National Weather Service surveys damage from Fayette County tornado, but no determination made yet

Posted: May 19, 2021 / 07:21 AM CDT

Updated: May 19, 2021 / 04:43 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Survey crews from the National Weather Service assessed damage Wednesday caused by Tuesday night’s tornado in Fayette County.

The tornado, observed near Swiss Alp between Schulenburg and La Grange on Highway 77, reportedly snapped power poles and caused other damage in the remote area of Fayette County.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, NWS said the heavy rain that fell in the area Tuesday made it harder to survey all the locations where the tornado crossed. Surveyors did see some tree damage near Highway 77 and Swiss Alp but will continue to gather pictures to make a final determination.

The NWS will determine the tornado’s intensity and give its rating for the twister after crews have a look at the aftermath.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office also reports two additional tornado sightings: at Highway 77 near the Lavaca County line and FM 609 in the O’Quinn area. No major damages were reported, FCSO said.

NWS also hopes to survey light damage in areas of Lavaca County as well.

Fayette County was particularly hard hit by storms going through the KXAN viewing area Tuesday. Some areas have received 8-10 inches of rain over the past two days, and two school districts are delaying start times due to the potential of flooded roads.

FCSO said most incidents happened between 6 and 9:30 p.m.

KXAN’s Nabil Remadna was near Schulenburg where FM 154 meets SH 71, and he was able to pick up chunks of asphalt that flash floods washed up.

Torrential rain, at times falling at 4 inches per hour, flooded parts of Interstate 10 near Flatonia. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said it performed at least five high water rescues during the course of the storms.

Deputies assisted Flatonia Volunteer Fire Department crews with these rescues, which happened at: