Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Texas, May 25 to 26, 2024

A photo shared on social media indicated tennis ball sized hail 10 miles east of Cross Plains.

An EF-2 tornado developed in southwestern Eastland county and continued towards the east-northeast, where it damaged some trees along CR 376 and CR 240. It continued strengthening and caused significant damage to two neighboring properties along CR 223. On the first property, it snapped at least two wooden utility poles and the trunks of several large trees. An RV trailer was completely destroyed, where a family of three survived when they left their RV trailer and sheltered behind a small building. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained. On the second property, the tornado knocked over a large RV which resulted in broken windows and a door. The tornado also moved a small, well-built, structure off of its wooden blocks about thirty feet and pushed it into a tree, where it sustained minor roof damage. It also completely destroyed a metal barn along with a chicken coop and snapped some tree trunks. The tornado continued northeast across an open field where it snapped several large tree trunks along both sides of CR 223. After crossing the road the tornado started weakening as it moved across an open field then dissipated south of FM 2731. Maximum estimated winds were 115 mph.

This is segment #1 of 4 of a multi-segmented EF-3 supercellular tornado that began in Montague County, crossed into Cooke County, Denton County, and then back into Cooke County. The tornado was ongoing for about an hour and a half with a total path length just under 48 miles. The tornado was the strongest in Cooke County and resulted in 7 fatalities in Cooke County.

In Montague County, the tornado began near Roth Rd and Body Rd, approximately 5 miles southeast of Bowie, impacting trees and isolated outbuildings. The tornado moved eastward, damaging multiple rural residences in south central Montague. Two residences, in particular, sustained damage consistent with EF-2 intensity tornadic winds of 120 to 125 mph (DI 2, DOD 6). This tornado continued eastward, tracking south through southeast of the Forestburg community. Widespread tree and outbuilding damage was observed across southeast Montague County, consistent with high end EF-0 to mid range EF-1 damage (winds 75 to 110 mph). Minor structural damage was also sustained to several residences in the areas south through southeast of Forestburg. The tornado exited Montague County at 1008 pm CDT time, just west of Rosston between Seldom Seen Rd and Cooke Co Rd 345. The estimated track length for this portion of the tornado was 15.4 miles, and the maximum width was 1400 yards as the tornado was exiting the county. The highest damage rating in Montague County was EF-2 with winds of maximum estimated winds of 120-125 mph.

This is segment #2 of 4 of a multi-segmented EF-3 supercellular tornado that began in Montague County, crossed into Cooke County, Denton County, and then back into Cooke County. The tornado was ongoing for about an hour and a half with a total path length just under 48 miles. The tornado was the strongest in Cooke County and resulted in 7 fatalities in Cooke County.

The tornado entered Cooke County at 1008 pm CDT time and exited into Denton County at 1049 pm CDT for a total path length of 25.41 miles. The tornado path zigzagged at times. The maximum width of the damage path is measured at over a mile in the area west of Valley View; however this is misleading. We do not believe the tornado was over a mile wide, but instead there were a few smaller circulations rotating around the main tornado circulation which was likely a maximum width of about 1200 yards (.68 miles wide). The tornado entered west of the Rosston area and moved eastward to areas south of Era. Widespread tree damage, consistent with EF-0 tornado intensities, occurred between Rosston to southwest of Era. In the vicinity of FM 51 south of Era, the intensity of damage increased, with widespread tree and structural damage consistent with EF-1 winds of 90-110 mph . Some damage to at least 3 residences southeast of Era (and west of Valley View) was consistent with EF-2 tornadic winds of 115-125 mph (DI 2, DOD 6).The tornado maintained intensity as it approached Valley View from the west. Along CR 200, the upper levels and roofs of several newly constructed homes were damaged or demolished. In addition, a few walls were pushed in on the backside of the homes (west side, DI 2, DOD 6) In this area, the tornado was rated EF-3 with maximum estimated winds of 140 mph. The tornado entered a neighborhood along W Lone Oak Rd which consisted of mainly manufactured and mobile homes. Widespread damage occurred in this neighborhood, and a few demolished homes were rated EF-2 (DI 3, DOD 6). Unfortunately, 7 fatalities occurred here, too. The tornado continued east, crossing I-35, damaging cars and tractor trailers on the interstate. The tornado hit a gas station (DI 8, DOD 7), metal building shop, RV and boat storage units on the corner of Lone Oak Rd and I-35. This area was rated EF-2 with estimated winds of 135 mph. The tornado tracked near and south of E Lone Oak Rd towards Ray Roberts Lake where more roof damage and notable tree damage was observed. The tornado crossed the lake, causing more tree damage and pushing over some campers on the peninsula that includes Ray Roberts Lake State Park Johnson Branch. This is where the tornado entered Denton County. In total, 80 people in Cooke County had to be transported due to injuries. There were likely more that sustained minor injures that weren't transported or accounted for. The highest damage rating in this portion of Cooke County was EF-3 with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

A trained spotter reported 3-inch diameter hail in Mountain Springs, just east of Valley View.

