Weimar tornado derails train cars

WEIMAR, Texas (KXAN/KPRC) - The National Weather Service said the tornado briefly touched down at Weimar High School, south of La Grange in Colorado County, at about 5:25 p.m. Thursday.

Tornado peeled roof back at the Colorado-Fayette Medical Center at 400 Youens Drive in Weimar. Administrator Steve Gularte told KXAN they are moving patients out and will be closed for repair for at least 24 hours. 

There were 10 patients in the hospital.  They are being moved to the Columbus Community Hospital and area nursing homes. A few patients were ready for discharge and were being moved to their homes.

The tornado touched down in the parking lot of the high school, overturning a Papa John's truck on site for a local food drive and fundraiser. School district officials said some injuries were reported. School in Weimer will be closed on Friday.

Superintendent Jon Wunderlich told KXAN that less than a dozen people were injured, and some were transported to the hospital to be checked out.  None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to Wunderlich.  He said that all three campuses had damage, but the football stadium suffered the most damage.  School is canceled for Friday.

A scoreboard at the high school was damaged. NWS officials said a train was derailed in Weimar.

Weimar is about 88 miles west of downtown Houston, located between Schulenberg and Sealy off Interstate 10. At the time, the storms are headed toward the Houston area.

A strong area of low pressure in West Texas will migrate across the state through Saturday, bringing us our best chance for rain in Houston since mid-April. 

Expect 2 inches to as many as 5 inches of rain in isolated areas by the time all is said and done. Some of the stronger storms will likely produce rain at 1 to 2 inches per hour. 

The heavy rain can cause flash flooding, especially along feeder roads and areas where storm drains may be restricted by leaves, branches or trash. If you are driving and approach a flooded roadway, do not try to pass through it. Turn around and find another route. 

By Friday night and Saturday, our rain threat will shift from strong thunderstorms to scattered showers. The rain should be gone entirely by Mother's Day.