Yesterday in Godley, the quiet did not last long. Tornado sirens cut through town as thunderstorms capable of spinning up twisters rolled into Johnson County, according to the City of Godley Fire Department. Around 6:26 p.m. CDT, the department announced on Facebook that they had sounded the tornado sirens. Not long after, neighbors around the area reported large hail and tree limbs snapped by the passing storms.
Sirens Followed A Fast-Moving Tornado Warning
The sirens went off just minutes after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Johnson County around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday that specifically listed Godley among the communities at risk, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The alert called out destructive, baseball-sized hail and life-threatening winds and urged anyone in the warning area to head to shelter immediately. Officials reminded residents that outdoor sirens are designed to alert people who are outside, and that those indoors should rely on NOAA Weather Radio or local media for ongoing details and updates.
Big Hail, Nearby Tornado Mark Rough Night In North Texas
The same line of severe storms that rattled Godley produced reports of very large hail in the area and a confirmed tornado that hit Mineral Wells, part of a wider outbreak across North Texas, as reported by CNN. Power outages and tree damage were reported in multiple communities while crews started initial damage assessments. Meteorologists cautioned that the system could still generate additional strong storms as it tracked east overnight.
When Sirens Sound, Where You Stand Matters
The National Weather Service advises that when outdoor sirens go off, the safest move is to get indoors immediately, into a basement if possible or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows, and protect your head. Preparedness steps include keeping a NOAA Weather Radio, assembling an emergency kit and knowing the location of nearby public shelters, the National Weather Service notes. For residents who want to review the city’s alert, the original siren announcement remains posted on Facebook by the City of Godley Fire Department.
