Tornado Watch issued for San Antonio; storms drop baseball-sized hail in parts of South Texas

SAN ANTONIO —

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 4 a.m. for Bexar County and much of the surrounding region. 

Latest update (12:56 a.m.):

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Val Verde and Edwards Counties until 2 a.m.

While the first wave of severe weather turned north away from San Antonio just after 11 p.m. Saturday, forecasters are tracking a line of storms expected to move through Bexar County between 2 a.m.and 5 a.m. Bexar County remains under a Tornado Watch until 4 a.m. Sunday.

Storms drop giant hail on parts of South Texas

Hail rained down in parts of Del Rio around 8 p.m Saturday as the first wave of severe weather moved across South Texas.

KENS 5 viewers sent in the following photos of hail — some of it the size of baseballs. 

Courtesy: Gabriel Flores

KENS viewers

RELATED: WEATHER MINDS CLASSROOM: Severe Weather 101

The storm front isn’t expected to reach San Antonio until well after midnight, but it will bring with it the possibility of more hail, damaging winds gusts and tornadoes. 

Be Storm Ready | What to do before, during and after a storm

What is a Tornado Watch?

A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye toward the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio or tune to KENS 5 Eyewitness News for further weather information.

What is a Tornado Warning?

A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been detected by the National Weather Service Doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported from the field or indicated on radar. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight-line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or workplace, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

Tornado safety

In the case of a tornado warning, here are some tips for staying safe depending on where you are when the storm hits.

House or stand-alone building:

• Get to the lowest level possible
• Go to an area with as many walls between you as possible
• Get in a bathtub or interior closet

Mobile home:

• Get out of the mobile home and get in a sturdy building if possible
• Get out of the mobile home and hunker in a ditch
• If no ditch or building is nearby, plan ahead and get to a sturdy building ahead of time.

Apartment:

• Get to the lowest level (go to a neighbor’s apartment on the first floor)
• Regardless of what floor you’re on, get in a bathtub or interior closet
• If you are on a higher level and can’t get to a lower apartment, hunker down in the breezeway of the apartment building

Car:

• If possible, pull over, park, get inside a building and out of the storm
• If you have to stay in your car, try to find a ditch to park in and use your emergency brake
• DO NOT park under a bridge or overpass

Miscellaneous tips for keeping safe in a tornado:

• Cover yourself with a mattress, sleeping bags, or pillows
• Wear a helmet to protect your head
• Hunker down as much as possible