NWS: 5 tornadoes touched down in Houston area on day after Christmas

NWS: 5 tornadoes touched down in Houston area on day after Christmas

Five tornadoes struck the Houston area on December 26th, leaving varying degrees of damage. An EF-1 tornado with 90 mph winds caused damage in southwest Houston. Four additional tornadoes were confirmed later: an EF-1 with 95 mph winds in El Campo, an EF-0 with 76 mph winds in Liberty, and two EF-0 tornadoes with 60 mph winds in Dayton and Lake Houston/Huffman, respectively.

The National Weather Service (NWS) will provide more details on the tornadoes, including their paths and widths, in the coming days. Sightings of tornadoes were reported in multiple locations in Wharton and Liberty counties.

Tornadoes in Houston can occur year-round, with no specific off-season. Residents are advised to stay weather-aware and take safety precautions, such as signing up for phone notifications and having a designated shelter in place.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) categorizes tornadoes based on their wind speeds: EF0 (65-85 mph), EF1 (86-110 mph), EF2 (111-135 mph), EF3 (136-165 mph), and EF4 (166-200 mph).