Two people were killed when powerful tornadoes ripped through Wise and Parker counties late Saturday night, April 25.
National Weather Service survey teams confirmed Sunday that an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 mph struck the Runaway Bay area in Wise County, killing one person and injuring at least six others while causing major structural damage and displacing about 20 families. In Parker County, an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph hit near Springtown, where a second victim died after a mobile home collapsed south of town.
Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said emergency responders from across North Texas worked through the night clearing debris and helping residents reach damaged homes. Officials reported widespread power outages and significant destruction in neighborhoods along Cumberland Trail and Overland Trail in Runaway Bay. Parker County Emergency Services also responded to reports of structural collapses and injuries.
🚨 🌪️One of our two NWS storm survey teams has confirmed at least one tornado from yesterday's severe storms. An EF-2 tornado has been confirmed in the Runaway Bay area (Wise Co) with peak winds of 135 mph. Other tracks and damage locations are still being assessed. #dfwwx #txwx
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) April 26, 2026
The deadly storms were part of a slow-moving severe weather system that prompted multiple tornado warnings across the region around 9 p.m. Saturday. No additional fatalities have been reported.
As cleanup and recovery efforts continue in the hardest-hit areas, the timing aligns with Texas’ annual Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. The tax-free weekend runs through midnight tonight, Monday, April 27, allowing residents to buy qualifying items such as generators, first aid kits, batteries, tarps, flashlights and weather radios without paying sales tax. There is no limit on the number of items, and the exemption applies to in-store and online purchases that meet price caps.
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The deadly storms were part of a slow-moving severe weather system that prompted multiple tornado warnings
The deadly storms were part of a slow-moving severe weather system that prompted multiple tornado warnings
