Severe storms spawn 15 tornadoes in Texas and Oklahoma, Enhanced Risk forecast for Mississippi Valley on Sunday

Tornadoes and storms rolled through Texas and parts of Oklahoma on Saturday evening, April 19, leaving a trail of damage behind. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received reports of 15 tornadoes, of which 11 were reported in Texas and 4 in Oklahoma.

Severe thunderstorms moved through Jack County between 18:00 and 19:30 local time (LT), prompting a tornado warning that lasted just over an hour.

Residents in Jacksboro shared images of the damage left behind by a tornado that passed through the region. According to the SPC, two tornadoes were reported in Jacksboro, one on Highway 380 east of Jacksboro and the other at Highway 59 and FM 1820.

Tornado warnings were issued for Hood and Parker counties at around 20:30 LT. A tornado touched down southwest of Tolar in Hood County, damaging homes and felling trees, causing multiple road blockages.

Two tornadoes were reported near Weatherford, Parker County. The first tornado was observed approaching south of I-20 near Dennis Road. The incident was observed by the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed by the NWS at approximately 22:05 LT on Friday.

Tornadoes were also reported in Erath, Montague, and Tom Green counties.

In Oklahoma, four tornadoes were reported on Saturday. Three were reported in Love County, while one was reported in Pontotoc. Multiple power lines and trees were damaged across the region.

The tornadoes were part of a larger system that brought severe weather conditions from Texas and Southern Michigan. The low pressure system is moving from the Southern Plains northeastward.

Better shot of the tornado earlier this evening SE of Jacksboro, after it crossed highway 281 and 380#txwx pic.twitter.com/UZSVkiJxRd

— Matthew Gaylor (@MatthewGaylor) April 20, 2025

A cold front associated with a low-pressure system will extend southwestward, drawing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward across the Plains. This interaction will generate a clash between warm, moist air and cooler air, supporting the development of showers and severe thunderstorms across the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley.

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 of 5) of severe thunderstorms for this region through Monday morning (LT). The storms are expected to bring frequent lightning, damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes. There is also an elevated potential for strong tornadoes rated EF-2 to EF-5.

Heavy rains associated with the weather system on Sunday could cause flash floods in the Southern Plains and parts of the Mississippi Valley. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Slight Risk (level 2/4) of excessive rainfall over the lower and middle Mississippi Valley through Monday morning, April 21.

The threat of severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall reduces on Monday. However, showers and thunderstorms will continue along and ahead of the front from the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley into the Tennessee Valley, Lower Mississippi Valley, and the Western Gulf Coast.

References:

¹ Short Range Forecast Discussion – WPC – April 20, 2025

² SPC Storm Reports – SPC – April 20, 2025