Tornado with 120 mph winds rips through Mineral Wells, Texas, injuring five

Key facts

• Tornado touched down in Mineral Wells, Texas, on Tuesday with winds of at least 120 mph (193 kph).
• Five people were hospitalized with injuries; others were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
• Mayor Regan Johnson confirmed no loss of life, calling it 'amazing' given the destruction.
• National Weather Service sent a survey team Wednesday to assess damage 80 miles (130 km) west of Dallas.
• Mineral Wells has a population of about 15,000.
• Two people died in North Texas from tornadoes last weekend; a Michigan man was killed by a falling tree Monday.
• A hail storm at Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, killed a female emu named Adam.
• More severe storms were possible Wednesday across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Storm unleashes destruction on small Texas city

A tornado packing winds of at least 120 mph tore through Mineral Wells, Texas, on Tuesday, flattening manufacturing buildings and ripping roofs from homes. The storm sent five people to the hospital, but remarkably, no one was killed. Local officials described a scene of chaos as the twister struck the city of about 15,000, located 80 miles west of Dallas. Fire Chief Ryan Dunn said first responders arrived to find extensive debris and collapsing structures.

Mayor expresses gratitude for no fatalities

“We are most grateful for no loss of life in this event yesterday,” Mayor Regan Johnson told a news conference Wednesday. “When you see the destruction that's here, you can tell that’s really amazing.” The mayor spoke in a subdivision littered with splintered lumber, fallen trees, and other debris. Officials had feared the worst when they saw buildings collapsing during the storm.

Weather service confirms tornado strength

Allison Prater, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Fort Worth, confirmed the tornado touched down with winds of at least 120 mph (193 kph). A survey team was dispatched Wednesday to assess the damage. The tornado was part of a broader outbreak of violent weather that has plagued parts of the South and Midwest. Over the weekend, two people died in North Texas when thunderstorms spawned destructive tornadoes. On Monday, a Michigan man was killed by a tree that toppled in a storm.

Hail storm kills emu at Missouri zoo

In a separate weather event Tuesday, a hail storm damaged roofs, skylights, and parked vehicles at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri. The storm also killed a large bird: a female emu named Adam died from head trauma as hail fell, zoo spokesperson Joey Powell said. The severe weather continued to pose a threat Wednesday, with the weather service warning of a slight chance of damaging winds and large hail across portions of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

First responders treat injured, assess damage

Fire Chief Ryan Dunn said five people injured in the storm were taken to a hospital for treatment. Others received care for minor injuries from first responders at the scene. “As we arrived on scene, we noticed there was a lot of debris, a lot of roofs off,” Dunn said. “And then we started seeing buildings collapse.” The extent of structural damage was still being evaluated as officials continued to survey the area.

Wider weather pattern raises concerns

The tornado in Mineral Wells is the latest in a series of severe weather events across the region. The National Weather Service noted that more storms could develop Wednesday across the South and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, with the potential for damaging winds and large hail. While the immediate threat in Mineral Wells has passed, the community faces a long recovery. Officials urged residents to remain vigilant as cleanup and damage assessment continue.

The bottom line

• A tornado with winds of at least 120 mph struck Mineral Wells, Texas, on Tuesday, injuring five but causing no deaths.
• Mayor Regan Johnson credited the lack of fatalities to fortune, given the level of destruction.
• The National Weather Service is surveying the damage to confirm the tornado's rating.
• The storm is part of a larger pattern of severe weather that has killed three people in the past week.
• A separate hail storm in Missouri killed an emu at a zoo, highlighting the widespread impact of the weather system.
• More severe storms are possible across the South and Mid-Atlantic, with risks of damaging winds and hail.