The NWS issued a Kansas City tornado warning for Crosby and Dickens Counties in Texas at 6:16 PM. The alert was set to stay in effect until 6:30 PM and told people to take cover now.
People in Crosby and Dickens Counties were told to move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and to avoid windows. Those outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle were instructed to move to the closest substantial shelter and protect themselves from flying debris.
NWS warning for Dickens County
The warning described an extreme threat with immediate urgency and said the event was observed. A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 6 miles west of Dickens and was moving northeast at 35 mph.
The storm was expected to be near Dickens around 6:20 PM CDT. The warning covered Crosby and Dickens Counties in Texas, giving people only a short window to reach shelter before the alert expired at 6:30 PM.
Protective action in Texas
The alert also said flying debris was dangerous for anyone caught without shelter. It said mobile homes were likely to be damaged or destroyed, with damage expected to roofs, windows, and vehicles, along with likely tree damage.
That mix of observed severe weather and tornado-capable storm language left the practical instruction unchanged: people in Crosby and Dickens Counties needed to get inside immediately and stay away from windows. The alert’s short duration made the next few minutes the critical response period.
Did the warning lead to a tornado touchdown or damage in Crosby and Dickens Counties? The alert itself did not answer that, but it made clear that people in the warned area had to treat the risk as immediate until 6:30 PM.
