LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, Texas has issued a tornado warning for several counties in South Texas, including Duval, La Salle, Webb, and McMullen. The warning is set to remain in effect until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22.

Tornado Alert: At 12:02 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Loma Alta, approximately 13 miles north of Freer. The storm is reported to be moving westward at a speed of 40 miles per hour.

Potential Hazards: The primary hazard associated with this tornado warning is the potential for a tornado to develop. Flying debris poses a significant danger to those without appropriate shelter. Mobile homes may be damaged or destroyed, while roofs, windows, and vehicles could suffer damage. Trees are also at risk of being damaged due to the storm.

Precautionary Measures: Residents in the affected areas are strongly advised to take cover immediately. Seek refuge in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. If possible, avoid windows. For those outdoors, in mobile homes, or in vehicles, it’s recommended to seek the closest substantial shelter and protect oneself from flying debris.

Affected Areas: The warning pertains to rural regions of northwestern Duval, southeastern La Salle, eastern Webb, and southwestern McMullen Counties.

Stay Informed: Residents are urged to stay tuned to local news sources, weather updates, and official communication channels for the latest information and guidance related to the tornado warning.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) -In response to anticipated inclement weather conditions, educational institutions across the Laredo area are taking precautionary measures by releasing students early and implementing closures for the safety of their communities. Here’s an overview of the latest updates:

Unified Independent School District (UISD) and Laredo Independent School District (LISD): After a thorough assessment of prevailing weather conditions in Laredo and its surrounding areas, both UISD and LISD have decided to release students from all campuses ahead of schedule on Tuesday, August 22.

• High schools in both districts will conclude classes at 11 a.m.

• Middle schools are set to dismiss at 11:30 a.m.

• Elementary schools are scheduled to release students at noon.

Parents are urged to promptly pick up their children from their respective schools. LISD Transportation will be available to ensure safe transportation for students who rely on bus services. All classes are expected to resume on Wednesday, August 23, at their regular times.

Furthermore, both UISD and LISD announced that its athletic events have been canceled for the day as well.

Harmony Public Schools: Citing concerns about the impending adverse weather conditions, Harmony Public Schools will be implementing early release times at their Laredo campuses on August 22. The following release times have been established:

• Harmony School of Innovation Laredo: 11:30 a.m.

• Harmony Science Academy Laredo: 12:00 p.m.

• Harmony School of Excellence Laredo: 12:15 p.m.

Normal class schedules are anticipated to resume on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. The situation will continue to be monitored, and any necessary changes will be communicated promptly through official school channels.

Webb Consolidated Independent School District (Webb CISD): Webb CISD has officially announced the closure of schools on August 22 due to the anticipated severe weather conditions.

Blessed Sacrament School and Mary Help of Christians School: Blessed Sacrament School of Laredo has announced that they will dismiss its students from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. and Mary Help will dismiss its students at 1 p.m.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU): Concerned about the potential impact of significant rainfall in the region, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is enacting an Early Safety Release for its employees. In consideration of the safety of their workforce, TAMIU will observe an early closure of all offices at 1 p.m. on August 22. The noon lunch hour will still be observed.

For the latest information on closures, releases, and any potential changes, stay connected to the official communication channels of the respective educational institutions.

Laredo College: Laredo College has been monitoring the forecasted weather for Webb County and the surrounding areas.

As a result of the extreme weather conditions, the college campus will close at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.

The Finance and Audit Committee Meeting that was initially scheduled for 5:30 p.m. has been rescheduled for 12 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

The college encourages everyone in our community to remain vigilant and heed the advice of local authorities. For updates and additional information regarding college operations, please visit www.laredo.edu and follow Laredo College’s social media platforms.

Zapata County I.S.D.: Officials in Zapata say they are continuing to monitor the situation in their area; however, classes will resume as scheduled. A spokesperson for Zapata County said the storm is not hitting their area.

City of Laredo: Due to the extreme weather alert, the City of Laredo has decided to close its non-essential administrative offices early on Tuesday.

All administrative offices will be closed at 12 p.m.

Essential services will continue to operate such as Laredo Police Department, Fire Department, and the 311 call center.

All offices will resume regular hours of operation on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

The City of Laredo encourages the community and all motorists to drive with extreme caution and to avoid any flooded roads.

