Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 22, 2020

Name: Tornado and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 22, 2020
Start: 2020-04-22T12:55
End: 2020-04-22T20:10
Location: Texas

April 22, 2020 · NWS SHV · 18 events in 6 counties and zones

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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 SHV wrote it up.

An upper level trough ejected east-northeast across the Oklahoma/Texas Panhandles during the morning of April 22nd, before shifting across much of Oklahoma during the afternoon. Meanwhile, a warm front over Central and Southeast Texas into Southern Louisiana lifted slowly north into portions of East Texas and Central Louisiana during the afternoon. Large scale forcing quickly increased ahead of this trough such that showers and thunderstorms developed near and north of the front during the day, where cold temperatures aloft ahead of the trough and north of the warm front contributed to steep lapse rates, resulting in slightly elevated showers and thunderstorms to develop over much of East Texas and North Louisiana. The storms over Deep East Texas and the southern sections of North Central Louisiana near the front which were rooted closer to the surface became severe, producing more in the way of damaging winds and large hail, with storms farther north across Northwest Louisiana more elevated, producing more sporadic wind damage and large hail. Locally heavy rainfall over relatively saturated grounds also resulted in instances of flash flooding as well. These storms eventually pushed out of the region during the evening hours, with the passage of a weak cold front.

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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 22, 12:16 PM CST, 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 12:16 PM CST, 39 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
116 PM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

.AVIATION...

For the ArkLaTex terminals few without thunder at this time and
many will prevail for the afternoon with copious lightning and
hail in many of these strong thunderstorms. Much is going to
transistion from elevated to surface based with some damaging
winds or isold tornadoes possible. Weak slow moving dryline push
so without a good fropa this will TS activity will linger
overnight to some extent. S winds will shift to SW and W/NW late
this cycle and on Thurs. The fropa will be along Fri evening with
more isold thunder. /24/

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1133 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020/

UPDATE...
To include headline and severe wording for Tornado Watch 133.

SHORT TERM.../Today/

Warm and muggy with a good SE inflow with some gusts here and
there. The SPC has issued Tornado watch 133 for deep E TX Toledo
Bend country and central Louisiana until 5 p.m. Radar trends have
shown rapid development over the last hour with a good push of
thunder lining up from Longview down to Jacksonville and moving
ENE35mph and will be the focal line for continued developoment
along with a good cluster over Toledo Bend now. This may not be
our only watch today. The flash flood watch and Lake wind advisory
all look good for now. /24/

SHORT TERM.../Today through Thursday/

Unexpected severe predawn convection has put me behind the eight
ball so to speak but changes to this forecast package include an
expansion of the Flash Flood Watch to include the remainder of
Deep East Texas, the remainder of N LA which now includes the
entire I-20 Corridor and our adjacent border counties in S AR.
Also bumped the time up of the watch now running it from 2 pm this
afternoon through 7 am Thu. This based more on wide ranging
disagreements with various progs and their QPF output thru
tonight. Something 00z progs are consistent with is the I-20
Corridor and perhaps S AR getting a little more into the excessive
heavy rainfall threat and given WPC's expansion of the MDT risk
further west and north, thus my reasoning in expanding our FFA.

A tightening pressure gradient will result in increasing
southeasterly and southerly winds today and for this reason, will
issue a Lake Wind Advisory with this package, running it from 15z
this morning through 06z tonight.

Initially early this morning, convection across our northern most
zones should stay mostly elevated with mainly a large hail threat
but observations earlier, upstream from McCurtain County, were
measuring some severe wind gusts as well. This convection should
remain across our northern tier this morning before lifting out
north and east as we await upstream forcing and our much larger
severe weather threat later today/this evening. Convection should
become more widespread with storm intensity increasing as well
along and ahead of an eastward moving drying east of the I-35
Corridor in Central Texas and Central Louisiana. If boundary layer
heating can become maximized by late morning east of the
corridor, there is more than enough deep layer bulk shear for the
development of supercell thunderstorms and mid level lapse rates
will support very large hail. As these storms move into our region
from the west later this afternoon/evening, they should begin
encountering a backed low level wind field which will only
increase the tornado threat with 0-3km SRH values in the 400-500
m2/s2 range. A widespread damaging wind threat is concerning as
well with some indications of an MCS eventually becoming the
dominant storm mode by late evening into the overnight hours
across our eastern half.

