Home in Northeast Austin. Photo: Gabe Cox
UPDATE 2:23 p.m. – The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado did touch down early Wednesday morning in Central Austin, destroying several industrial buildings on Commercial Park Drive.
- Touchdown 2:58 a.m.
- Duration: 3 minutes on the ground
- Traveled: 1.4 miles
- Width; 50 yards
- Wind speed: Undetermined
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Central Texas was slammed hard early Wednesday morning by fast moving storms that caused extensive damage and flash flooding around the area.
There are reports that a possible tornado may have touched down in Austin, collapsing a building on Commercial Park Drive. Several building in the area were blown apart. One building’s rooftop air conditioning units were sent flying out into the street.
Some areas received 4-5 inches of rain. Bastrop was hit hard. Several roads and highways have been closed due to flash flooding and Bastrop ISD canceled classes for the day.
No swimming today at Barton Springs Pool. It's closed. Photo: Twitter
A possible tornado touched down in Austin. Photo: Ann Wyatt Little, Twitter
High winds destroyed a business on Commercial Park Drive. That's a rooftop AC unit. Photo: Ann Wyatt Little, Twitter
Firefighters were also busy elsewhere in Austin and Travis County. They were called out on nearly a dozen water rescues near Shoal Creek, Airport Boulevard and 45th Street and northeast Travis County.
Austin Energy is reporting that some 2,000 homes and businesses lost power at the height of the storm.
And it may not be over yet. Central Texas is under a Tornado Watch until 11 a.m. and more storms are expected tomorrow.
Raging rapids on Shoal Creek
East Austin Battered by Strong Winds: MyFoxAUSTIN.com
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