Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 5, 2023

Name: Tornado and Hail in Texas, April 5, 2023
Start: 2023-04-05T07:14
End: 2023-04-05T20:04
Location: Texas

April 5, 2023 · NWS SHV · 9 events in 4 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: 9

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 low pressure system over the Four Corners Region ejected northeast through the Southern Rockies into the Central Plains by the afternoon of April 5th, which reinforced a cold front southeast into East Texas, Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana before stalling out late in the day. Large scale ascent increased along and ahead of the front and the ejecting upper low, which had tapped into a warm and moderately unstable air mass that had pooled north from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the front. This resulted in numerous shower and thunderstorm development during the morning around and after daybreak over Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas, which eventually moved into portions of extreme Northwest Louisiana by late morning/early afternoon. Some of these storms became severe, with damaging winds observed and even an isolated tornado briefly touching down just west of Linden in Cass County Texas. While these storms eventually weakened by mid-afternoon, additional redevelopment occurred along the slowing front farther south of I-20 in East Texas by late afternoon and early evening as they tapped stronger instability, with isolated severe thunderstorms producing large hail affecting portions of Cherokee and Panola Counties before moving into extreme Northwest Louisiana.

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 5, 5:25 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 5, 5:25 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
625 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Wednesday through Thursday)
Issued at 231 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

Morning sfc analysis showing the dryline boundary just west of
KDFW with the cold front right on the heels of it, layered across
NW/TX. Aloft, the upper level low that was previously stationed
across the Four Corners this time yesterday continues to lift NE,
and is now situated across the Dakotas. The trend through
Tuesday, not just in the guidance, but in the real time analysis,
showcased a significant slow down of the advancing boundary thus
ultimately delaying the convective initiation that was previously
believed to be developing sometime between 2-3 AM local time
along the NW corner of the SHV FA border. CAMs as early as 18z
Tuesday indicated a further westward initiation point along the
slowed boundary than previously advertised, decaying while moving
through the western zones of the SHV CWA.

The thinking for now is for the delayed dryline convective
initiation to proceed as expected near or just east of the DFW
metro this morning. As storms begin to rapidly grow upscale,
maximizing the primed environment currently present following a
weak cap bust ahead of the boundary, severe potential would become
favorable. Having said this, with the sfc cold front quickly
catching the dryline based convection, the boundary may very
easily undercut the upscaling storms as they move across the
western and NW zones of the FA. This would quickly minimize the
severe potential from evolving further as storms move east. At the
same time, the supportive low level jet max overhead looks to
weaken while outrunning the line through the morning following the
initiation period. This could then explain, aside form the very
short window of opportunity, why the CAMs continue to weaken the
initial threat prior to a second round of redevelopment later this
afternoon.

As the front moves eastward through the morning, enhanced sfc
southerlies ahead of the boundary and afternoon peak heating with
highs in the SE zones today cruising towards the mid 80s, a
supportive environment favoring convective redevelopment is
possible, with the primary threats for now being damaging winds,
and hail. At this time, not ruling out the chance for an isolated
tornado just yet, but the parameters in the guidance this morning
both at 00z and 06z seem to fall short of the expectations given
distance now from the sfc low. Regardless, storms could be on the
stronger side east of I-49 through the afternoon and with PWAT
values near and north 1.5", heavy downpours associated with storms
would be expected. The boundary will continue move SE through the
afternoon and evening but with a steady progressive multi-layer SW
moisture flow post frontal passage, MUCAPE values will favor
training showers and elevated storms overnight through Thursday
AM, leading into thursday afternoon as the boundary stalls south
of the FA.

Temperatures tonight behind the front, mixed with some rain
cooling, will settle into the 40s and 50s, with the cooler and
drier airmass across the NW zones, as temperatures increase the
further south and east you go, nearing 60 in the deep SE zones of
the FA. Highs Thursday, given the PoPs in place from SW to NE
across the CWA, will trend mainly in the 60s.

/53/

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday Night through Wednesday)
Issued at 231 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

By Thursday night, a stalled sfc frontal boundary will linger along
the coast while the 850 mb front continues to lag behind across our
southern zones. Looking further aloft, deep SW flow will continue to
usher in warm and moist air over top the much cooler sfc conditions.
This steady stream of moisture will result in a continuation of more
showers and thunderstorms, primarily for locations south of I-30 and
especially along and south of I-20. Periods of heavy rain will still
be possible from Thursday night into Friday as indicated by the Day
3 excessive rainfall outlook highlighting a Marginal to Slight Risk
across the aforementioned areas south of I-30. The primary areas of
concern will be across Deep East Texas and into much of North and
Central Louisiana where total event rainfall through the duration of
this week could range from 3-6 inches in some locations. Despite a
relatively dry period more recently across many of these areas, a
scenario like this would still present flooding concerns and likely
result in a Flood Watch issuance in future forecasts over the next
24 hours.

