User:ChrisWx/List of Louisiana tornadoes


An EF3 tornado in eastern New Orleans on February 7, 2017

The U.S. state of Louisiana experiences roughly 40 tornadoes per year, including[nb 1] since 1840±, the year with the first recorded event in the state.

Climatology

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On average, about 40 tornadoes touch down in Louisiana each year.[2][better source needed]

Events

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Pre-1950

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  • May 7, 1840 – A violent unrated tornado touched down in Concordia Parish, and tracked for 35 miles (56 km) through Natchez, Mississippi, killing at least 317 people, and injuring at least 109 others. The death toll was likely higher, as many enslaved people, potentially hundreds of them, were reportedly killed on plantations as the tornado moved through the parish, and were not counted on the official death toll. The tornado was the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history.[3][4]

1950–1959

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1960–1969

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1970–1979

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A completely destroyed home near Delhi following the F5 tornado that took place on February 21, 1971; multiple people were killed at this location
  • February 21, 1971 – During a larger tornado outbreak, a tornado touched down in Madison Parish, three miles to the southeast of Delhi, completely destroying multiple houses and other structures near the city, in the community of Waverly, and near the community of Transylvania at F5 intensity, before moving into Issaquena County, Mississippi. Eleven people were killed in Louisiana, with 18 others injured. The tornado traveled for 109.2 mi (175.7 km), had a peak width of 500 yd (460 m), killed 48 people, and injured 510 others. As of 2024, this is the only F5 tornado to have taken place in the state. In 1984 and 1993, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis had assessed this tornado as an F4 in Louisiana, but had its rating revised in a 2001 assessment to accept the official F5 rating.[5]

