Multiple tornadoes hit Texas on Thursday near Abilene, including one in Hawley that was caught on camera by storm chaser Russ Contreras.

“We’ve had multiple confirmed tornadoes this evening,” said the National Weather Service office in San Angelo on X Thursday evening. “Please stay weather aware and make sure you have a way to receive warnings!” The weather service also posted a map showing where the tornadoes hit.

The Hawley Independent School District said in a statement on Facebook that the “Hawley community has been hit pretty hard and we have several families that have lost homes.” The district said that while the school seems to have been spared major damage, there is “pretty substantial” flooding on the grounds.

The district also said that Friday will be a flex day for students, meaning the school will be open and on regular schedule for students that can attend, however attendance is not mandatory and will not be taken.

Photos of the Hawley, Texas tornado

San Jacinto River evacuation order

In the southeast portion of the state, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Thursday issued a disaster declaration and a mandatory evacuation for residents on the East Fork of the San Jacinto River in Houston during a news conference.

Hidalgo said residents must evacuate their homes because of high water risk and that they should leave as soon as possible. Officials said that section of the San Jacinto River is nearing 78 feet above sea level, which is about three feet below Hurricane Harvey water levels.

Some 24-hour rainfall totals exceeded seven inches in the region, reports FOX Weather, with storm totals over the past few days nearing about a foot.

Texas weather forecast for Friday and the weekend

The National Weather Service office in San Angelo said that severe weather potential continues in the area Friday with a marginal to slight risk of severe storms in the afternoon and evening.

“Large hail, damaging winds and even a tornado will again be possible,” the NWS said.

As for Saturday, the weather service said more widespread thunderstorms during the day and night will lead to “a chance for heavy rainfall across portions of West Central Texas, mainly across the Big Country and the Heartland.”

The NWS says the rainfall could be heavy enough to cause flash flooding of streets, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas. Additionally, storms Saturday will pose the “greatest risk for very large hail greater than 2 inches in diameter.”

A Flood Watch is in effect in the Houston-Galveston area through Friday, with flooding being especially hazardous at night, the NWS said.

“Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms continue today, mainly north of I-10 and east of I-45,” the NWS said Friday morning. “Heavy rainfall potential exists and could result in flash flooding. A few storms may become strong to severe with hail and strong gusts as the main risks,” the NWS said.

Texas severe weather watches and warnings

Here’s a look at a map of the watches and warnings across the state.

Texas power outage map

Nearly 30,000 power outages have been reported across Texas as of 6:40 a.m. local time Friday, according to a USA TODAY power outage tracker, including over 12,000 in Harris County.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

CANYON, Texas (KFDA) – The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs took down Texas A&M – Kingsville on Thursday night in the first round of the LSC tournament.

The Lady Buffs scored five of their eight runs on the game in the second and third innings, taking a commanding lead on the tournament’s eight seed.

A sacrifice fly from Gabriella Valforte and a sacrifice bunt from Heaven Moreno got the run scoring started and put West Texas A&M up 2-0.

That lead ballooned to 4-0 after an RBI double from Diana Murtha and an RBI single from Valforte in the third. Murtha and Valforte then executed a double steal on the base paths to plate another run for the Lady Buffs.

Texas A&M – Kingsville managed two runs in the fifth off an RBI single from Kayla Gonzales, but it wasn’t enough as WT took home the 8-2 victory.

In the circle, West Texas A&M star pitcher Emilee Boyer pitched a gem with six strikeouts and only three hits allowed.

The Lady Buffs will play their next game at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. It will be a matchup with the winner of St. Mary’s and Oklahoma Christian, which will be played earlier on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 KFDA. All rights reserved.

By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Texas students learned about strawberries through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade students across the Lone Star State virtually “meet” with a farmer or rancher once a month through Farm From School on a video conferencing app.

This month, Kylie Demases, a farmer in Pilot Point, gave students a tour of Pecan Creek Strawberry Farm and taught them all about strawberries.

“Texas students tuned into our April Farm From School visit to learn all about strawberries from Kylie,” Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director Organization Division, Educational Outreach, said. “Students asked Kylie many questions about growing and picking strawberries.”

During the 30-minute virtual session, Demases discussed how strawberries are grown, different strawberry varieties on their farm and taught students how to pick the best strawberries.

Demases has 90,000 strawberry plants on her farm that were planted by hand in two days.

“We plant strawberries in the fall because they like the cooler weather. A strawberry plant can handle the cold all the way down to zero degrees,” Demases said. “Once it’s above 90 degrees, the plant stops producing any more blooms because it’s too hot.”

Demases explained to students the different stages of growth for a strawberry. The berry’s first stage starts with a flower-like bloom. Over 28 days, the strawberry transforms from a flower to the familiar red, ripe fruit enjoyed by many.

A single plant can have multiple berries growing on it at different stages.

“Similar to how your elementary school is filled with different grade levels, a strawberry plant can have different berries at different stages on it,” Demases said.

Students asked many questions about strawberries and were curious about the plastic beds around the strawberries, called plasticulture.

“The plastic traps the moisture in the ground for the plant and protects the berries from unwanted weeds,” Demases said. “The plasticulture also helps us use less water because when the sun is on the plant, it can’t evaporate the moisture outside of the dirt.”

When the strawberries are fully ripe, they are ready to be picked and harvested.

“The better tasting strawberries are the really red ones. You only want to pick solid red strawberries,” Demases said. “When they’re green or little, that means they’re not ready to be picked. If you pick it too early, the strawberry won’t ripen or get sweeter. Once you pick that strawberry off the vine, it’s done growing.”

More information about Farm From School
The last session for the spring semester will focus on watermelons.

Sign up for the fall 2024 program will open later this summer.

Click here for more information about the Farm From School program.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information and the latest announcements on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom activities.