burnet County.
In the chaos of its path, extensive damage has prompted first responders and Burnet County road crews to begin clearing debris and assessing the destruction Thursday evening, according to a statement from the Burnet County Office of Emergency Management obtained by KXAN. Residents impacted by the storms have been urged to report damage using the iSTAT tool on the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, with another severe weather system expected on Friday afternoon bringing an 80% chance of severe weather to Central Texas, including very large hail and possible tornadoes.
The NWS plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of the affected areas to ascertain the full extent of the damage. These results are to be reported the following day. Amidst ongoing severe conditions, local officials have reminded the public to maintain awareness of weather updates and stressed the need for caution given the potential for more hazardous conditions to arise on Friday.
Thursday's storms also brought with them formidable hail and significant rainfall, with some hailstones reaching a diameter of 4.5 inches and rainfall up to 6 inches in certain parts, as told by CBS Austin Meteorologist Avery Tomasco. These conditions emphasized the ferocity of the storm system that swept through the region. Residents who need assistance or emergency services are being directed to call 911 or 512-756-8080 for aid.
