Tornado warnings were sounding across north central Texas on Thursday evening and parts were also under the threat of twisters.
A tornado that touched down in the town of Krum, Texas, was confirmed by the National Weather Service, Denton County Sheriff’s Office told NBC News, though the exact location and severity of the damage were not known. Nor were any injuries reported.
Storm spotters and Doppler radar saw the developing tornado 3 miles southwest of Krum as it moved eastward toward the city of Denton, which saw golf-ball sized hail earlier in the day.
The weather service also issued tornado warnings Thursday for several areas in Missouri, part of the same storm system that forecasters said could be the first significant tornado outbreak of the season.
An alert was issued for people living in southern Benton and northern Hickory counties at about 5:15 p.m. ET with residents asked to “take cover at this time.”
Another alert was issued earlier for parts of Dallas, Hickory and Polk counties, not far from Springfield.
The “main show” of storms was forming in an arc over west central Missouri into southeast Kansas into Thursday evening, according to the weather service.
The overall threat for severe thunderstorms — and possibly tornadoes — remained high in nine states, stretching from southern Iowa to east Texas and Louisiana, The Weather Channel reported.
In the earlier Missouri alert radar had indicated rotation in the storm, one possible sign of a tornado, and that flying debris would be dangerous to people caught without shelter. By late evening, however, a tornado in that area had not yet been confirmed.
A tornado watch was in effect for four states, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, until 10 p.m. ET. Forecasters said at least 50 million people were at risk for strong storms, hail and possible tornadoes.
Earlier Thursday, a tornado was confirmed outside St. Louis.