After historic drought Texas is battered by tornadoes and left with heavy flooding across the state

Heavy rain and powerful winds spawned by tornadoes have swept across Texas, forcing drivers to abandon cars on flooded roads, knocking out power to thousands and prompting water rescue efforts.

The rainfall, despite causing chaos and damaging homes and businesses, did not drop enough water to make up for the state's historic drought.

Tornado warnings and watches were in effect for parts of Texas and Louisiana as the line of storms moved east.

Storms pounded Dallas and Fort Worth overnight.

At dawn on Wednesday, rescue workers checked to make sure people were not stuck in cars stranded in windshield-high water. Read More