The heavy rain threat may linger through Friday night across our SE
zones before gradually diminishing by Saturday as a shortwave trough
nudges the boundary and associated coastal low farther SE into the
Gulf. In doing so, it should bring an end to the rain altogether and
a return to much more seasonal temperatures for early April as highs
recover into the 70s areawide by Easter Sunday. In addition, gradual
clearing of cloud cover is also expected as upper-level ridging will
build into the region from the west. This pattern shift will further
propel the warming trend through early next week as afternoon highs
bounce back into the lower and mid 80s with dry weather expected to
prevail through the remainder of the long-term period ending on next
Wednesday.

/19/

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 607 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

Convective initiation underway just east of KDFW, moving east
towards western terminals to start the 12z TAF period. Tanking
CIGs, VSBY restrictions and mixed flight rules will prevail. Trend
is for this convection to weaken as it moves east across the
airspace. The slow progression of the boundary overnight will
allow for redevelopment of stronger TSRA just after 20z Wednesday
as a linear mode of storms resurges along the boundary from KLFK
to KSHV, and north to KELD moving east. Will need to monitor for
severe potential during this period once again. Post frontal
passage, terminal winds west of KSHV will trend NW 5-10 kts while
eastern terminals ahead of the boundary will remain southerly,
becoming VRB under TS/SHRA generally 10-15 kts. Elevated showers
and storms will begin to work back into the airspace by the mid to
late period with a mix of SHRA/TSRA.

/53/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV  76  53  60  50 /  90  80  70  60
MLU  84  54  62  50 /  70  90  80  70
DEQ  74  46  62  47 /  90  20  10  20
TXK  75  51  60  48 /  90  40  30  30
ELD  77  49  57  47 /  90  80  70  40
TYR  73  52  61  49 / 100  40  40  50
GGG  75  52  60  49 /  90  60  60  50
LFK  80  54  63  52 /  90  90  90  80

&&

.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for ARZ050-051-059>061-
     070>073.

LA...Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for LAZ001>006-010>014-
     017>022.

OK...Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for OKZ077.

TX...Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for TXZ096-097-108>112-
     124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.

&&

SHORT TERM...53
LONG TERM....19
AVIATION...53

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 5, 5:48 AM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
648 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

ARZ061-071>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-TXZ124>126-136>138-149>153-
165>167-061200-
Nevada-Lafayette-Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-
Lincoln-De Soto-Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-
Natchitoches-Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-
Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk-Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-
San Augustine-
648 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas,
southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana,
east Texas and northeast Texas.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Another round of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected today
as the next cold front advances into the region. The severe threat
appears to be highest along and south of the I-30 corridor. This will
occur as the cold front slows its eastward progression and heating
increases ahead of the front, further enhancing the threat by this
afternoon before gradually diminishing through the evening hours.

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

The pattern looks to remain unsettled through the end of the week as
rounds of heavy rainfall will become more likely as the front stalls
south of the region. This could reintroduce flooding concerns across
the region through the end of the week as several inches of rainfall
will be possible, mainly from Deep East Texas into North and Central
Louisiana. The rain will gradually end by this Easter weekend as the
stalled boundary finally exits to the southeast.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed through this afternoon.

ARZ050-051-059-060-070-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-061200-
Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Miller-McCurtain-Red River-
Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-
648 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...TORNADO WATCH 124 IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT TODAY...

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

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Another round of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected today
as the next cold front advances into the region. The severe threat
appears to be highest along and south of the I-30 corridor. This will
occur as the cold front slows its eastward progression and heating
increases ahead of the front, further enhancing the threat by this
afternoon before gradually diminishing through the evening hours.

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

The pattern looks to remain unsettled through the end of the week as
rounds of heavy rainfall will become more likely as the front stalls
south of the region. This could reintroduce flooding concerns across
the region through the end of the week as several inches of rainfall
will be possible, mainly from Deep East Texas into North and Central
Louisiana. The rain will gradually end by this Easter weekend as the
stalled boundary finally exits to the southeast.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed through this afternoon.

19

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:04 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
704 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

TXZ096-108-109-124-051300-
Red River TX-Wood TX-Franklin TX-Titus TX-
704 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Franklin, northern
Wood, Titus and southwestern Red River Counties through 800 AM CDT...

At 702 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorms
near Emory and Mount Vernon, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Mount Pleasant, Winnsboro, Hagansport, Mount Vernon, Bogata,
Wilkerson, Cookville, Pleasant Grove, Purley, Lake Fork Reservoir,
Forest Hill, Winfield, Talco, Yantis, Miller's Cove, Hopewell, Harts
Bluff, Monticello, Cuthand and Cypress.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until noon CDT for northeastern
Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3296 9531 3351 9531 3366 9513 3326 9481
      3313 9481 3307 9496 3307 9504 3303 9513
      3300 9515 3280 9564 3296 9566
TIME...MOT...LOC 1202Z 240DEG 43KT 3297 9575

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

20

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:19 AM CST, 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
719 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

OKZ077-TXZ096-051300-
McCurtain OK-Red River TX-
719 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central McCurtain and
northern Red River Counties through 800 AM CDT...

