A strong storm system moved across Southeast Texas spawning multiple tornadoes.
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.
A strong storm system moved across Southeast Texas spawning multiple tornadoes.
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 Oct 31, 5:56 PM CST, 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
656 PM CDT Wed Oct 31 2018
.AVIATION...
Frontal sys approaching from the northwest... storms are
developing out ahead of the front. IFR/MVFR conds xpcd this eve
into the overnight hours. Southerly winds to remain brisk ahead of
the front becmg nw and remaining brisk behind the front thru the
overnight hours.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 408 PM CDT Wed Oct 31 2018/
DISCUSSION...
Tornado watch 416 was just issued for the southeast Texas counties
effective until 10 PM this evening. WFO HGX has received two
reports of tornado touchdowns already this afternoon in the very
early stages of what will likely be a rough weather night across
the area.
The forecast philosophy remains largely unchanged. Synoptically,
an upper trough over western Texas this afternoon will progress
east overnight inducing the development of a surface low across
northeast Texas. This low will quickly eject northeast into
Arkansas swinging a frontal boundary through the area as it does
so early Thursday morning.
Current thinking on the evolution of this event is for discreet
cells to continue forming through mid evening, some of which will
likely become supercellular in nature. A special 19Z LCH RAOB
revealed a CAPE of 1400 J/KG along with decent low level
directional and speed shear (23 knots 0-1 km). An intensifying low
level jet will move across the region this evening further
enhancing supercell potential.
Meanwhile, a squall line is expected to develop across central
Texas before pushing through southeast Texas late tonight and
southwest Louisiana early Thursday morning. As the low level flow
turns more parallel with the squall line, a line of strong to
severe wind is likely to form along the leading edge of the squall
line. The 19Z RAOB also measured a PWAT of 1.82. Forecast
soundings indicate this will continue to climb to above 2 inches
by 06Z which will result in heavy rain potential and a low end
flash flood threat.
The front will push quickly through the area behind the squall
line advecting in significantly cooler, drier air by mid to late
Thursday morning. Seasonal, autumn like temperatures will prevail
Thursday afternoon through Saturday with precipitation chances
returning Sunday as the next frontal boundary approaches.
Jones
MARINE...
Strong and gusty winds will develop tonight as the pressure
gradient tightens ahead of a surface low and approaching cold
front. Gusts to near gale force are possible late tonight over the
Gulf waters beyond 20 nm. The front will cross the coastal waters
from late tonight into Thursday with numerous showers and
thunderstorms expected. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe.
Moderate north winds are expected in the wake of the front
Thursday night into Friday.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 62 66 45 66 / 100 10 10 0
LCH 66 71 50 68 / 100 10 10 0
LFT 68 73 51 66 / 100 40 10 0
BPT 63 68 49 68 / 100 10 0 0
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ455-472-475.
Small Craft Exercise Caution from Thursday morning through late
Thursday night for GMZ455-472-475.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ450-452-470.
Small Craft Exercise Caution from Thursday morning through late
Thursday night for GMZ450-452-470.
Small Craft Exercise Caution until 1 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ430-
432.
Small Craft Exercise Caution through Thursday morning for GMZ435.
&&
AVIATION...19Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 407 PM CDT Wed Oct 31 2018 LAZ027>033-041>045-052>055-073-074-TXZ180-201-215-216-259>262- 012115- 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- 407 PM CDT Wed Oct 31 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Louisiana, south central Louisiana, southwest Louisiana, west central Louisiana, and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms today and tonight over the outlook area. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible across the entire area by this afternoon. Coverage and intensity will increase late this afternoon into early evening across East Texas ahead of and along an approaching cold front. An organized band or bands of thunderstorms, preceded by individual thunderstorms, will progress eastward across the area overnight into early Thursday. Some of these thunderstorms are likely to become severe with damaging winds and tornadoes, possibly strong tornadoes, being the primary hazards. Large hail will also be possible. Locally heavy rainfall resulting in minor flooding of urban and low lying or poor drainage areas is also possible. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches can be expected with local amounts of up to 6 inches possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorm activity may still be ongoing across parts of South Central Louisiana early Thursday morning. This activity will continue to pose the severe and locally heavy rainfall risks mentioned above until pushing east of the area by late morning. No hazardous weather is expected from Thursday afternoon through Saturday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Sunday as the next frontal boundary approaches the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be requested this afternoon through Thursday morning. Please report instances of severe weather or storm damage once it is safe to do so. GMZ430-432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475-012115- Sabine Lake-Calcasieu Lake-Vermilion Bay- 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- 407 PM CDT Wed Oct 31 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Strong and gusty wind will continue to develop this evening and tonight as the pressure gradient tightens ahead of a surface low and cold front. Gusts to near gale force are possible late tonight over the Gulf waters beyond 20 nm. Exercise caution headlines and small craft advisories have been issued. The front will cross the coastal waters from late tonight into Thursday with numerous showers and thunderstorms expected this evening through Thursday morning. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe producing strong winds, hail or isolated waterspouts. Heavy rainfall reducing visibilities to around one mile or less and frequent cloud to water lightning can also be expected in some storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Widespread showers and thunderstorms may still be ongoing over the waters east of Intracoastal City early Thursday. This activity will continue to pose the severe risks mentioned above until pushing east of the area by midday. A moderate to strong offshore flow will develop behind the front and persist Thursday night into Friday. Winds will become onshore again by Saturday, and periodically increase through early next week as a couple of fronts approach the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be requested this afternoon through Thursday morning. Please report instances of severe weather or storm damage once it is safe to do so.
The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:47 UTC.
5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A tornado began just west of the Neches River then moved into Jasper County. Damage was done to a few trees before moving across the river.
Tornado started just west of the Neches river and moved east for a time just north of HWY 96. The tornado moved slightly northeast damaging several roofs of homes and blowing out the walls of a metal building. Several trees were also snapped along the path. The tornado crossed HWY 96 north of Evadale and ended near county road 847. The maximum estimate winds were 107 MPH.
A weak tornado briefly touched down south of Buna along county road 784 producing minor tree damage.
Tornado started along FM 253 causing roof damage to one home. The tornado then moved through a remote area causing tree damage for several miles to the northeast before ending near HWY 87 in Newton County. The maximum estimated winds were 104 MPH.
The tornado moved out of Jasper County and across forested land in Newton County. The tornado dissipated near Highway 87. The maximum estimated winds were 104 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2018Warnings in Texas, October 2018
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: 790136, 790137, 790138, 790139, 790140.