UPDATE: Tornado Watch Canceled at 8:58 p.m. CT

by Media & Public Relations

April 26, 2023

A tornado watch is issued when a tornado is possible. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is happening or about to happen.

Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia

9:00PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has canceled the Tornado Watch at 8:58 p.m. CT.

7:11PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has canceled the Tornado Warning at 7:03 p.m. However, a Tornado WATCH remains in effect until 10 p.m. tonight. Additional storms are possible tonight. Please continue to monitor the weather.

6:35PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has extended the Tornado WARNING for Waco and McLennan County, including the Baylor campus, until 7:15 p.m. Please continue to shelter indoors until ALL CLEAR is given. Remain aware of rapidly developing weather conditions.

5:51PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has extended the Tornado WARNING for Waco and McLennan County, including the Baylor campus, until 6:30 p.m. National Weather Service radar indicates storm with rotation in close proximity to downtown Waco. Please continue to shelter indoors until ALL CLEAR is given.

5:20PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has extended the Tornado WARNING for Waco and McLennan County, including the Baylor campus, until 6 p.m. Please continue to shelter indoors until ALL CLEAR is given.

4:36PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WARNING for Waco and McLennan County, including the Baylor campus, effective until 5:15 p.m. Please seek shelter indoors now until ALL CLEAR is given.

2:56PM UPDATE:

WACO, Texas (April 26, 2023) – The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WATCH for Central Texas, including Waco and McLennan County, effective until 10 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.

This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area, which includes the Baylor Waco campus.

Be Weather Ready:

As you remain aware of today’s severe weather possibility, we ask that you please review and discuss your emergency plans. Baylor’s tornado safety procedure guide is available here.

Check supplies, make sure your phone is charged and check the safe space in your home, apartment or residence hall.
In residence halls, Severe Weather Assembly Areas are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building and also available via an online map.
Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching.

If a Tornado WARNING is issued:

There are multiple ways the City of Waco, McLennan County and Baylor University alert their respective communities in the event of a tornado and the actions to take:

Tornado Sirens: The City of Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management operates a network of sirens located throughout city and county. Baylor University also operates its outdoor notification system, including sirens on its campus. The sirens are activated during a tornado warning or if a tornado is imminent.
Baylor Alert: Baylor also will activate its multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system, which includes emergency email and text messages, audio message to a cellphone or other telephone, outdoor/indoor notification systems on campus, Baylor’s main website, official Baylor social media accounts at official Baylor social media accounts at Facebook, @Baylor on Twitter and @BaylorUniversity on Instagram.
Local media, weather radios and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Safety Procedures:

Indoors

Seek shelter immediately on a ground floor, in an interior room. (Severe Weather Assembly Areas are identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout each building and also available via an online map.)
Do not use elevators.
Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.
Avoid any wide-span roof areas such as auditorium, gymnasiums, dining halls and large hallways.

Residence Halls

Residence Hall Directors and available staff will gather all residents to the Severe Weather Assembly Areas (identified on Building Emergency Plan maps throughout the facility).
Residents should bring blankets for protection from debris.
Remain in the Severe Weather Assembly Areas until the tornado passes, and an All Clear is issued via Baylor Alert.

Outdoors

Seek indoor shelter, if possible.
Parked motor vehicles are unsafe.
If indoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.
If you are on a flat ground and are caught in the path of a tornado, always move at right angles to its path.

Individuals with mobility/impairments or physical disabilities:

Supervisory personnel and course instructors are responsible for identifying and escorting individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities located in their offices/facilities or classrooms to safety in the event of a tornado warning.

The elevators may be used to transport individuals with mobility impairments or physical disabilities and their escorts to a safer location. Visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals may be escorted down the stairs but may require assistance in moving in crowded staircases and in finding a safer location.

In the event of a power failure, individuals who are unable to use the stairs and their escorts should move to an interior location without windows and call the Baylor University Police Department (254-710-2222) who will notify the appropriate emergency personnel with the location.