Tornado in Texas, November 23, 2004

Name: Tornado in Texas, November 23, 2004
Start: 2004-11-23T18:10
End: 2004-11-23T18:11
Location: Texas

November 23, 2004 · NWS LCH · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A tornado formed near Holly Springs near Highway 190, just before it entered Newton County. Trees and power lines were blown down.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LCH wrote it up.

A tornado formed near Holly Springs near Highway 190, just before it entered Newton County. Trees and power lines were blown down.

What forecasters said that day

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, 3 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 23, 2:15 PM CST, 3 hours 55 minutes before

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: ITO

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 23, 5:00 AM CST, 13 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS 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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 23, 4:34 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY 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

&&

ITO

Local storm report, Nov 23, 4:50 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY 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.

&&

ITO

Local storm report, Nov 23, 5:02 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY 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.

&&

ITO

Local storm report, Nov 23, 5:13 PM CST, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
513 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0512 PM     TORNADO          7 NE KIRBYVILLE         30.73N 93.82W
11/23/2004                   NEWTON             TX   PUBLIC

            TORNADO REPORTED BY THE PUBLIC, RELAYED BY KFDM CHANNEL 6

&&

ITO

Local storm report, Nov 23, 5:33 PM CST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
533 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0502 PM     TORNADO          BLEAKWOOD               30.69N 93.82W
11/23/2004                   NEWTON             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO REPORTED BY SHERIFF OFFICE...SEVERAL HOUSES
            DAMAGED AND DESTROYED.

&&

ITO

Local storm report, Nov 23, 5:36 PM CST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
536 PM CST TUE NOV 23 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0519 PM     TORNADO          NEWTON                  30.85N 93.75W
11/23/2004                   NEWTON             TX   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TORNADO REPORTED...NUMEROUS TREES DOWN, HOUSES DAMAGED
            AND POWER LINES DOWN.

&&

ITO

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Jasper

When: November 23, 6:10 PM CST to 6:11 PM CST
Where: Jasper County, Holly Spgs
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 30.883, -93.883

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2004 Warnings in Texas, November 2004

Sources

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: 5425230.