Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a strong cold front as a powerful upper level storm system plowed into the southern plains during the afternoon hours of October 29th. producing widespread wind damage across portions of northeast Texas, southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana.
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 SHV wrote it up.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of a strong cold front as a powerful upper level storm system plowed into the southern plains during the afternoon hours of October 29th. Strong shear was in place across the region such that several tornadic thunderstorms developed...producing widespread wind damage across portions of northeast Texas, southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana. These storms trained across the same general area such that flooding was widespread. Flooding was severe across northwest Louisiana where flooding was reported in many homes and businesses. Area bayous, creeks, rivers and lakes were already at high levels from the excessive heavy rainfall that fell earlier in the month. Thus, some lakes and bayous approached and succeeded their all time record stage levels.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 29, 1:10 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
210 PM CDT THU OCT 29 2009
.DISCUSSION...
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO BECOME
WIDESPREAD OVERNIGHT...AS LEADING EDGE OF ILL DEFINED FRONTAL
SQUALL LINE EAST OF FTW METRO AREA...AND PREFRONTAL FEEDER LINES
HAVE DEVELOPED INTO DEEP CONVECTION. TORNADIC THREAT HAS BEEN
INCREASING IN THIS HIGHLY LOW LVL SHEARED ENVIRONMENT. CELL
TRAINING SOUTH TO NORTH PRODUCING A QUICK INCH OR TWO OF RAIN MAY
CAUSE MINOR FLOODING. THIS SQUALL LINE HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY
PROGGED TO ORGANISE INTO A SOLID LINE AFTER 0Z...AS WELL AS SLOW
ITS EASTWARD PROGRESSION. THUS...THREAT OF EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN
FOR AT LEAST SOME PORTION OF NORTHERN LA...IF NOT MUCH OF THE
CWA...STILL VALID. TAPERED OFF POPS GRADUALLY BEHIND FRONT...BUT
AS STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO OVERLAY SFC
FRONT...UNTIL PASSAGE OF 850 TROF...CONSIDERABLE POST FRONTAL RAIN
EXPECTED. RAIN WILL END FRIDAY NIGHT WESTERN PORTIONS OF CWA...AND
NO WX BY SAT AFTN. COLD AIR BEHIND THIS SYSTEM WILL BE DEEP...BUT
NOT EXTREME. EXTENDED TO BE DRY AND PERHAPS FAIRLY LEAN ON CLOUD
COVER...WITH SEASONALLY COOL TEMPS./VII/
&&
.AVIATION...
MVFR CEILINGS ARE BEING OBSERVED ACROSS THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON...HOWEVER TEMPO IFR CONDITIONS ARE BEING OBSERVED WITH
TSRA ACTIVITY. GUSTY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE BEING OBSERVED AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT...NOW LOCATED JUST EAST OF A MC ALESTER OK...TERRELL
TX LINE. THE COLD FRONT WILL PROGRESS THROUGH THE AREA
TONIGHT...SHIFTING WINDS TO A WESTERLY COMPONENT AFTER FROPA.
SHRA/TSRA ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN COMMON IN THE 00Z TAF
PERIOD...ESPECIALLY AS THE FRONT WILL INITIATE MORE CONVECTION
ACROSS THE AREA. /11/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 58 60 47 69 47 / 100 80 40 10 10
MLU 64 65 48 65 47 / 100 100 60 30 10
DEQ 57 58 42 64 43 / 100 60 20 10 10
TXK 57 60 45 64 48 / 100 80 40 10 10
ELD 58 60 45 64 43 / 100 80 40 10 10
TYR 55 58 45 68 49 / 100 60 20 10 10
GGG 57 59 44 68 45 / 100 80 40 10 10
LFK 59 63 45 71 46 / 100 80 40 10 10
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARZ050-059-070.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073.
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: LAZ001-002-010-011-017-018.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022.
OK...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: OKZ077.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: OKZ077.
