Tornado hits Burnet County, Texas, damaging homes and injuring one
An EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 177 km/h (110 mph) struck Burnet County, Texas, at approximately 17:00 LT (22:00 UTC) on May 1, 2025. It injured one person, destroyed one home, and damaged at least 14 others. A second brief tornado touched down over open country later the same day.
Severe storms moved through Central Texas on May 1, producing an EF-1 tornado in northeastern Burnet County, confirmed by the National Weather Service (NWS) Austin/San Antonio. The tornado, with peak winds of 177 km/h (110 mph), touched down near County Road 223 at 16:20 CDT (21:20 UTC), moving south through rural areas including Lampasas, Kempner, and Briggs. It disrupted electricity for 250 residents and left debris scattered across the area.
The tornado destroyed one home and a large outbuilding near County Road 223. Two additional homes sustained major damage, and 12 others suffered minor damage, including broken windows and roof damage. One driver was injured during the event.
A second tornado, rated EF-U, occurred near Briggs between 17:15 and 17:19 CDT (22:15 to 22:19 UTC), confirmed by the NWS storm damage survey and spotter video. It touched down in open country, and its path could not be fully assessed due to the lack of damageable structures.
According to the NWS survey, the first tornado had a path length of 5 km (3 miles) and a maximum width of 0.8 km (0.5 miles). Burnet County Precinct 2 Road and Bridge crews responded promptly, with first responders assisting in clearing debris and assessing damage.
The Burnet County Office of Emergency Management encouraged residents to report damage using the iSTAT tool to help assess the storm’s impact. Officials advised avoiding storm-damaged areas and documenting any destruction for insurance purposes.
Severe weather on May 1 also produced hail up to 10 cm (4 inches) near Lake Buchanan and rainfall between 50 and 100 mm (2 to 4 inches) in parts of Burnet County. The NWS issued tornado warnings at 16:13 CDT (21:13 UTC), advising residents to seek shelter. Timelapse footage from Chad Casey along Highway 183 near Briggs showed a tall, well-defined tornado funnel, supporting spotter observations.
The storms followed earlier hail events in Georgetown and Round Rock during the preceding week. On May 1, a severe thunderstorm in northeast Burnet County produced hail up to 6.7 cm (2.6 inches) north of Briggs.
Featured image credit: Live Storms Media
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.