The passage of the cold front yesterday afternoon around 2 brought with it a strong line of thunderstorms that produced lightning, gusty wind and periods of heavy rain. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch just before 1 p.m. for most of the deep East Texas and Western Louisiana area. Around 2, the weather service issued a significant weather advisory for Shelby, Panola, Rusk and Nacogdoches Counties for an hour as a strong thunderstorm was moving northeast from the Garrison area into Shelby County. Southern Nacogdoches County was also under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 4. There were some scattered areas of minor wind damage, as the cold front dropped temperatures from the mid 70s to the mid 60s within a few minutes, and the sun was out within an hour. We’re expecting plenty of sun today and Saturday with a high today around 69, low 70s for the weekend, with a chance of rain on Sunday.

Timpson Firemen responded to the report of an oil well tank fire on CR 4098, off FM 415 as the thunderstorms were tracking the area. It was reported via radio communications that a tank at the site had exploded and fire was in a holding pit when crews arrived. Lightening is reported to be the cause of the explosion. No injuries were reported.