A brief but tense tornado warning lit up phones across north-central Bexar County on Tuesday evening after radar flagged a rotating thunderstorm over San Antonio. Neighborhoods around the airport and the northwest suburbs were told to hunker down as heavy rain, frequent lightning and gusty winds barreled through. Local officials later confirmed the warning had expired as the storm slid off to the northeast.
What the National Weather Service said
The Austin/San Antonio office of the National Weather Service issued the warning for north-central Bexar County at 6:55 PM CDT, keeping it in place until 7:15 PM CDT. Just a minute earlier, at 6:54 PM, forecasters reported “a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado” sitting over San Antonio and creeping northeast at about 10 mph. The warning called out San Antonio, San Antonio International Airport, Shavano Park, Hill Country Village, Balcones Heights and Castle Hills as locations in the potential path, according to the National Weather Service.
Kirby posts "This warning has expired"
Once the alert timed out, the City of Kirby wasted little time telling residents the immediate tornado threat was over. The city posted “THIS WARNING HAS EXPIRED” on its Facebook page shortly after the alert ended, confirming that the municipality was no longer under a tornado warning. The post is still available for anyone who might have missed the emergency notifications, per the City of Kirby.
Flooding and broader storm context
The rotating storm cell was just one trouble spot in a larger complex that also triggered flash-flood warnings across parts of Bexar County as Doppler radar lit up with pockets of torrential rain. Forecasters warned about the risk of rapid urban flooding and urged drivers to steer clear of water-covered roads, according to the National Weather Service.
What to do if you were under the warning
If you were in the warned area, standard tornado protocol still applies: move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor and stay away from windows. Federal preparedness guidelines also recommend covering yourself to shield against flying debris and keeping a battery-powered radio or charged phone handy for new information, according to Ready.gov. On the road, the rule does not change: never try to drive through standing water. “Turn around, don’t drown” remains the go-to safety reminder.
Residents are encouraged to keep phones and weather radios tuned to local alerts and to follow official channels for any follow-up advisories. The City of Kirby and the National Weather Service remain among the quickest ways to see if warnings are active for your neighborhood.