A short-lived EF-1 tornado occurred on the southwestern portions of Ray Roberts Lake impacting areas around and in the Ray Roberts Marina. Notable tree damage was observed along FM 1190 near FM 2164. A few homes sustained damage on Jones Street, with one home losing most of its roof as the back patio was pulled over the house (DI 2, DOD 6). In the marina, 24 RV and motor homes were damaged, tree damage was observed, and damage occurred to the floating docks and boats. The tornado moved onto the lake and dissipated. Maximum estimated winds were 110 mph.

This is segment #3 of 4 of a multi-segmented EF-3 supercellular tornado that began in Montague County, crossed into Cooke County, Denton County, and then back into Cooke County. The tornado was ongoing for about an hour and a half with a total path length just under 48 miles. The tornado was the strongest in Cooke County and resulted in 7 fatalities in Cooke County.

The tornado entered Denton County at 1049 pm CDT time and exited into Cooke County at 1106 pm CDT for a total path length of 4.34 miles. The tornado was initially moving east but then started curving north as it entered its dissipation stage. The tornado entered the county on the the peninsula that includes Ray Roberts Lake State Park Johnson Branch. On the peninsula the tornado caused tree damage and pushed over some campers. The tornado then moved back over the lake and crossed back into Cooke County before dissipating. During this segment of the tornado, it was rated EF-1 with maximum estimated winds of 100 mph.

A trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail north of Valley View.

This is the final segment (#4) of a multi-segmented EF-3 supercellular tornado that began in Montague County, crossed into Cooke County, Denton County, and then back into Cooke County. The tornado was ongoing for about an hour and a half with a total path length just under 48 miles. The tornado was the strongest in Cooke County and resulted in 7 fatalities in Cooke County.

The tornado reentered Cooke County at 1106 pm CDT while over Ray Roberts Lake. Additional tree damage was found near the end of Anderson Road in Pilot Point (DI 27, DOD 3). The tornado was moving into its occlusion phase at this point and likely dissipated over the lake north of this point. The tornado was rated EF-1 strength along this segment of the tornado with maximum estimated winds of 100 mph.

Strong RFD winds associated with a tornadic supercell caused wind damage in Pilot Point. Trees were damaged and uprooted. At least one tree fall on a home. Signs and mailboxes were blown over. Some power poles were snapped, and lightweight metal structures were ripped apart.

An EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated winds of 95 mph formed along County Road 58, south of County Road 59. The tornado tracked a little over 8 miles to the southwest causing scattered damage along the path, but consistent enough along the track of the radar circulation. Most of the damage was to trees, but some metal buildings and telephone poles were also damaged. The tornado dissipated south of Weston between FM 171 and FM 543.

An intense satellite tornado hit a few homes along Prairie Meadow Lane, just north of Celina (in unincorporated Collin County), causing destructive damage. At least 2 residences along this street sustained moderate to high end EF-3 damage (DI 2, DOD 7 & 8) with estimated maximum winds of 165 mph, with roofs and walls destroyed. Several additional homes sustained EF-2 or EF-1 damage along this street.

Sporadic thunderstorm wind damage was found extending from south of Weston to the Trinity Falls neighborhood near Hwy 75. Mostly tree damage was observed but some wood signs and shingles were also damaged. This damage was likely caused by RFD winds in the aftermath of the earlier tornado.

Emergency management reported 8 to 10 inches of water on roadways at the intersection of US 75 and FM 121. US 75 became closed due to high water.

A brief, EF-1 tornado developed in western Hunt County, just west of FM 36 between Private Road 1184 and CR 1096. Multiple barns and farm outbuildings were destroyed on a property near the roadway along with damage to the roofs of several nearby single family residences. As the tornado tracked east towards CR 1097, it passed through a few wooded areas resulting in tree damage including broken small and large branches. The front porch roof was pulled off of a home on the northern end of CR 1097 causing damaging to the roof of the home (DI 2, DOD 2). Tree damage continued east of the property before the tornado lifted over open land north of CR 1096. Maximum winds were 90 mph.

A public report indicated multiple trees blown over or snapped by non-thunderstorm winds.

KFTW ASOS reported a 66 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust.

A National Weather Service employee reported 2 Bradford Pear trees blown over near the intersection of I-35 and Western Center Blvd.

Social media images indicated multiple broken branches as well as a tree approximately 8-12 inches in diameter blown over onto a fence.

Social media images indicated a hackberry tree limb approximately 6-8 inches in diameter snapped off and fallen onto a vehicle.

KTKI ASOS reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust at 70 mph.

Social media images indicated one tree approximately two feet in diameter split in half vertically. Branch around 8-12 inches in diameter of another nearby tree broken off the main trunk.

A public report indicated damaging winds from decaying thunderstorms. Multiple trees were damaged and blown over.

Report from mPING: 1-inch tree limbs broken; Shingles blown off.

Multiple large trees were blown down mostly north of FM 273 from Duplex to Telephone to Monkstown.

Sporadic downed trees were reported across Commerce. One image showed a tree around 2-3 feet in diameter blown over onto a fence.