Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 27, 2016

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Texas, April 27, 2016
Start: 2016-04-27T04:50
End: 2016-04-27T05:44
Location: Texas

April 27, 2016 · NWS LCH · 8 events in 4 counties and zones

A strong upper level disturbance and a cold front moved through during the morning of the 27th. Widespread tree damage was associated with a bowing line segment in Southeast Texas along with 2 tornadoes.

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: 1
Property damage: $61,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

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 Apr 27, 4:07 AM CST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 4:07 AM CST, 43 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
507 AM CDT WED APR 27 2016

.UPDATE...
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 114 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT TODAY.
SOUTHERN END OF SQUALL LINE DEVELOPED NEW MCS AND MOVING ESE AT 50
KNOTS (55-60 MPH)...WITH WIND GUSTS OF SAME VALUES REPORTED BEHIND
IT ACROSS SE TX. AT THIS SPEED...THE LINE WILL BE ENTERING TYLER/
HARDIN/JEFFERSON COUNTIES WITHIN THE HOUR...BPT BY 6:15-6:30
AM...SABINE RIVER BY 6:30-6:45 AM...POE TO LCH LINE BY 7 AM...
AEX/3R7(JENNINGS) BY 8 AM...AND OPL/LFT/ARA BY 9-10 AM.

ONGOING FORECAST GENERALLY THE SAME...EXCEPT MOVED UP ARRIVAL OF
TSRA FOR THE ABOVE REASONS.

&&

DML

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 255 AM CDT WED APR 27 2016/

DISCUSSION...
WX MAP SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE TO THE EAST WITH LOW PRESSURE ACROSS
THE PLAINS...KEEPING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ELEVATED WITH A SE FLOW
CONTINUING. WITH THE ELEVATED WINDS...TEMPS IN THE MID 70S
CONTINUE AREAWIDE...WITH DEWPTS IN THE LOWER 70S. SHV & LCH RADAR
SHOWING SEMI-BROKEN SQUALL LINE OVER NE TX JUST ENTERING EXTREME
NW LA APPROACHING SHV...WITH THE ENTIRE LINE MOVING SE AT 30 TO
35 MPH. THE LINE HAS WEAKENED A BIT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
HOURS.

FOR THIS MORNING...MCS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD SE ACROSS THE
REMAINDER OF SE TX...APPROACHING THE SABINE RIVER JUST AFTER
DAYBREAK...AND CONTINUE SPREADING SE OVER C AND S LA FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE MORNING...AND SC LA DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. A
SLIGHT RISK OF SVR TSRA REMAINS OVER MOST OF THE REGION ALONG AND
N OF THE I-10 CORRIDOR...MAINLY FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND ISO HAIL
THE PRIMARY WX THREAT.

NOT EXPECTING TO REALLY CLEAR OUT AS THE FRONTAL SYSTEM WASHES OUT
BEFORE MOVING THROUGH HERE. KEEPING ~20-40% THU-FRI AS LINGERING
PERTUBATIONS IN THE SW FLOW KEEP THESE CHANCES OVER THE REGION.
EXPECTING ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT BUT SLOWER STORM SYSTEM TO MOVE OVER
THE MIDWEST OVER THE WEEKEND...BRINGING INCREASED POPS LATE FRI
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. BEYOND THIS...MODELS GETTING AMBIGUOUS DAY TO
DAY RUNS ON SOLUTIONS FOR ENDING OF RAIN OR NOT. FOR
NOW...CONSENSUS BRINGS BETTER WX FOR LATE SUN INTO MON...WITH THE
RETURN OF PRECIP FOR TUE.

DML

MARINE...
THE COMBINATION OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE ATLANTIC OFF
THE CAROLINA COAST AND A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS
DEVELOPING OVER THE PLAINS STATES WILL MAINTAIN AN ONSHORE FLOW
OVER THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE PASSAGE OF
SEVERAL UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BRING A DAILY CHANCE FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  83  68  87  70 /  80  30  20  10
LCH  82  71  86  73 /  80  20  20  10
LFT  83  71  86  73 /  80  40  40  10
BPT  82  70  85  73 /  80  20  20  20

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...NONE.
TX...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR
     GMZ450-452-455-470-472-475.

