Texas tornado news – update: State of emergency in Perryton after devastating tornado leaves three dead

At least three people have been killed after a devastating tornado tore through a Texas Panhandle town on Thursday, destroying trailer homes, downing communications towers and plunging the entire community into darkness.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed that a tornado hit Perryton on Thursday afternoon, which is home to more than 8,000 people and is located just south of the Oklahoma border.

One person was killed when a mobile home park took a “direct hit” from a tornado, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told reporters.

Two other victims are also confirmed dead while between 75 and 100 people were being treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe.

The catastrophic storm wiped out power for the entire town, including a major hospital receiving residents wounded in the chaos.

More than 224,000 customers were still without power in Texas as of around 3.30am local time on Friday morning, according to the poweroutage.us website. In Ochiltree County – home to Perryton – a staggering 91 percent (8,910 of 9,775) of customers were without power.

Governor Greg Abbott has directed state emergency response resources to assist the hard-hit town.

Key points

• Panhandle town of Perryton battered by tornado

• Three victims killed including one whose trailer home took a ‘direct hit’ from storm

• Up to 100 people injured

• Greg Abbott directs state emergency response resources to assist town

• Where is Perryton, Texas?

Forecasters in ‘Tornado Alley’ warn of more severe weather through the weekend

21:00 , Louise Boyle

Forecasters located in “Tornado Alley” warned of more severe weather on the way this weekend.

The National Weather Service’s office in Norman, Oklahoma, said that the chance of severe conditions had increased for parts of Oklahoma and north Texas from Saturday evening into Sunday morning.

“Large hail and damaging winds remain the primary concern with this activity,” the NWS office tweeted.

Pictured: Emergency responders search collapsed buildings in Perryton

20:30 , Louise Boyle

World breached 1.5C limit temporarily in hottest June on record

20:09 , Louise Boyle

The world breached – for a time – 1.5 degrees Celsius this month, scientists confirmed on Thursday, as they issued warnings on how fast humanity is approaching the critical warming limit set by the Paris Agreement.

The first 11 days of June were the hottest on record for this time of year, the European earth observation programme, Copernicus, reported.

The 1.5C threshold was crossed after El Niño – a climate pattern linked to warming in the Pacific – was officially declared, and last month saw record sea-surface temperatures.

While hitting 1.5C is temporary, it is the first time that the limit has been breached in June, Copernicus said.

The world has warmed on average 1.1C since industrial times began, largely due to burning fossil fuels. The ensuing excessive heat had led to a barrage of climate impacts from more powerful storms to prolonged droughts and more frequent wildfires.

World breached 1.5C limit temporarily in hottest June on record

Watch: Excessive heat remains in Texas this weekend

19:50 , Louise Boyle

More severe weather forecast across the US on Juneteenth holiday weekend

19:33 , Louise Boyle

Heavy rain, flash flooding and severe thunderstorms were rolling across large parts of the US on Friday.

The National Weather Service warned of downpours and stormy conditions over the Central Plains going into the Juneteenth holiday weekend, with risk of extreme rainfall and severe thunderstorms over parts of eastern Colorado and western Kansas.

A complex of storms was moving up through the Northeast impacting parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York on Friday afternoon, with wind and hail the main hazards.

Severe weather will continue across the Plains, Gulf Coast and the Deep South on Saturday with large hail, damaging gusts and an isolated tornado possible.

Strong cells could gather strength in the central Gulf Coast on Saturday afternoon, causing wind damage and hail in coastal Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle before moving offshore.

Record heat will continue to blanket southern Texas in the coming days with highs in the 100Fs-110Fs, a 15-25 degree anomaly for this time of year over that area, NWS noted.

The threat of fire outbreaks is high in southeastern Arizona and New Mexico this weekend due to very dry and windy conditions.

Another low pressure system moving through the Northeast and Canada’s coastal areas will push wildfire smoke from dozens of wildfires north of the US border over the Midwest, Great Lakes and interior Northeast this weekend.

