A deep southerly flow increased across much of the Ark-La-Tex during the daytime hours of April 30th through May 1st, ahead of a slow moving upper level trough that drifted east into the Southern Plains from the Four Corners Region. A complex of showers and thunderstorms that developed over Western and Central Oklahoma during the evening of April 30th ahead of a stalled surface frontal boundary…
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.
A deep southerly flow increased across much of the Ark-La-Tex during the daytime hours of April 30th through May 1st, ahead of a slow moving upper level trough that drifted east into the Southern Plains from the Four Corners Region. A complex of showers and thunderstorms that developed over Western and Central Oklahoma during the evening of April 30th ahead of a stalled surface frontal boundary sent a cold pool southeast into portions of extreme Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas which eventually stalled out during the early morning hours on May 1st. Weak upper level disturbances in the southwest flow aloft ahead of the approaching trough triggered additional showers and thunderstorms across Northcentral Texas, which spread east northeast across East Texas, Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana during the evening hours of the 1st, and continued throughout the morning hours of the 2nd. The earlier stalled boundary over Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas helped to enhance the showers and thunderstorms, and coupled with the instability and deep moisture in place, some of the showers and thunderstorm became severe, producing large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall. An isolated tornado even touched down across Eastern Shelby County Texas just prior to daybreak on the 2nd. Where the storms moved repeatedly over the same areas, flash flooding was observed with several roads flooded and closed across portions of East Texas.
While the storms diminished shortly after daybreak on the 2nd, another complex of showers and thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon through the evening hours in Central and Southeast Texas ahead of another shortwave trough, with a portion of this complex migrating into Deep East Texas by mid-evening. Given the moderate instability in place across this area due to strong daytime heating, some of these storms also became severe, with damaging winds downing trees and destroying a chicken house in Northern Nacogdoches County before weakening by late evening.
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 May 1, 1:14 AM CST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
214 AM CDT Wed May 1 2019
.UPDATE.../Early This Morning/
Quick update to drop Tornado Watch 116. McCurtain Co remains
mostly behind the cold pool from the passing convection, so an
immenent severe threat does not appear likely attm. However,
secondary round of tstms developing over w central OK may impact
the nrn portions of our region later this morning. /12/
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1141 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019/
UPDATE...
See below for the 06z Aviation Discussion.
The grids and text products were updated for the issuance of
Tornado Watch #116 until 10z Wednesday morning.
CN
AVIATION...
For the 01/06z TAFs, a line of strong to severe convection is
already affecting Southeast Oklahoma and will spread eastward into
adjacent portions of Southwest Arkansas very early in the period.
High-resolution model guidance suggests the convection may move as
far southeast as the Interstate 30 corridor of Northeast Texas and
Southwest Arkansas, including KTXK, between 01/09z-01/12z.
Scattered convection will likely continue to move southeast into
more of East Texas and Northern Louisiana during the daytime hours
of Wednesday. Additional thunderstorms are expected to develop
over North Texas before moving into Northeast Texas along and
north of Interstate 20 after 02/00z.
Meanwhile. low clouds and MVFR ceilings are already developing
across portions of the area. MVFR ceilings are expected at all TAF
sites during the overnight period, followed by a slow improvement
after sunrise back into the VFR range. IFR/LIFR flight conditions
should be anticipated with the convection.
CN
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1017 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019/
UPDATE...
Linear complex of convection continues to move northeast from the
Red River between Oklahoma and Texas, through Eastern Oklahoma,
Northwest Arkansas, and Southwest Missouri. Mesoscale analysis
shows an instability axis of 1000-1500 J/kg extends southwest to
northeast across North Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, and West Central
Arkansas, just ahead of the storms. The linear nature of the
complex would favor more of a damaging wind threat. However,
supercells continue to develop ahead of the line, and 0-1 km SRH
values are high enough to support at least an isolated tornado
threat along and north of Interstate 30.
The latest high-resolution models suggest the southern flank of
the convection complex will surge more southeast towards the
Interstate 30 corridor after midnight. McCurtain County and
adjacent portions of Southwest Arkansas could begin to be affected
by strong to severe storms as early as midnight, and I-30 may be
affected between 3 AM and 6 AM CDT.
The primary update was to change the PoP/QPF/Wx grids based on
current radar trends and current thinking detailed above. Updated
text products have already been sent.
CN
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 708 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019/
UPDATE...
See below for the 00z Aviation Discussion.
Sustained winds speeds have gradually diminished below Lake Wind
Advisory criteria across much of the area. However, speeds will
likely remain above 16 kts across some portions of Northeast Texas
for a few more hours. Therefore, the advisory was extended until
03z tonight for these locations. Updated text products have been
sent.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 84 68 80 65 / 40 70 70 30
MLU 87 68 84 64 / 30 30 60 40
DEQ 79 64 77 62 / 90 80 70 40
TXK 81 66 76 65 / 90 80 80 40
ELD 84 66 78 63 / 50 60 70 30
TYR 82 68 79 65 / 70 80 70 40
GGG 84 67 79 65 / 50 80 70 30
LFK 86 68 83 65 / 20 50 40 20
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flash Flood Watch from this evening through Thursday evening for
ARZ050-051-059-060-070.
