GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. (UPDATED 9:45 a.m. 10 December 2008) ― The National Weather Service confirmed just before 6 p.m. Tuesday that the severe storm which sliced through Grayson County on Monday was in fact a tornado.

KXII-TV chief meteorologist Steve LaNore says the confirmation came from the National Weather Service (NWS) shortly after First News at Five concluded Tuesday evening. They categorize the event as an EF-1 tornado, with a path 125 yards wide and two miles long. The NWS did state this using the word "probable", but it's clear that the damage in Denison and Southmayd is consistent with a rotating wind system with winds of 73-112 miles per hour (EF1).

The NWS concluded in their updated report issued later Tuesday evening that the damage southeast of Collinsville was most likely NOT tornado damage, but from straight-line winds. In any case, it's the first tornado to strike the Denison-Sherman area since an EF0 event in October of 1997, and the most damaging wind event in this portion of the county in a long time.

LaNore showed graphically on First News Tuesday evening how the storm began in the southwestern area of the county near Tioga and Collinsville; it then tracked northeast at 40mph, passing near Collinsville and Southmayd and before continuing northeast to squarely hit Denison.

Grayson County has officially been declared a disaster area, and will seek Federal and State funds to aid recovery.

Click on the link below for the latest offical statement from the NWS regarding the Grayson County storm:

Link for preliminary Grayson damage assessment