Convection should have moved out of our region by 12z Thu with
drier, post frontal conditions to follow.

Thanks for the Coordination this morning SPC/WPC as well as
TSA...LZK...JAN...HGX...and FWD. Prelims to follow.../13/

LONG TERM.../Thursday Night through Wednesday Night/

In the wake of our upper level trough, another trough quickly
moves into the Plains late Thu Night into Friday and with it will
be an increase in upper forcing which will set the stage for
additional storm chances Fri into Friday Night. There will not but
much time for low level moisture return in the wake of our present
trough so didn't get carried away with pops but chance pops are
warranted before the system exits our region to the east and
northeast early on Saturday. A pleasant weekend is in store with
mild temperatures during the day and cool nights. Kept low end
chance pops going for late Tue into Tue night given the
uncertainty on northwest flow nocturnal convection possibilities
with an expansive ridge developing across the Intermountain West
next week. /13/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  77  62  79  58 /  90  90   0   0
MLU  80  65  79  57 /  90 100  10   0
DEQ  73  58  78  54 / 100  90   0   0
TXK  74  60  76  56 / 100  90   0   0
ELD  77  61  78  55 /  90 100  10   0
TYR  75  58  79  59 /  90  70   0   0
GGG  75  59  79  58 /  90  80   0   0
LFK  77  63  81  59 /  90  80   0   0

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Lake Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for ARZ050-051-059-
     060-070-071.

     Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for ARZ071>073.

LA...Lake Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for LAZ001-002-010-
     017.

     Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for LAZ001>006-
     010>014-017>022.

OK...Lake Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for OKZ077.

TX...Lake Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Thursday for TXZ096-097-
     108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.

     Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for TXZ138-149>153-
     165>167.

&&

24/13

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 22, 3:33 AM CST, 9 hours 22 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
433 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

ARZ050-051-059>061-070-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136-137-
231200-
Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-McCurtain-
Red River-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-
Marion-Smith-Gregg-
433 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest
Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight...

Strong to severe thunderstorms, some of which could produce large
hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are likely today
before ending later tonight. In addition, heavy downpours will
likely accompany this storm system with one to three inches of
rainfall possible today through tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday...

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible across the
region Friday into Friday Night but these storms are not expected
to be strong or severe at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio
operators...and storm spotters will be needed today into tonight.
Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the
NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.

ARZ071>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-TXZ138-149>153-165>167-
231200-
Lafayette-Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-
De Soto-Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-
Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk-Panola-
Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine-
433 AM CDT Wed Apr 22 2020

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...Today and Tonight...

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire region from 2 pm
this afternoon until 7 am Thursday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms, some of which could produce large
hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are likely today
before ending later tonight. In addition, excessive heavy rainfall
will likely accompany this storm system with one to three inches
of rainfall possible today through tonight. The ground remains
saturated from previous rainfall last weekend. Thus, flash
flooding will be of particular concern today into tonight,
especially across flood prone and poor drainage areas.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday...

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible across the
region Friday into Friday Night but these storms are not expected
to be strong or severe at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio
operators...and storm spotters will be needed for today into
tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe
weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC
guidelines.

13

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:25 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
125 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

1153 AM     HAIL             4 NE ROBELINE           31.74N 93.26W
04/22/2020  E1.75 INCH       NATCHITOCHES       LA   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC PICTURE OF HAIL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
            BETWEEN ROBELINE AND NATCHITOCHES ON SHADY
            GROVE ROAD.

&&

20

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:37 PM CST, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
137 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

0130 PM     HAIL             3 SW ROBELINE           31.65N 93.34W
04/22/2020  E0.25 INCH       SABINE             LA   PUBLIC

&&

25

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:39 PM CST, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
139 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

1211 PM     HAIL             4 NNW PROVENCAL         31.72N 93.22W
04/22/2020  E1.00 INCH       NATCHITOCHES       LA   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL PHOTO FROM HAGEWOOD, LA.

&&

25

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:51 PM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
151 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

0137 PM     HAIL             ATLANTA                 31.81N 92.74W
04/22/2020  E1.00 INCH       WINN               LA   PUBLIC

&&

25

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:53 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
153 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

0132 PM     HAIL             5 SW ATLANTA            31.76N 92.80W
04/22/2020  E1.00 INCH       WINN               LA   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN WHEELING LA.