LA...None.
OK...Flash Flood Watch from this evening through Thursday evening for
OKZ077.
TX...Flash Flood Watch from this evening through Thursday evening for
TXZ096-097-108>112-124-125.
&&
12/CNHazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Shreveport LA 1126 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 OKZ077-011100- McCurtain- 1126 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast Oklahoma. .DAY ONE...Tonight... A Tornado Watch is in effect for Southeast Oklahoma until 5 AM CDT Wednesday morning. Thunderstorms will move eastward into Southeast Oklahoma tonight and into the early morning hours. Some of these storms may be severe, with damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Severe thunderstorms will be possible across Southeast Oklahoma, during the day Wednesday and into Wednesday night. In addition to the severe weather threat, periods of heavy rainfall as storms train will become likely near and northwest of the Interstate 30 corridor Wednesday through Friday, which could lead to a flash flooding threat. This will also result in additional rises on area waterways. Thunderstorms will continue to be possible into the weekend and early next week, but much uncertainty exists as to the intensity of these storms. As this timeframe comes more into focus, we may see another risk for severe weather and flash flooding develop. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters may be needed tonight and on Wednesday. ARZ050-051-059-060-070-TXZ096-097-108>112-124-125-011100- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Miller-Red River-Bowie- Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur- 1126 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Thunderstorms will develop and spread eastward into Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, and Southwest Arkansas this evening and overnight. Some of these storms may be severe, with damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Severe thunderstorms will be possible across Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas Wednesday and into Wednesday night. In addition to the severe weather threat, periods of heavy rainfall as storms train will become likely near and northwest of the Interstate 30 corridor Wednesday through Friday, which could lead to a flash flooding threat. This will also result in additional rises on area waterways. Thunderstorms will continue to be possible into the weekend and early next week, but much uncertainty exists as to the intensity of these storms. As this timeframe comes more into focus, we may see another risk for severe weather and flash flooding develop. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters may be needed later this evening and tonight. ARZ061-071>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-TXZ126-136>138-149>153- 165>167-011100- Nevada-Lafayette-Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne- Lincoln-De Soto-Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine- Natchitoches-Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-Marion-Smith-Gregg- Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk-Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina- San Augustine- 1126 PM CDT Tue Apr 30 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight... No hazardous weather is expected through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible mainly across the area Wednesday and into Wednesday night. In addition to the severe weather threat, periods of heavy rainfall as storms train will be possible as well Thursday and Friday, which could lead to a flash flooding threat. This will also likely result in additional rises on area waterways. Thunderstorms will continue to be possible into the weekend and early next week, but much uncertainty exists as to the intensity of these storms. As this timeframe comes more into focus, we may see another risk for severe weather and flash flooding develop. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters will not be needed through tonight. 09
The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:33 UTC.
11 flash flood, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Highway 135 near Liberty City was flooded.
Golfball size hail fell in Detroit.
Quarter size hail fell in Clarksville.
Quarter size hail fell in Bogota.
An oak tree was blown down onto Highway 82, blocking most of the highway. It was struck by an 18-wheeler, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Trees and power lines were downed near the intersection of Old Troup Road and Calloway Road.
Spur 364 was closed due to flooding. A car was also washed off the road. Multiple reports of flooding were received throughout the city of Tyler.
Numerous roads were flooded and closed in Kilgore.
Shell Camp Road was flooded.
Numerous roads were flooded in and near Tyler, including FM 724, FM 2868, Highway 69, and Highway 110.
Highway 135 northwest of Troup was flooded.
A tree was blown down on County Road 424 blocking the roadway just west of the intersection of FM 13.
Trees were blown down on County Road 126, as well as County Road 124.
FM 2089 was flooded just southwest of Overton at the Smith/Rusk County line.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed all along the Highway 69 corridor from Pollok to Lufkin. Multiple power outages were associated with this wind damage.
FM 2089 just south of Overton was flooded with nearly one foot of water over the roadway.
A tree was blown down onto power lines at the intersection of FM 1798 and FM 840 in the Brachfield community.
An EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated winds between 90-95 mph touched down in a pasture just south of County Road 3376, snapping and uprooting numerous trees and damaging a small farm outbuilding. The tornado continued northeast and snapped several more trees near a home but did not damage the home. The tornado then crossed County Road 3376 snapping and uprooting more trees before causing some minor roof damage to a chicken house on Farm to Market Road 139, lifting just northeast of the roadway.
High water covered Highway 80 west of Marshall.
High water covered County Road 2118 just north of Lake Cherokee.
A swift water rescue was needed after a car drove through flood waters and stalled on County Road 1114 near the Rabbit Creek bridge. Fortunately, the occupant of the vehicle was not injured when rescued.
Trees were downed and a chicken house was destroyed northeast of the Appleby community.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2019Warnings in Texas, May 2019
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: 817178, 817159, 817161, 817163, 817171, 817169, 817172, 817173, 817174, 817179, 817180, 817204, 817205, 817216, 817218, 817229, 817231, 817267, 817240, 817235, 817268, 817269.