At 718 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles southeast of Powderly to 7 miles
southwest of Paris. Movement was northeast at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Clarksville, Idabel, Broken Bow, Bagwell, Manchester, Wright City,
Valliant, Detroit, Deport, Millerton, Haworth, Garvin, Eagletown,
Cerrogordo, Hochatown, Goodwater, Woodland, Redland, Kanawha and
Glover.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until noon CDT for southwestern
Arkansas...southeastern Oklahoma...and northeastern Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3407 9447 3390 9448 3350 9531 3388 9531
      3388 9528 3391 9528 3389 9526 3389 9525
      3393 9525 3396 9523 3394 9516 3402 9516
      3431 9462
TIME...MOT...LOC 1218Z 241DEG 64KT 3375 9543 3358 9560

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

20

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:29 AM CST, 45 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
729 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

ARZ050-051-060-051300-
Howard AR-Hempstead AR-Sevier AR-
729 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Hempstead,
southeastern Sevier and southeastern Howard Counties through 800 AM
CDT...

At 729 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tollette, or near Mineral Springs, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Nashville, Mineral Springs, Blevins, Tollette, Corinth, Saratoga,
McCaskill, Ozan and Bright Star.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until noon CDT for southwestern
Arkansas.

&&

LAT...LON 3401 9382 3401 9375 3398 9368 3398 9365
      3396 9362 3395 9353 3396 9346 3389 9346
      3369 9390 3375 9396 3375 9397 3385 9408
      3411 9383
TIME...MOT...LOC 1229Z 232DEG 37KT 3385 9383

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

20

Special weather statement, Apr 5, 6:37 AM CST, 37 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
737 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

TXZ108>110-124-125-136-051315-
Upshur TX-Smith TX-Camp TX-Wood TX-Franklin TX-Titus TX-
737 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Smith,
southern Franklin, Wood, western Upshur, southern Titus and Camp
Counties through 815 AM CDT...

At 736 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of Lake Fork Reservoir to 6 miles
south of Grand Saline to near Malakoff. Movement was east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Tyler, Gilmer, Mineola, Pittsburg, Winnsboro, Leesburg, Lindale,
Quitman, Big Sandy, Hawkins, Scroggins, Lake Fork Reservoir, Pleasant
Grove, Hainesville, Golden, Rosewood, Hoard, Newsome, Lake Palestine
and Noonday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until noon CDT for northeastern
Texas.

&&

LAT...LON 3288 9552 3316 9482 3279 9489 3228 9523
      3224 9548 3230 9545 3231 9546 3236 9545
      3239 9550 3242 9551 3248 9559 3269 9559
      3271 9562
TIME...MOT...LOC 1236Z 253DEG 61KT 3291 9558 3259 9574 3220 9600

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

20

The radar

The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wood

When: April 5, 7:14 AM CST
Where: Wood County, 1.11 mi E of Hawkins
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.582, -95.201

Trees were downed on Highway 14 near Hawkins.

Tornado, Cass

When: April 5, 7:44 AM CST to 7:45 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 4.06 mi SSW of Carterville to 4.03 mi S of Carterville
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.012, -94.444

A NWS Storm Survey concluded that a brief EF-0 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 85 mph briefly touched down along Farm Road 130, where it uprooted approximately 10 trees in a convergent pattern while also downing several small and large tree limbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 5, 7:47 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 2.31 mi WNW of Hughes Spgs
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.009, -94.638

Several tree limbs were snapped, and shingles were blown off of a home just northwest of Hughes Springs. Report from mPING.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 5, 7:58 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 2.31 mi WNW of Bivins
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 33.036, -94.205

Trees were downed across CR 4122 just west of FM 43 north of Bivens.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 5, 8:02 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 1.16 mi WSW of Bivins
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.015, -94.189

Several trees were downed and a tree was downed onto a power line just east of Bivens.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When: April 5, 8:05 AM CST
Where: Cass County, 1.88 mi NNE of Huffins
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.027, -94.124

Trees were downed across portions of Cass County.

Hail, Cherokee

When: April 5, 4:48 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 0.22 mi W of Alto
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.650, -95.074

Quarter size hail fell at a restaurant on the southwest side of Alto.

Hail, Cherokee

When: April 5, 5:54 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County, 0.31 mi SW of Ponta
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.898, -95.074

Nickel size hail fell in the Ponta community.

Hail, Panola

When: April 5, 8:04 PM CST
Where: Panola County, 0.36 mi NE of De Berry
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.304, -94.166

Nickel to quarter size hail fell in De Berry.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2023 Warnings in Texas, April 2023

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: 1084987, 1084989, 1084991, 1084993, 1084992, 1084995, 1084996, 1084997, 1084998.