A thunderstorm that spawned a tornado killed at least two people in North Texas, displaced at least 20 families and severely damaged many homes, authorities said Sunday.
Wise County Judge and County CEO J.D. Clark said at least one person died and multiple homes were damaged in the town of Runaway Bay on Saturday night. Emergency crews worked to clear debris, reach damaged homes and provide medical care if needed, Clark said.
“Access is difficult due to blocked roads and disabled utilities, but crews continue to work to reach those in need,” Clark said.
The storm also hit Springtown, where a second person died south of the city, Park County Assistant Fire Chief David Pruitt said in an email. Pruitt said the area suffered “significant damage.”
“One of the most significant current challenges is the widespread power outages affecting many residents,” he wrote.
A National Weather Service team confirmed that an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 mph (217 km/h) touched down in the Runaway Bay area. The weather service said an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 105 mph (169 km/h) was confirmed in the Springtown area.
Patricia Sanchez, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Fort Worth, said the slow-moving supercell moved through the area around 10 p.m. Saturday.
It moved southeast from around Wichita Falls near the Oklahoma border, passing west of Fort Worth. Runaway Bay is located about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Fort Worth on Bridgeport Lake. Springtown is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Fort Worth.
Weather service radar detected a “potentially large and extremely dangerous” tornado near Azle at 10:14 p.m. Saturday. About 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Springtown.
Photo: A large tree is uprooted and rests on Jason Salois’ fence and in his neighbor’s yard after a tornado moved through the area on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Springtown, Texas. (Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News, Associated Press)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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