Webb County: In light of Tuesday’s extreme weather conditions, Webb County has also decided to close its offices at 12 p.m. on Aug. 22, 2023.

All emergency services will still be available and the offices will reopen on Wednesday at normal business hours.

WEBB COUNTY, Tex. (KGNS) - The National Weather Service has issued a weather advisory indicating the likelihood of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in our region Tuesday, August 22, and potentially extending into Wednesday, August 23. Residents are strongly advised to exercise caution if venturing outside. For those staying indoors, it is recommended to have essential emergency supplies on hand as a precautionary measure.

As Tropical Storm Harold inches closer to Webb County, officials from the Webb County Sheriff’s Office recently participated in an emergency management meeting alongside representatives from the City of Laredo and the State of Texas. The discussions focused on vital preparedness measures necessary for the impending storm’s arrival.

Tropical Storm Harold’s Arrival: Tropical Storm Harold is forecasted to approach Webb County at approximately 12 noon on Tuesday, August 22. The storm’s presence is expected to continue until around 6 p.m. Weather experts caution residents to brace for significant weather challenges, including heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

Safety Measures and Resources: If heading outside, it’s recommended to stay informed about weather updates and avoid areas prone to flooding. If remaining at home, it’s wise to gather basic emergency supplies to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. In the event of an emergency, residents are urged to promptly dial 911 for immediate assistance. For non-emergency concerns, individuals can contact the Webb County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division at (956) 523-4408.

Shelter and Assistance: For those in need of shelter, the Rio Bravo City Hall serves as a designated refuge. In case of further inquiries or assistance, please reach out to our office at (956) 790-9500.

Stay Informed: For the latest updates and crucial information regarding Tropical Storm Harold’s impact on Webb County, residents are encouraged to stay tuned to official communication channels, including local news sources and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office’s official platforms.

LAREDO, Tx. (KGNS) - After months of experiencing drought, a potential tropical cyclone is expected to hit Corpus Christi and surrounding areas including Laredo within the next 24 hours.

According to the National Weather Service, we could be experiencing some thunderstorms and flash flooding starting Tuesday morning which could last until Wednesday.

With the high probability of rain, both the Laredo Police and Laredo Fire Department are keeping an eye on the storms and will be working closely with local school districts to inform them about the precautions.

In the event that our area experiences flooding, Investigator Joe Baeza with the Laredo Police Department advises motorists to drive with caution and to refrain from moving barricades.

“Don’t remove the barricade because people who go through barricades put other people in danger, often they are there because there is water on the roadway,” said Baeza. “When you cannot see the street because of water, you potentially could be you know become buoyant in that water, so we don’t want people to cross barricades because we went through a great process of putting all these barricades and people insist on going through the barricade. We’ve actually seen them crash through the barricade sometimes if the vehicles big enough.”

Both the police department and fire department are monitoring the situation as it develops.

They urge the community to stay up to date on KGNS.TV and follow social media to be up to date.

You can download the KGNS News App as well as the Laredo Police Department app.

LAREDO, Tx. (KGNS) - The summer brought a surge of covid cases and an uptick in hospitalizations around the country.

With new variants on the rise, many are getting their booster shots but come Sept. 1, some covid services will come with a hefty price.

At the beginning of Aug., the CDC announced two new covid variants, Eris and Fornax.

Officials at the Laredo Health Department say they are prepared for a possible surge.

Omar Garcia, epidemiologist for the health department said they have seen a slight increase in the past few months.

This past Friday, the health department reported that during the month of July there were 241 Covid cases and so far this month there have been 275 cases.

While those numbers have stayed the same, they do not compare to last year’s number.

“Comparing to other months, we have seen an increase to Covid-19 cases, nothing compared to last year, last year we had a little bit more,” said Garcia. “Right now, again, we’ve been seeing a slight increase in cases, but the good thing is that hospitalizations have been staying low compared to the amount of cases that we see that test positive.”

The department continues to remind people that starting Sept. 1, Covid-19 tests and vaccines will come with a price tag.

While the health department recently announced that covid tests will cost $85 dollars, the are plans to provide covid vaccines at no cost to those who qualify.

The Laredo Health Department is currently offering free Covid-19 vaccine, booster shoots and medicine.

You can learn more about prices and other services by calling 956-795-4900.