A devastating tornado outbreak struck North Texas between April 25 and 28, 2026, killing two people and leaving a trail of destruction across Wise, Parker, and Palo Pinto counties. The outbreak was part of a broader six-day severe weather sequence that battered the central United States with dozens of tornadoes.
Deadly Weekend Storms
On the evening of April 25, multiple tornadoes struck the North Texas region. An EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 135 mph tore through Runaway Bay in Wise County, lifting a mobile home and killing Juan Madrid, 51, while injuring his wife and two adult children. In Parker County, a separate tornado struck Springtown with 105 mph winds, killing Kathleen Lietzke. At least six other people were injured and more than 40 families were displaced across the two communities.
The National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornadoes touched down across the region that night, and nearly 40,000 Oncor customers lost power across North Texas.
EF-3 Devastation in Mineral Wells
Three days later, on April 28, an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 145 mph and a width of 800 yards tracked 4.69 miles through Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County. The tornado destroyed warehouses, significantly damaged homes, and hospitalized five people. Local officials declared a state of disaster and imposed a curfew in affected neighborhoods. In total, over 130 buildings were damaged or destroyed across the region during the outbreak.
Relief Organizations Respond
The American Red Cross opened emergency shelters in both Springtown and Mineral Wells, providing food, medicine, and emergency supplies to affected families. The organization also arranged hotel accommodations for displaced residents in Runaway Bay.
FEMA is providing disaster assistance guidance to affected residents, including temporary shelter support and financial aid through the Individuals and Households Program.
The Salvation Army deployed Emergency Disaster Services teams to Wise, Parker, and Palo Pinto counties, distributing 12 pallets of relief supplies including cleanup kits, hygiene products, plastic storage bins, and water to residents and the Center of Life shelter in Mineral Wells.
How You Can Help
Visit the North Texas Tornado Outbreak disaster page on the Relief Directory for direct links to donate to organizations providing aid on the ground. With families still displaced and cleanup underway, ongoing support is critical to help North Texas communities recover.
