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

Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
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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.