&&

PUBLIC...04

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 2:50 AM CST, 2 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
350 AM CDT WED APR 27 2016

GMZ435-LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-
259>262-281100-
VERMILION BAY-VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-
EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-
UPPER ST. MARTIN-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-
WEST CAMERON-EAST CAMERON-TYLER-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
NORTHERN JASPER-NORTHERN NEWTON-SOUTHERN JASPER-SOUTHERN NEWTON-
350 AM CDT WED APR 27 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF GULF OF
MEXICO...CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA...SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA...WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING AND
AFTERNOON AS A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM TEXAS MOVES SOUTHEAST
ACROSS THE REGION. A FEW STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND HAIL THE PRIMARY WEATHER THREATS. A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
LINGERING CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ON
THURSDAY. ANOTHER SLOWER MOVING STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING
INCREASED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON
INTO THE WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

GMZ430-432-450-452-455-470-472-475-281100-
SABINE LAKE-CALCASIEU LAKE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAMERON LA TO HIGH ISLAND TX OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY
LA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM CAMERON LA TO HIGH ISLAND TX FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM  INTRACOASTAL CITY TO CAMERON LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LA FROM
20 TO 60 NM-
350 AM CDT WED APR 27 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF GULF OF MEXICO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL INCREASE THIS MORNING AND
AFTERNOON AS A COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM TEXAS MOVES SOUTHEAST
ACROSS THE REGION. A FEW STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND HAIL THE PRIMARY WEATHER THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
LINGERING CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ON
THURSDAY. ANOTHER SLOWER MOVING STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING
INCREASED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON
INTO THE WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

The radar

The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 136 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tyler

When: April 27, 4:50 AM CST to 4:58 AM CST
Where: Tyler County, Woodville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.770, -94.420

Widespread tree and power line damage occurred around Woodville. Many trees had large branches broken or were up rooted. The vast majority of the trees fell to the east. One mobile home had a tree fall onto it just west of Woodville and the occupant was injured when the tree fell. A building near the intersection of Highway 69 and North Charlton had roofing material removed along with windows blown out.

Tornado, Tyler

When: April 27, 4:58 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where: Tyler County, 0.36 mi ESE of Woodville to 1.05 mi ESE of Woodville
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.69 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.768, -94.415

The tornado touched down southeast of Woodville near highway 287 where tree fall displayed greater convergence and some roofing material was removed from a building. The tornado continued to the southeast snapping numerous softwood trees before dissipating just East of County Road 4250.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When: April 27, 5:05 AM CST
Where: Hardin County, Kountze
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 30.370, -94.320

Numerous trees and power lines were downed across Hardin County.

Tornado, Jasper

When: April 27, 5:22 AM CST to 5:27 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, 0.83 mi NNE of Magnolia Spgs to 2.5 mi NNE of Erin
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.22 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.740, -94.023

The tornado began near FM 1005 just north of Magnolia Springs where it uprooted several pine trees. A home along FM 1005 was damaged when a tree fell on it. The path continued northeast and caused mostly tree damage with minor out building damage also noted. The tornado dissipated near Boggy Creek north of CR 317.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: April 27, 5:24 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, 9.26 mi WSW of Browndale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 31.060, -94.110

Lake Rayburn Fire Department extracted an individual that was pinned in bed by a fallen pine tree. The person was transported to a nearby hospital. The Jasper AWOS also reported a wind gust of 54 MPH when the line of storms passed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: April 27, 5:25 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, Jasper
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.920, -94.000

Numerous trees were downed around Jasper. One tree fell onto a house near College and 2nd Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: April 27, 5:32 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, 1.37 mi ENE of Kirbyville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.660, -93.900

A picture was posted to social media showing a tree fell on a truck in Kirbyville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: April 27, 5:44 AM CST
Where: Jefferson County, Groves
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 29.950, -93.920

Multiple trees were downed around Van Buren Elementary and nearby streets in Groves.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
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 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2016 Warnings in Texas, April 2016

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: 630998, 631004, 630999, 631005, 631000, 631002, 631001, 631003.