Rare combination of tornadoes and softball-sized hail leads to deaths in Texas

Severe storms with hurricane-force winds in north-west Texas killed at least four people and caused widespread damage

A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in north-west Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador. National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Ziebell says the supercell developed about 8pm local time Wednesday near Amarillo before striking Matador, injuring nine people in addition to the four killed and causing widespread destruction. Ziebell says the storm later produced 109 mph winds at Jayton in addition to the four-inch or larger hail.

That is certainly rare to see all at the same time, killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail," Zeibell said.