Storm Chase 05-27-15 Canadian Texas EF-2 Tornado

Описание: Three workers were injured Wednesday after one of four reported tornadoes struck a drilling rig north of Canadian, Hemphill County Sheriff James Pearson said. One person was impaled through the abdomen while another suffered injuries not considered life-threatening to the face, said Julie Boydston, Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office jail administrator. The third victim received minor injuries and all three were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Amarillo, Boydston said. At 5:06 p.m., the tornado struck the rig, located about 2 1/2 miles north of Canadian, she said. Extensive damage was done to the oil well "dog house," a structure used to house tools and other work equipment. Several trees in the area were also downed or damaged. Several county agencies worked Wednesday night to clear debris and close flooded roadways, Boydston said. U.S. Highway 83 North was closed at one end by Wheeler County officials as water came over a bridge onto the highway as officials blocked access near the U.S. Highway 83/33 split. Boydston said officials from Roberts County closed one end of U.S. Highway 60 while Lipscomb County officials closed the other end near the county lines. National Weather Service Amarillo forecaster Christine Krause said Canadian residents reported seeing four tornadoes in the area. It is unknown at this time what the intensity of the tornadoes were. Canadian resident Tim Fletcher said he saw a tornado that appeared to be just a few blocks away from his home. “We live in town and stepped out when we heard the sirens,” he said. “Many people on the block were out watching and we saw the funnel form, rotate and then dissipate.” Canadian High School senior Braiden Galla said he was also in town when tornadoes hit. “We spent a lot of time in the basement,” Galla said. “We’ve let some neighbors come over to get in the basement. The sirens were going on for two to three hours, and when I went up to look outside I could see the tornado from my front yard.” Tonny Hamby, who lives southeast of Canadian, said he and his daughter could see a tornado rotating and extending to the ground. "From our vantage point, the tornado appeared to be half a mile wide," he said via email. "The tornado was on the ground for less than 10 minutes before roping out." The NWS also said tea-cup sized hail was reported 15 miles south of Claude. Severe weather also threatened Randall and Armstrong counties Wednesday night as a tornado warning was issued from about 8:20 to 9:15 p.m. However, no tornadic activity was reported at that time. NWS doppler radar indicated more than 5 inches of rain had fallen in parts of the area. Sports Reporter Kale Steed contributed to this story.