The tornado moved across mainly rural areas of Newton County, but the storm did destroy or damage between 5 and 10 homes near the Pine Grove community. The timber industry saw a continued large loss of income due to trees blown down.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS LCH wrote it up.
The tornado moved across mainly rural areas of Newton County, but the storm did destroy or damage between 5 and 10 homes near the Pine Grove community. The timber industry saw a continued large loss of income due to trees blown down.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 23, 2:15 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
215 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
...LOOKS LIKE A STORMY NIGHT ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE
WEATHER...
.SYNOPSIS...MSAS SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A LOW DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL
TEXAS WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDING EAST-NORTHEAST INTO NORTHERN
LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. MEANWHILE...WATER VAPOR IMAGERY
SHOWS UPPER LEVEL LOW IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO MOVING OFF TO THE
NORTHEAST. JET STREAK ALSO SEEN MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN OLD MEXICO
INTO CENTRAL TEXAS. EARLIER RAOBS FROM MEXICO INDICATED WINDS WERE
IN EXCESS OF 100 KTS WITH THIS JET STREAK. SPECIAL 18Z UPPER AIR
SOUNDING CONTINUES TO SHOW A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT IN
PLACE. CAPE OVER 2700 J/KG WITH LI (-9)...MEANWHILE PWAT OVER 1.6
INCHES...ABOUT TWICE THE NORMAL.
RADAR INDICATES ONE WAVE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAS NOW MOVED
NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. FURTHER WEST...SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH GOOD CU BUILD UP IS NOTED OVER CENTRAL AND
EAST CENTRAL TEXAS.
SPC HAS JUST RE-ISSUED THE TORNADO WATCH FOR THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF
THE FORECAST AREA UNTIL 9 PM. EXPECT MORE WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE
ISSUED LATER TONIGHT AS AREA REMAINS IN A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE
WEATHER.
&&
.DISCUSSION...UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL EJECT NORTHEASTWARD
TONIGHT INTO THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MEANWHILE...SURFACE LOW IS
EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY IN RESPONSE TO THIS SYSTEM AND MOVE
NORTHEASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN ARKANSAS...THEN NORTHERN
MISSISSIPPI/WESTERN TENNESSEE. THE GREATEST RISK FOR TORNADO ACTIVITY
WILL BE CLOSER TO WHERE THE SURFACE LOW INTERSECTS WITH THE WARM
FRONT...NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA.
STILL LOW LEVEL JET WILL BE INCREASING TONIGHT...AS SURFACE LOW
INTENSIFIES...WITH WINDS SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 KNOTS...PROVIDING
GOOD SHEAR VALUES. ALSO...LEFT FRONT EXIT REGION OF 100-125 KT JET
WILL ALSO MOVE NEAR THE FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT PROVIDING
GOOD DIFLUENCE ALOFT. MEANWHILE...SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
LATE THIS AFTERNOON ALONG THE DRY-LINE/COLD FRONT IN EASTERN TEXAS.
THIS SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE FORECAST AREA
(SOUTHEAST TEXAS) LATE THIS EVENING...THEN THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA
DURING THE OVERNIGHT. WITH THE INCREASING SHEAR VALUES...ANY STORMS
THAT DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR
ROTATION. STRONG WINDS...LARGE HAIL...ALONG WITH TORNADOES AT THE
END OF BOW FEATURES WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE SQUALL LINE MOVES
THROUGH.
ALTHOUGH STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOVING RAPIDLY...PWAT VALUES
ARE VERY HIGH AND STORMS WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL. 1 TO 2 INCH PER
HOUR RAINFALL RATES WILL NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION CAUSING SOME
MINOR FLOODING IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL BE ENDING OVER ALL BUT FAR EASTERN ZONES
OVERNIGHT. SOME LINGERING SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL END IN THE MORNING
HOURS ON WEDNESDAY IN THAT AREA. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRIER AIR WILL
THEN MOVE IN PRODUCING A NICE PLEASANT THANKSGIVING DAY.
IN THE EXTENDED...TEMPS BEGIN TO WARM AGAIN ON FRIDAY AS SOUTHERLY
FLOW RETURNS. A SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL PRODUCE A
CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR LATE IN THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.MARINE...SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE
TONIGHT TO SCA CRITERIA. WINDS WILL THEN TURN TO THE NORTH ON
WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT AND AGAIN INCREASE TO SCA CRITERIA.
WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH LATE ON THURSDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP DURING
THE AFTERNOON HOURS...THEN BECOME MORE NUMEROUS THIS EVENING AND
OVERNIGHT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG GUSTY
WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO AROUND 1 MILE.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
LCH 61 67 40 62 / 90 0 0 0
BPT 59 67 40 62 / 90 0 0 0
AEX 59 66 37 59 / 90 0 0 0
LFT 63 68 41 61 / 90 40 0 0
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...TORNADO WATCH...LAZ027-028-030-031-041-042-051...UNTIL 03Z.
TX...TORNADO WATCH...TXZ180>182-201-215-216...UNTIL 03Z.
GM...TORNADO WATCH...GMZ450...UNTIL 03Z.
SCA...GMZ450-455-470-475.
&&
PUBLIC/MARINE: 07-RUA
AVIATION: 24-ML
RADAR: ITOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 500 AM CST TUE NOV 23 2004 GMZ450-455-470-475-LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216- 241100- ACADIA-ALLEN-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-CALCASIEU-CAMERON- CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX FROM 20 TO 60 NM- CAMERON, LA TO HIGH ISLAND, TX OUT 20 NM-EVANGELINE-HARDIN-IBERIA- JASPER-JEFFERSON-JEFFERSON DAVIS-LAFAYETTE- LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO CAMERON, LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM- LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO CAMERON, LA OUT 20 NM-LOWER ST MARTIN- NEWTON-ORANGE-RAPIDES-ST LANDRY-ST MARY-TYLER-UPPER ST MARTIN- VERMILION-VERNON- 500 AM CST TUE NOV 23 2004 .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... THE REGION REMAINS IN VERY UNSTABLE AIR AS A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH KANSAS THIS MORNING DIVES RAPIDLY SOUTHWARD. BY THIS AFTERNOON A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO OUR WEST WILL ENHANCE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. SUNSHINE TODAY WILL HELP TO ENHANCE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH THIS POTENTIAL CONTINUING UNTIL FRONTAL PASSAGE AROUND SUNRISE TOMORROW MORNING WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...THE GROUND IS SATURATED AND RAINS TODAY WILL RUNOFF INTO LOCAL STREAMS AND BAYOUS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS DURING THE DAY TOMORROW WITH SKIES CLEARING. TEMPERATURES WILL CLIMB INTO THE MID 60S MOST LOCATIONS. RAINS TO MOVE BACK INTO THE FORECAST LATE INTO THE WEEKEND AS ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF FRONTS MOVE DOWN INTO THE REGION. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS, HAM RADIO OPERATORS, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS... IS POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
335 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM HAIL IVANHOE 30.68N 94.41W
11/23/2004 0.75 INCH TYLER TX PUBLIC
&&
SHAMBURGERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
427 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM TORNADO KOUNTZE 30.37N 94.32W
11/23/2004 HARDIN TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTS LIMBS AND TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAYS
418 AND 1293 NEAR KOUNTZE.
&&
MLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
430 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM HAIL BROOKELAND 31.13N 93.99W
11/23/2004 0.88 INCH JASPER TX PUBLIC
REPORTED BY RAYBURN COUNTRY CLUB
&&
ITPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
434 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0431 PM TORNADO FRED 30.58N 94.18W
11/23/2004 TYLER TX BROADCAST MEDIA
TORNADO TOUCH DOWN REPORTED BY KFDM - TV CHANNEL 6
&&
ITOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
450 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0421 PM TORNADO 6 NNE KOUNTZE 30.45N 94.28W
11/23/2004 HARDIN TX EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS TREES DOWN AND MOBILE HOMES
DAMAGED FROM 6 MILES NNE OF KOUNTZE NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS
HARDIN COUNTY.
&&
ITOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
502 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM TORNADO 3 N KIRBYVILLE 30.70N 93.90W
11/23/2004 JASPER TX LAW ENFORCEMENT
TROOPER REPORTED A TORNADO ON HIGHWAY 96 JUST NORTH OF
KIRBYVILLE MOVING NORTHEAST.
&&
ITOThe Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:00 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2004Warnings in Texas, November 2004
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5425186.