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Tornado Near Mineral Wells Injures Two, Damages Highway 180

4/29/2026

31 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A tornado struck near Mineral Wells, Texas, on April 28, 2026, injuring two and damaging Highway 180.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado at 5:10 p.m., three miles east of town.
City officials set a 10 p.m. curfew, opened a high-school cafeteria for shelter, and called the Red Cross.
Earlier storms in Wise and Parker counties produced EF-2 and EF-1 tornadoes that killed two, displaced dozens, and led to disaster declarations.

History

Historical Context

On May 3 1999 an F5 tornado ripped through Bridge Creek and Moore, Oklahoma, killing 36 people and causing about $1 billion in damage; President Clinton’s disaster declaration the next day spurred FEMA to overhaul shelter and coordination procedures. The April 28 2026 Mineral Wells tornado, which forced a curfew and Red Cross aid, shows those protocols in action today.

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Story summary

A tornado struck near Mineral Wells, Texas, on April 28, 2026, injuring two and damaging Highway 180.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado at 5:10 p.m., three miles east of town.
City officials set a 10 p.m. curfew, opened a high-school cafeteria for shelter, and called the Red Cross.
Earlier storms in Wise and Parker counties produced EF-2 and EF-1 tornadoes that killed two, displaced dozens, and led to disaster declarations.

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