1980–1989

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1990–1999

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2000–2009

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2010–2019

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2020–present

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High-end EF3 damage to a home in Arabi following the tornado that took place on March 22, 2022
  • October 25, 2022 – an EF2 tornado northwest of Oberlin ripped off the awning of a manufactured home's front porch, caused a carport to fall onto a car, moved a loaded construction trailer by 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m), snapped multiple large hardwood trees, and caused a tree to fall on another manufactured home.[6]
  • November 29, 2022 – Three tornadoes touched down in the state as a larger tornado outbreak was taking place to the east, including an EF3 tornado that destroyed multiple homes, caused significant tree damage and ground scouring, and injured one person in southeastern Caldwell Parish.[7][8]
  • December 13–14, 2022 – Fifteen tornadoes took place in the state during a larger four-day tornado outbreak taking place across the southern United States, including four rated EF2 and one rated EF3. The first EF2 tornado moved through the community of Four Forks on the afternoon of December 13, destroying numerous manufactured homes, damaging several trees in the area, killing two people, and injuring another two. Another tornado, rated EF3, moved through northern portions of Farmerville that evening, which significantly damaged multiple houses, trees, and apartments, destroyed several outbuildings and mobile homes, and injured 14 people. On the morning of December 14, another EF2 tornado moved through southeastern portions of New Iberia, destroying multiple mobile homes, damaging numerous houses, vehicles, and businesses, including a hospital which sustained major roof and interior wall damage, and injuring 16 people. An EF2 tornado also struck the communities of Killona and Montz, destroying numerous mobile homes, damaging trees in the area, killing one person, and injuring eight others. Another EF2 tornado impacted Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, and Arabi near New Orleans later that afternoon, damaging many homes, businesses, and trees in its path, and injuring six people. The tornado impacted the same areas that a high-end EF3 tornado had struck in Arabi nearly nine months prior.[8]
  • January 2, 2023 – Amid a larger three-day tornado outbreak taking place across the southern U.S., seven tornadoes touched down within Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado was a 1.1-mile-wide (1.8 km) tornado that severely damaged multiple houses, snapped large trees, and injured three people east of Jonesboro, and the second EF2 tornado knocked down several large electrical-transmission towers and destroyed an outbuilding to the south of Haile.[8][9]
  • January 24, 2023 – Seven tornadoes affected the state during a tornado outbreak that was taking place in Texas and Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. After causing EF2 damage west of Orange, Texas, a tornado crossed the state line into western Calcasieu Parish, where it caused tree damage, and destroyed multiple mobile homes, RVs, and outbuildings as it impacted the Nibletts Bluff Park near Vinton. The tornado injured two people. An EF1 satellite tornado also occurred to the south of the EF2 tornado, which caused damage to more trees and mobile homes before merging into the previous tornado. After the first EF2 tornado lifted, the second EF2 tornado touched down in the northern part of the parish and moved northeast into Beauregard Parish, near the community of Gaytine, where it significantly damaged several homes, outbuildings, and trees.[8]
  • February 8, 2023 – Three tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado impacted western portions of Tangipahoa, damaging multiple homes, a convenience store, a church, and trees, and the second EF2 tornado impacted Grand Prairie, damaging trees and several homes, including one which had its roof ripped off.[10][8]
  • April 9–10, 2024 – During a three-day severe weather outbreak which produced 35 tornadoes along the Gulf Coast, 16 tornadoes touched down within Louisiana, including two EF2 tornadoes. As a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) moved into the state, twin EF1 tornadoes took place near Grand Lake, and as the tornadoes dissipated, an EF2 tornado touched down on the eastern edge of McNeese State University, damaging homes, other buildings, trees, and power lines in the area. Later in the day, two EF1 tornadoes moved near St. Francisville, including one which traveled for 32.4 mi (52.1 km) and was 880 yd (800 m) wide, causing large amounts of tree damage along its path. Multiple tornadoes also impacted areas near Slidell, including an EF2 tornado which impacted the southern portions of the city, causing major damage to homes and businesses in the area, damaging power poles and trees, and injuring several people.[8]
  • May 13, 2024 – Seven tornadoes were produced by an MCS which moved through the Acadiana region, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado moved through eastern Sulphur, damaging homes, trees, power lines, and destroying multiple warehouses, shortly before another EF1 tornado impacted Westlake and Downtown Lake Charles, damaging more homes, businesses, power lines, and trees. Another EF2 tornado impacted Cecilia and Henderson, which damaged homes, businesses, trees, power lines, destroyed outbuildings, and rolled multiple mobile homes and RVs. The tornado killed one person and injured another.[11][12]
  • July 8, 2024 – At least five tornadoes associated with Hurricane Beryl, which was a tropical storm at the time, touched down in the state of Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado was a 1,530-yard-wide (1,400 m) tornado that touched down west of Converse, snapped and damaged many trees and power poles in the path, severely damaged a church, gymnasium, and basketball court, before lifting west of South Mansfield. The second EF2 tornado was a 1,730-yard-wide (1,580 m) tornado that moved through the city of Pleasant Hill in Sabine Parish, snapping and damaging numerous trees, damaging multiple houses, and destroying several manufactured homes in the area. Additionally, a 1,200-yard-wide (1,100 m) EF1 tornado moved across areas west of Benton, snapping and uprooting numerous power poles and trees, damaging numerous homes and structures, killing a woman when a tree fell on her mobile home, and injuring two children who were inside. Preliminary information.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ In the United States, a tornado or twister both refer to a violently rotating column of air that reaches the ground. The National Weather Service (NWS) describes them as the "most destructive of all atmospheric phenomena".[1]

References

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  1. ^ "National Weather Service Glossary". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Storm Prediction Center Maps, Graphics, and Data Page". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ Grazulis 2001b, p. 10.
  4. ^ Grazulis 1993.
  5. ^ Multiple sources:
  6. ^ Louisiana Event Report: EF2 Tornado. National Weather Service in Lake Charles, Louisiana (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  7. ^ National Weather Service (December 7, 2022). NWS Damage Survey for 11/29/22 Tornado Event (Report). Shreveport, Louisiana: Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Branches of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Weather Service; National Severe Storms Laboratory (2024). "Damage Assessment Toolkit". DAT. United States Department of Commerce. Archived from the original on 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  9. ^ National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana (January 4, 2023). NWS Damage Survey For 01/02/23 Tornado Event (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  10. ^ National Weather Service in New Orleans, Louisiana (February 9, 2023). NWS Damage Survey for February 8, 2023 Tornado Event (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Monday May 13, 2024". www.spc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  12. ^ Multiple sources:

Sources

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