Texas storms bring tornadoes, injuring 8 people

Metal parts of roof are tangled in a tree after a tornado near the storm shelter at the Barn on the Brazos wedding venue Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in Blum, Texas. Curtis Haley took shelter there as the storm hit Monday evening. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP)
Metal parts of roof are tangled in a tree after a tornado near the storm shelter at the Barn on the Brazos wedding venue Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in Blum, Texas. Curtis Haley took shelter there as the storm hit Monday evening. (Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP)

 

WAXAHACHIE, Texas - At least eight people were injured when storms that brought at least five tornadoes to North Texas flipped tractor-trailers on an interstate and damaged structures.

Three drivers were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, after their tractor-trailers overturned in the storms Monday night along Interstate 35 near Waxahachie, about 30 miles south of Dallas, officials said.

The National Weather Service said Tuesday that an EF2 tornado with winds up to 120 mph crossed I-35, tracking through the area for about 5 miles.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said two tractor-trailers in the southbound lanes were pushed

into a center barrier and a northbound tractor-trailer was pushed into a field.

In addition to the injured tractor-trailer drivers, five others were hospitalized after the storm came through Ellis County, an official said.

County Judge Todd Little told KXAS between 25 to 50 structures were damaged, but they've had no fatalities.

In nearby Hill County, the National Weather Service said they confirmed an EF2 tornado with estimated 130 mph winds occurred northwest of the small town of Blum, damaging trees, structures and roofs.

The National Weather Service said three other tornadoes on Monday night were rated EFO, which have winds from 65 mph to 85 mph.

One briefly touched down in southeastern Johnson County near Grandview, causing no significant damage.

Another briefly touched down in Collin County near Weston, causing minor damage to trees and power lines.

And the third touched down in

the eastern part of the city of Granbury, damaging some trees and a carport.

The stormy weather also

knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of people in Arkansas early Tuesday.

More severe weather was expected throughout Tuesday in parts of the Deep South, the Storm Prediction Center said.

Upcoming Events