Downtown Perryton in the aftermath of devastating tornado

19:14 , Louise Boyle

Tornado warnings issued in New Jersey

18:46 , Louise Boyle

Multiple tornado warnings were issued in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service warned of potential twisters around 1.30pm local time in Ocean and Burlington counties.

Severe thunderstorms were also being reported in the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth.

Watch: Shocking drone footage reveals Texas tornado’s trail of destruction

18:31 , Louise Boyle

Satellites capture huge supercell storm system’s path

18:11 , Louise Boyle

A satellite captured the supercell thunderstorm moving over Texas that spawned a devastating tornado.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s GOES16 satellite tracked the huge system on Thursday afternoon.

A tornado hit the small town of Perryton, near the Oklahoma border, around 5.10pm (local time) and left a quarter-mile wide path of destruction, NOAA reported.

Breaking: Texas tornado victims identified

17:46 , Louise Boyle

The victims killed by the powerful tornado which struck Texas on Thursday night have been identified.

Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop, according to Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard.

Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s, was discovered in a food bank.

An 11-year-old boy, Matthew Ramirez, was also killed and found in a trailer park.

One person remains missing after tornado hit

17:30 , Louise Boyle

One person remains missing in Perryton, Texas, after a tornado struck on Thursday night.

Of the homes searched so far, all but one occupant had been accounted for, so the main priority was going back over the area and the debris field to find that person, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said on NBC’s Today show.

Dutcher estimated that 150 to 200 homes in the community had been destroyed and said that in the downtown area, many storefronts were totally wiped off and buildings had collapsed or partially collapsed.

“You keep hearing people say, ‘We’ll rebuild’ and ‘We’ll be back,’” he said. “And we will. That’s the hope we have.”AP

Person dies after tornado strikes in Florida Panhandle

17:07 , Louise Boyle

A tornado in the Florida Panhandle led to the death of one person in the state, officials confirmed.

The twister cut through Escambia County on the Gulf Coast on Thursday night.

One resident died after being trapped beneath a tree which fell on their home, county spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal.

Victims of tornado identified

17:00 , Ariana Baio

Three people died on Thursday after a tornado ripped through the town of Perryton, Texas, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told ABC News.

Those victims have been identified as Becky Randall, Cindy Bransgrove and Matthew Ramirez.

Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop.

Bransgrove, a woman in her 60s, was found in a food bank.

Ramirez, an 11-year-old boy, was found in a trailer park.

When it comes to climate change and tornadoes, mysteries remain

16:30 , Ariana Baio

Scientists are increasingly able to link global temperature rise to heatwaves, droughts, flash flooding and hurricanes.

But figuring out what impact a hotter world will have on tornadoes is more complicated.

Louise Boyle reports:

When it comes to climate change and tornadoes, mysteries remain

More severe weather to hit Perryton

16:00 , Ariana Baio

After a tornado ravaged the city of Perryton, Texas – more severe weather may be in store as the state experiences intense heat.

The National Weather Service said the area could face thunderstorms on Friday (16 June) afternoon across the Texas Panhandle.

“A few storms may become severe, with large hail and damaging winds with the primary hazards.”

Through the weekend and next week, the area is expected to face storms that could be severe with the possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Where is Perryton, Texas?

15:30 , Ariana Baio

Perryton, Texas is a city located in the north Panhandle approximately 10 miles from Oklahoma.

The closest major city is Amarillo which is approximately 90 miles from Perryton.

More than 200 homes destroyed in Perryton

14:30 , Ariana Baio

Footage posted on social media shows the devastating impact of the deadly tornado that hit Perryton, Texas on Thursday (15 June) evening.

Over 200 homes are estimated to be destroyed in the town, including the Perryton Firehouse.

Perryton fire department firehouse destroyed

14:00 , Ariana Baio

The Perryton Fire Department and EMS said in a Facebook post that their firehouse had been completely destroyed in the tornado but that the EMS’s trucks and ambulances were driveable.

“Tornado on ground for at least 1 mile and 1/4 mile wide!” They wrote. “The Fire Department took a direct hit, our trucks and ambulances are driveable.”

