UPDATE: Tornado Watch Canceled Early for Waco, McLennan County

March 2, 2023

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

UDPATE: 8:34 p.m. CT Thursday, March 2, 2023

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has canceled the Tornado Watch for Waco and McLennan County.

UDPATE: 8 p.m. CT Thursday, March 2, 2023

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – UPDATE: The Baylor University Department of Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management has issued an ALL CLEAR via Baylor Alert as the Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service has expired.

However, the Tornado WATCH remains in effect for Waco and McLennan County until 10 p.m. CT. This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area. Please continue to monitor the weather.

UDPATE: 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday, March 2, 2023

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a TORNADO WARNING until 8 p.m. CT for McLennan County. A Baylor Alert has been issued. Please seek shelter indoors immediately.

UDPATE: 6:56 p.m. CT Thursday, March 2, 2023

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – UPDATE: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 8 p.m. CT for Waco and McLennan County.

A Tornado WATCH remains in effect until 10 p.m. CT. This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area.

3:15 p.m. CT Thursday, March 2, 2023

WACO, Texas (March 2, 2023) – As front moves across Texas, the National Weather Service has issued a Tornado WATCH for Central Texas, including Waco and McLennan County, effective until 10 p.m. CT. This means that tornadoes – along with damaging winds and hail – are possible in and near the watch area.

In the meantime, 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 case of a tornado:

Tornado Sirens: There is a network of sirens operated by the City of Waco-McLennan County Office of Emergency Management. Baylor University maintains its own outdoor notification system. The sirens are activated during a tornado warning if a tornado is imminent.
Baylor Alert: Outdoor/indoor notification system, emergency email and text messages, audio message to a cellphone or other telephone, Baylor’s main website, official Baylor social media accounts at official Baylor social media accounts at Facebook, @Baylor on Twitter and @BaylorUniversity on Instagram. More information about the Baylor Alert emergency notification system is available here.
Local media, weather radios, 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.