Travis County Under Tornado Warning

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m. on Sunday, with wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour possible.

Travis County weather officials urged residents to secure loose objects in their yards given the likelihood of strong winds. Flying debris poses a real danger to public safety, officials noted. The National Weather Service tornado warning is in effect until 7:15 p.m.

The warning was issued after a tornado warning was implemented in neighboring Williamson County. Parts of the region have been battered by strong storms accompanied by hail and strong winds.

"It is truly time to batten down the hatches," weather officials wrote pithily.

Reports of a missing kayaker emerged in Pflugerville as police closed the Lake Pflugerville. Police issued warnings via mass text messages to residents' mobile phones. "Due to the weather take shelter and stay inside," the missive read.

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The warning came on a day of high temperatures, with the heat index making it feel like 111 degrees at its peak in a stark climactic turnaround. Residents are urged to seek shelter away from windows given the possibility of tornadoes forming. Those who took to lakes or streams amid the hot temperatures are strongly urged to get out of the water.

In nearby Lake Buchanan, some 80 boaters were caught in the storm as their boat took on water. All passengers were rescued, and no injuries were reported. Those rescued had been aboard a Vanishing Texas River Cruise boat before they were transported to safety on shore on the Llano side of the lake, according to reports. Lake Buchanan is some 67 miles northwest of Austin.

As the storms arrived in earnest, residents almost immediately began reporting power outages. Austin Energy officials said via Twitter crews were working fast to restore power to affected utility customers. The utility's power outage map shows power down across the city.

Austin Energy urges affected residents to check their breakers if they're able to do so safely as the outage may exist only in their homes or business because of a blown fuse or tripped circuit. Those checking their breakers who remain without power are urged to report the outage online or call (512) 322-9100.

The Texas Department of Public Safety offers a number of safety tips when a tornado is imminent. According to the DPS, more tornadoes strike Texas than any other state, and can occur at any time of year, including winter, but are most frequent from mid-March through May. There are several precautions people can take as they prepare for these violent storms, accoring to the DPS:

• Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of your home, such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows. Cover yourself with a mattress or cushions.
• In an office building, go to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor.
• If you are in a mobile home, get out and take shelter in a nearby building. If there are none, lie flat in a ditch or ravine.
• Never stay inside a car. Get out and lie flat in a ditch or a ravine. If a building is nearby, take shelter inside. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.
• At school, follow plans and go to a designated shelter area, usually interior hallways on the lowest floor. Avoid auditoriums, gyms and areas with wide, free-span roofs.
• In a shopping center, move towards the interior away from exterior glass walls.
• If you are in open country, take cover in a low spot away from trees.
• Learn the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning. A Tornado Watch means watch the sky. A Tornado Warning means a tornado is on the ground and you must seek shelter immediately.