The BRICS TimesSevere storms swept through Northeast Texas with a tornado confirmed on the ground near Paris and Pattonville in Lamar County. Authorities urged residents to seek shelter immediately as the National Weather Service issued urgent tornado warnings across multiple counties.
Tornado confirmed on ground near Paris, Texas as storms tear through Lamar County
A terrifying tornado touched down near Paris and Pattonville in Lamar County, Texas as part of a larger severe weather outbreak across Northeast Texas. The National Weather Service confirmed the twister on the ground and told residents to seek shelter right away. A tornado watch stayed active for Lamar County from 1:55 PM CDT until 9:00 PM CDT on April 24, 2026.
The storm brought chaos and destruction to the region. Weather spotters and emergency responders scrambled across the county as reports of damage began flooding in from multiple locations. Authorities treated this as an extraordinary threat to life and property.
Tornado watch covers several counties as storm system intensifies
The National Weather Service in Dallas or Fort Worth declared an extraordinary threat to life and property. The warning covered Lamar County along with Rains, Rockwall, Collin, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, Fannin, and Cooke counties. A separate tornado watch from the National Weather Service in Shreveport extended the alert zone to include Red River County.
Dangerous storms pushed through the area with conditions capable of spawning multiple tornadoes. Residents across the affected counties received urgent alerts on their phones and through broadcast channels. Emergency management teams activated weather spotters across the region for more than an hour and a half.
Twister flips vehicles and knocks out power across northeast Texas
A tornado east of Roxton, Texas traveled a destructive path across Highway 19 and Highway 24 toward US 271. The powerful twister flipped an 18-wheeler truck and threw multiple cars off the road entirely. Ham radio operators reported significant damage along State Highway 24, roughly five to eight miles south of Paris.
Trees collapsed onto power lines near Honey Grove, knocking out electricity for local residents. A fallen power line landed on a moving car and trapped the occupants inside. Emergency crews raced to the scene to free the stranded individuals.
Grapefruit-sized hail reported as storm spreads into Red River County
Radar data showed massive hail reaching four inches in diameter, roughly the size of a grapefruit, forming east of Bogata near Cuthand in Red River County. The hailstorm battered vehicles and properties before the storm eventually began losing strength. No immediate reports of injuries came in during the height of the storm.
Residents throughout the area scrambled to move vehicles under cover as the hail threat spread rapidly. The scale of the hailstorm added to the already significant damage caused by the twister itself.
History of tornadoes haunts Lamar County residents
Lamar County has a long and painful history with tornadoes. On April 2, 1982, a catastrophic F4 tornado ripped through Paris, Texas, killing 10 people, injuring 170 others, and leaving more than 1,000 residents without homes. Johnny Williams, who served as a Lamar County Sheriff’s Office officer at the time, recalled the horror of that day. “I remember the wind, the sound, the debris, and the aftermath. It was a very traumatic time for everybody involved,” said Williams.
The memory of that 1982 tornado shapes how seriously residents take every subsequent tornado warning in the area. Pattonville itself sits in a moderate tornado risk zone with historical records showing multiple tornado events going back decades.
Residents urged to take immediate shelter as storm continues
Emergency managers urged everyone in Lamar County to move indoors and take shelter in the safest part of their building. Interior rooms on the lowest floor, away from windows, offer the best protection during an active tornado warning. Residents were advised to avoid open areas, vehicles, and mobile homes entirely.
Weather spotters continued to monitor the skies as additional storm cells remained active to the west of the county. Officials reminded the public that tornado warnings require immediate action, not just preparation. With the storm system still active, the threat to the region had not fully passed.