TX...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA 1156 AM CDT THU OCT 29 2009 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-301700- SEVIER-HOWARD-LITTLE RIVER-HEMPSTEAD-NEVADA-MILLER-LAFAYETTE- COLUMBIA-UNION AR-CADDO-BOSSIER-WEBSTER-CLAIBORNE-LINCOLN- UNION LA-DE SOTO-RED RIVER-BIENVILLE-JACKSON-OUACHITA-SABINE LA- NATCHITOCHES-WINN-GRANT-CALDWELL-LA SALLE-MCCURTAIN-BOWIE- FRANKLIN-TITUS-CAMP-MORRIS-CASS-WOOD-UPSHUR-MARION-SMITH-GREGG- HARRISON-CHEROKEE-RUSK-PANOLA-NACOGDOCHES-SHELBY-ANGELINA- SAN AUGUSTINE-SABINE TX- 1156 AM CDT THU OCT 29 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS...SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA... NORTHWEST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...EAST TEXAS AND NORTHEAST TEXAS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE...COMBINED WITH A SLOW MOVING SURFACE COLD FRONT AND RICH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...WILL PROVIDE FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. FLOODING WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN WITH RAINFALL TOTALS AVERAGING AROUND 3 TO 6 INCHES AREAWIDE...INCLUDING ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF UP TO 7 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH FRIDAY. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATING FOR THE HIGHEST RAINGALL TOTALS WIL BE ACROSS NORTHWEST LOUISIANA. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A POTENTIAL FOR BOTH SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT...THE MAIN TORNADIC THREAT WITH BE WITH THE PREFRONTAL STORMS THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...IN ASSOCIATION WITH STORMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY STILL DEVELOPING. THE MAIN THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING WILL BE TONIGHT...AS WELL AS POSSIBLE STRONG TO DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A SLOW MOVING SQUALL LINE ENTERING NORTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA DURING THE EVENING FROM THE WEST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... HEAVY RAIN WILL LINGER INTO MUCH OF THE DAY FRIDAY...WITH A CONTINUED FLOODING THREAT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCAL FLOODING ALSO POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMING MORE LIKELY AREAWIDE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. EMERGENCY MANAGERS NEED TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING. VII
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
110 PM CDT THU OCT 29 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0104 PM TSTM WND DMG BOSSIER CITY 32.52N 93.66W
10/29/2009 BOSSIER LA BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN AT CHANDLER RD. AND HWY 80 OR
ABOUT 6 MILES EAST OF LOUISIANA DOWNS
&&
12PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
140 PM CDT THU OCT 29 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0101 PM TSTM WND DMG BOSSIER CITY 32.52N 93.66W
10/29/2009 BOSSIER LA AMATEUR RADIO
TREES ACROSS I-20 AT MILE MARKER 30
&&
12The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:26 UTC.
13 flash flood, 3 tornado, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An EF0 tornado occurred northwest of Elysian Fields, Texas along Woodley Road. Several trees were uprooted and snapped along a path that was 75 yards wide and 1.58 miles long. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 2 minutes.
An EF0 tornado skipped along a path which started along FM 1970 where a couple of trees were uprooted. Numerous trees were snapped near the end of the track along CR 116. The tornado track was approximately 4 miles long and 100 yards wide.
Trees were downed on Hwy. 94 and U.S. 59.
Trees were downed in Carthage, Texas.
Trees were downed at US 59 and Hwy. 94.
Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in high water across FM 31 southeast of Marshall, Texas.
Water was reported over certain portions of U.S. 59 Loop in Lufkin, Texas.
Knight Avenue and Whipperwill Drive were closed from high water.
Two feet of water over FM 1794 about one quarter mile east of U.S. 59 and at least 1.5 foot of water over CR. 263 about a half mile east of U.S. 59.
Many roads were reported to be underwater and closed in Carthage, Texas.
An EF0 tornado touched down on Hwy. 67 about a half mile west of Clear Springs Road. Several trees were uprooted and snapped approximately 10 miles southwest of Texarkana, Texas. After the initial touchdown, the tornado moved northeast, producing sporadic tree damage. The tornado dissipated on Tri State Road just south of Hwy. 82. Winds were estimated at 75-85 mph range.
Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of Hwy. 59 to all traffic from Tenaha to Timpson, Texas. Traffic was diverted to Hwy. 87 but it became closed from high water as well.
Numerous County roads still underwater throughout the county. U.S. 69 was flooded south of Lufkin, Texas as well.
Numerous roads were flooded across the county.
Numerous roads were flooded in the southern and eastern portions of the county.
Numerous roads were flooded and closed throughout the entire county. Some homes were also flooded near Hwy. 59 south near Diboll, Texas.
Numerous county roads were underwater throughout the county. Several homes were flooded throughout the county as well, mostly in rural portions of the county.
High water was reported across FM 1277 just west of town.
Highway 31 near Elysian Fields was covered in high water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2009Warnings in Texas, October 2009
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: 197600, 197601, 197802, 197882, 197933, 197799, 197932, 197800, 197801, 197829, 197602, 197808, 197827, 197830, 197832, 197928, 197929, 198722, 197963.