First US tornado of 2024 reported in Texas

A tornado that spun through a coastal Texas town Thursday appears to be the first tornado of 2024 in the U.S. According to the National Weather Service office in Houston, the twister touched down just before 6 a.m. about 3 miles northwest of Lake Jackson, about 55 miles south of Houston, before lifting about 2 minutes later. Winds reached a maximum of 80 mph along its half-mile-long path, ranking it an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. A survey team from the NWS found some minor structural damage to nearby homes, but most of the damage included downed trees and power lines. No injuries or fatalities were reported.