Photos of the are where the firehouse once stood show flattened land with some of the structure remaining with extensive damage.

Perryton Fire and EMS wrote: ”We have alot of work in the days ahead to heal our community! A HUGE thanks to all the first responders from out 3 state area that came to assist!”

Perryton hospital offer services to those injured in tornado

13:30 , Ariana Baio

Ochiltree General Hospital, a local hospital in Perryton, Texas, has posted on its Facebook page offering medical services to people injured in the devastating tornado that ripped through the city.

“If you need medical treatment we are here. We are staffed, we have supplies, we have room,” Ochiltree wrote.

The hospital said they had oxygen available for people in need of it and invited residents to walk in and request oxygen from the hospital’s respitatory team.

WATCH: Texas tornado captured crossing through Perryton by locals

13:00 , Rachel Sharp

Shocking video captures damage

12:40 , Rachel Sharp

IN PICTURES: Destruction caused by tornado in Perryton

12:20 , Rachel Sharp

Texas Governor Greg Abbott directs emergency

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state emergency response resources to assist the hard-hit town.

“The State of Texas is swiftly deploying critical emergency response resources to provide all necessary support and assistance to protect Texans and help those impacted by tornadoes in Perryton,” the governor anniunced in a statement.

“I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.

“We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event.”

Thousands of Texans without power

11:40 , Rachel Sharp

More than 224,000 customers were without power in Texas as of around 3.30am CT local time on Friday morning, according to the poweroutage.us website.

In Ochiltree County – home to Perryton – a staggering 91 percent (8,910 of 9,775) of customers were without power.

Xcel Energy told ABC News late on Thursday night that there was no power at all to Perryton.

“Our crews are arriving on site and are assisting in removing lines from cars and across the roads. We are patrolling the transmission feeds into the city and also assessing possible damage at the main substation in town,” Xcel Energy said in a statement.

“One of the three main transmission feeds into the city was apparently undamaged, but we deenergized it for safety reasons.”

Texas lawmaker Ronny Jackson comments on Perryton tornado

11:20 , Rachel Sharp

“Jane & I are praying for the people of Perryton tonight. I am in contact with Mayor Symons and this tragedy is being closely monitored by myself and my whole staff. Please tune into KXDJ for updates,” he tweeted.

Storm chaser describes witnessing storm

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

“I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town,” he said.

“Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed. There is significant damage.”

First responders travel from Oklahoma to help Perryton

10:45 , Rachel Sharp

First responders from surrounding areas and from Oklahoma descended on the town of Perryton, after it was hammered by a tornado on Thursday.

Perryton is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles (185 kilometres) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Keith Shadden of the Beaver County, Oklahoma, Emergency Manager told CNN that the county had sent fire, law enforcement and EMS units across the state border to Perryton.

He said they plan to send further assistance when the weather improves.

Help has also poured in from the city of Stinnett, Texas, the Hutchinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Borger Police Department, Booker Fire Department and the City of Fritch.

At least three people killed in the storm

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told reporters that three people had so far been confirmed dead from the storm.

One of the victims was killed when the mobile home park they lived in took a “direct hit” from a tornado, he said.

As rescue teams search for survivors in the rubble, at least 30 trailers were said to be damaged or destroyed.

Around 100 other people are believed to have been injured in the storm, with injuries ranging from minor to severe with many being transferred to trauma centers, the fire chief said.

WATCH: Tornado devastates town of Perryton

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

Full story: Devastating tornado rips through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured

10:14 , Rachel Sharp

A devastating tornado has ripped through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured.

The Lone Star State was pummeled by a series of severe storms on Thursday, destroying trailer homes and downing communications towers.

As thousands of homes – and a major hospital – were left without power and residents were feared missing in the rubble, Governor Greg Abbott directed state emergency response resources to the hard-hit Panhandle town of Perryton.

Read the full story:

Deadly tornado rips through Texas killing three and injuring dozens more

Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog

10:12 , Rachel Sharp

Follow for updates on the tornado which battered the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton on Thursday.