Severe storms drench Texas, spawn tornadoes
Jan 26, 2012, 8:22 AM
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) – Heavy rain and powerful winds that spawned several tornadoes have swept across Texas, forcing drivers to abandon cars on flooded roads but not dropping enough water to make up for the state’s historic drought.
Storms pounded Dallas and Fort Worth overnight. At dawn Wednesday, rescue workers checked to make sure people weren’t stuck in cars stranded in windshield-high water.
Record rainfall drenched the Austin area, which last summer suffered the most devastating wildfires in Texas history.
The National Weather Service says tornadoes touched down near Austin, San Antonio and Houston, damaging homes and businesses. No injuries were reported.
The downpour was celebrated in drought-stricken Washington County near Houston. Emergency management coordinator Robert Smith says the rural area’s ranches finally have water and, “I think the cows are doing a jig.”
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