Multiple tornadoes hit parts of Texas and Oklahoma

DALLAS (AP) — Multiple tornadoes hit parts of Texas and Oklahoma, causing injuries and damage to areas near Austin and Dallas, officials said. The storm system was moving to Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, carrying the danger of tornadoes and powerful winds.

In Texas, several tornadoes were reported Monday along Interstate 35, particularly in the Austin suburbs of Round Rock and Elgin and in an area west-northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. Another tornado caused damage to the town of Kingston, in southern Oklahoma.

At least four people were injured on Monday in Texas, authorities said.

By Tuesday, the system was carrying downpours and thunderstorms to parts of Texas and Arkansas, said Jeremy Grams, chief meteorologist at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. There was tornado warning in parts of Texas and Louisiana.

In Louisiana, Tuesday morning floods posed a danger to motorists on several roads, including a stretch of Interstate 20 and several state highways after nightfall and early morning showers, officials said. Police officers in Caddo district, which includes the city of Shreveport, rescued three motorists from flooding overnight, the sheriff's office said on Twitter.

Storms were expected to intensify during the day as temperatures rise, increasing the risk of tornadoes, hail and strong winds. Much of Louisiana and Mississippi were in moderate storm danger Tuesday, the second highest risk category issued by the Storm Prediction Center.

“We remain somewhat unsure about how intense and long-lasting some of those tornadoes might be, so we're going to be just below the threshold of higher risk,” Grams said Tuesday morning.

Federal and state officials in Louisiana reminded thousands of hurricane survivors living in government-provided mobile homes to have an evacuation plan because the structures might not survive expected weather conditions. More than 8,000 homes are of this type of temporary housing, officials said.