&&

25

Local storm report, Apr 22, 12:54 PM CST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SHREVEPORT LA
154 PM CDT WED APR 22 2020

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

1215 PM     HAIL             1 WSW EL DORADO         33.21N 92.68W
04/22/2020  E0.75 INCH       UNION              AR   PUBLIC

            PICTURE OF HAIL ON WEST MAIN STREET IN EL
            DORADO VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

20

The radar

The Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 5.67 mi SSE of Etoile
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.310, -94.379

A tree was blown down on County Road 4945.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rusk

When: April 22, 1:39 PM CST
Where: Rusk County, 1.22 mi SSW of Price
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.113, -94.936

A tree was blown down across Highway 42.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:28 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 1.66 mi SSW of Douglass
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 31.647, -94.887

A picture was posted to social media of half dollar size hail that fell just south of the Douglass community.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:28 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 0.83 mi S of Douglass
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.658, -94.882

Golfball size hail was reported near the Douglass community.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:34 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 3.29 mi W of Del Rentzel
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.583, -94.786

Hen egg size hail fell at the intersection of FM 2782 and FM 225 in the Alazan community.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:39 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 1.49 mi W of Del Rentzel
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.584, -94.755

Golfball size hail fell several miles west of Nacogdoches.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:41 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 1.4 mi SE of Nacogdoches Regl Arp
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 31.569, -94.680

At least quarter size hail fell on Old Lufkin Road.

Hail, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 2:41 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 0.55 mi SSW of Nacogdoches Regl Arp
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.573, -94.704

Quarter size hail fell several miles southwest of Nacogdoches. Report from mPING.

Flash Flood, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 3:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 1.54 mi NNW of Redfield to 1.24 mi NNW of Redfield
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.702, -94.676

The southbound lane of Highway 259 was flooded.

Flash Flood, Nacogdoches

When: April 22, 3:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Nacogdoches County, 0.91 mi ESE of Bonita Jct to 1.77 mi ESE of Bonita Jct
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 31.646, -94.655

North Street was flooded between Creek Bend Blvd to Pine Street.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Augustine

When: April 22, 3:27 PM CST
Where: San Augustine County, 2.76 mi W of Denning
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 31.504, -94.296

Trees were downed on Highway 21 a few miles east of Chireno.

Flash Flood, Shelby

When: April 22, 3:49 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 0.22 mi NE of Joaquin to 0.95 mi N of Haslam
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.972, -94.067

High water over Highway 84 in Joaquin. Many other streets and parking lots were also flooded in town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harrison

When: April 22, 4:18 PM CST
Where: Harrison County, 3.13 mi NNW of Elysian Flds
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.414, -94.194

A tree was downed on Floyd Evans Road and Old Town Road north of Elysian Fields.

Flash Flood, Shelby

When: April 22, 4:20 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 1.07 mi N of Shelbyville to 0.89 mi NNE of New Harmony
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.765, -94.081

Highway 87 between Shelbyville and Center was closed due to flooding.

Hail, Harrison

When: April 22, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Harrison County, 2.89 mi SSE of Marshall
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.490, -94.355

Nickel size hail fell just south of Marshall.

Flash Flood, Harrison

When: April 22, 5:13 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: Harrison County, 1.2 mi ENE of Elysian Flds to 1.19 mi ENE of Elysian Flds
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.377, -94.161

Highway 451 near Elysian Fields was flooded. Report from mPING.

Tornado, Red River

When: April 22, 6:04 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where: Red River County, 3.68 mi NW of Woodland to 3.59 mi NW of Woodland
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.24 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.841, -95.311

This is a continuation of the Lamar County EF-2 tornado. As this tornado crossed over into Red River County, it had already weakened to EF-0 strength, with estimated maximum winds near 80 mph. Drone footage indicated that several trees/tree limbs were snapped and uprooted as it entered Red River County, before lifting about one-quarter mile into the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: April 22, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 4.87 mi ENE of Shelbyville
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.769, -94.000

Trees were downed on FM 2694 several miles west of Huxley.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2020 Warnings in Texas, April 2020

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: 880236, 880238, 880239, 880241, 880243, 880242, 880244, 880245, 880247, 880248, 880284, 880250, 880254, 880251, 880256, 880258, 880279, 880282.