At least two “serious” tornadoes have touched down near Dallas, Texas according to reports from news affiliates in the region.
Live television footage on CNN and MSNBC showed large twisters ripping through the area, lifting tractor trailers off the ground and tossing them like toys.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” a local NBC News correspondent told parent site MSNBC.com.
A tornado emergency warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for eastern Texas and will be in effect until at least 8 p.m.
The Dallas Red Cross took to social media in an effort to warn local residents.
“LARGE TORNADOES moving into Arlington and Hutchins. If you are in the path of these storms, SEEK SHELTER NOW!”
“Images on Chopper 5 show semi trucks and other debris being tossed into the air in Dallas County,” NBC Dallas-Fort Worth tweeted.
Accuweather.com reported that the strong storm system behind the tornados is expected to move across the Southern Plains throughout Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Henry Margusity, a senior meterologist at Accuweather.com, said that there were two storms producing tornados as of Tuesday afternoon. While tornados at this time of year are not unusual, he said, it was unusual to have two major metropolitan areas being hit at the same time.
