Parts Of Williamson County Under Tornado Warning

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — A tornado warning was issued Sunday evening for parts of Williamson County.

The National Weather Service said the warning will be in effect until 6:30 p.m. for northwestern Williamson County and northeastern Burnet County. A tornado was confirmed in Copperas Cove at around 5:30 p.m., and a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Briggs, about 13 miles south of the former city, moving south at 45 miles per hour, according to weather officials.

Additionally, a severe thunderstorm watch will be in effect for Travis County until 10 p.m. The same warning is in effect for Williamson County until 7:15 p.m.

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Weather officials confirmed a funnel cloud was spotted in Florence, Texas. Hail as large as baseball-sized have been reported throughout some of the affected areas. Wind gusts potentially reaching 70 miles per hour could result in dangerous flying debris, officials warned.

Residents are urged to seek shelter and stay out of lakes and streams until the tornado warning expires. Officials say flying debris poses a danger to those without shelter, and mobile homes are especially susceptible to being destroyed along with roofs at homes, windows and vehicles. Tree damage also is likely.

Cities affected by the tornado warning include Georgetrown, Bertram, Serenada, Liberty Hill, Florence, Briggs, Sun City, Mohomet, Joppe, Andice and Seward Junction.

"Take cover now!" National Weather Service officials wrote as part of their warning. "Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris."

Weather officials noted heavy rainfall could obscure the tornado. "Do not wait to see or hear the

tornado," officials wrote. "Take cover now! Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."

The storm front could hit Travis County late Sunday, with large hail possible and a few isolated tornadoes, weather officials said. "These storms mean business, folks," officials added pithily.

In Georgetown, one resident took to Twitter to report tornado sirens blaring with emergency alerts sent to his mobile phone.

Another nearby resident reported hearing sirens as well along with warnings blared over a loudspeaker as she urged others to take cover. The woman wrote on Twitter that she and her husband had taken shelter in their carport for safe haven.

In Cedar Park, another resident wrote on Twitter he hadn't heard tornado sirens. But he posted a stark photo of darkened skies in the midst of the storm activity to illustrate the conditions.

The Texas Department of Public Safety offers a number of safety tips when a tornado is imminent. According to the DPS, more tornadoes strike Texas than any other state, and can occur at any time of year, including winter, but are most frequent from mid-March through May. There are several precautions people can take as they prepare for these violent storms, accoring to the DPS:

• Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of your home, such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows. Cover yourself with a mattress or cushions.
• In an office building, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor.
• If you are in a mobile home, get out and take shelter in a nearby building. If there are none, lie flat in a ditch or ravine.
• Never stay inside a car. Get out and lie flat in a ditch or a ravine. If a building is nearby, take shelter inside. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.
• At school, follow plans and go to a designated shelter area, usually interior hallways on the lowest floor. Avoid auditoriums, gyms and areas with wide, free-span roofs.
• In a shopping center, move towards the interior away from exterior glass walls.
• If you are in open country, take cover in a low spot away from trees.
• Learn the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning. A Tornado Watch means watch the sky. A Tornado Warning means a tornado is on the ground and you must seek shelter immediately.