Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, April 4 to 5, 2025

A strong EF-2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 130 mph touched down northeast of Bogota in the Rosalie community along CR 1305, moving northeast while intensifying as it snapped multiple hardwood and softwood trees. A home north of CR 1325 suffered major damage, including the destruction of the attached garage and a significant portion of roof loss. A nearby tree was also partially debarked. While the survey team was unable to access the property as it was behind locked gates, the Red River County Office of Emergency Management and local firefighters described the house as having been shifted off its foundation. Since the survey team was unable to closely inspect the house, the damage was rated as a high-end EF-2. The tornado continued northeast and moved into an oil field that was not accessible. However, the survey team met the field owner, who stated that a pump jack anchored in a concrete foundation was partially lifted from the foundation and blown over. The owner also said that there was a consistent and continuous path of snapped hardwood trees. Analysis of NDVI differencing of high-resolution satellite data imagery revealed the tornado damage path across this oil field. A consistent path of very large, snapped hardwood trees was found along CR 1340 to the intersection of CR 1357 and CR 1355. CR 1357 and 1355 were blocked by fallen trees and not accessible by the survey team. A couple of outbuildings were also destroyed. Given the size of the hardwood trees and consistent amount of trunk snappings observed, this damage was also rated as EF-2. The tornado continued to track northeast roughly parallel to FM 909, snapping smaller hardwood trees as it crossed CR 1355 and FM 909 south of the Red River County Airport. The damage became somewhat sporadic as the tornado crossed the intersection of Highway 82 and FM 1159 just east of Clarksville, but continued to damage more trees while crossing CR 3200, FM 1700, and CR 3202. The damage path generally followed along FM 1700 before moving north into a wooded area that was not accessible by ground. NDVI differencing indicated a sporadic damage path in this area as the tornado continued northward crossing CR 3217. The survey team observed one final point of tree damage along CR 3230 indicating the tornado lifting here, just north of the Reeds Settlement community.

Multiple creeks overflowed their banks near Mount Vernon.

A creek overflowed resulting in water moving into a yard and basement of a home near Mineola.

Dime to quarter size hail fell in Lindale.

Using a combination of the ground survey and NDVI differencing of high-resolution satellite imagery, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Northern Smith County along FM 2710 northeast of Lindale. Analysis of NDVI differencing revealed that tornado's path through the Sabine River bottoms before moving into Upshur County. Although the tornado's strength was rated EF-1 in Wood and Upshur Counties, the damage through the Sabine River bottoms was rated as EF-Unknown given the inaccessibility to this area, as well as the NDVI differencing of tree damage noted on satellite.

This is a continuation of the Northeast Smith County tornado. This EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 110 mph tracked from the Sabine River bottoms across Highway 80 west of Hawkins and south of West Upper Lake, where a fairly intense and concentrated area of snapped pine trees were observed along CR 3440. One home in this area lost a few metal roof panels. The tornado continued northeast, snapping and uprooting more trees as it crossed CR 3431 and CR 3419. One home along CR 3419 suffered the failure of a large, well-built carport. However, the bottom of the wooden posts supporting the carport appeared to be somewhat rotted. The tornado continued to track northeast, crossing CR 3480 and CR 3525. It entered a large area of open land with no roads, but the Shreveport Dopplar Radar indicated a near-continuous tornado debris signature (TDS) for the duration of its lifespan. The tornado caused significant roof damage to a water bottling plant north of Hawkins, with one injury occurring here to a driver in a semi-truck. The tornado once again moved into a large open area with no roads, but the TDS was still observed on radar. The survey team found the damage path again along CR 3550 east of Holly Lake Ranch, where it widened upon crossing into Western Upshur County.

Multiple creeks overflowed their banks near Lindale.

This is a continuation of the Wood County tornado. This EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 110 mph widened as it was crossing into Western Upshur County across Palm Road, FM 1092, Tangerine Road, Nutmeg Road, and FM 49. It continued northeast snapping and uprooting more trees as it crossed Highway 154, where it destroyed a home at the intersection of Highway 154 and Alligator Road. The survey team determined that the home was not built on a concrete slab foundation and was not well-constructed, with trees nearby receiving little to no damage. This was also consistent with damage recorded along the rest of the tornado's path. The tornado continued northeast, crossing FM 852, before finally lifting along Armadillo Road on the north side of Lake Gilmer. Some interesting damage was noted on the FM 852 bridge over Lake Gilmer where some pavement had been scoured on the southwest shoulder of the bridge. The tornado clearly passed north of the lake and did not cause this damage. However, it appears likely than intense Rear Flank Downdraft (RFD) winds estimated at 70-80 mph induced extreme wave action on the lake, washing up and over the bridge, which sits very low relative of the water. The waves eroded the pavement on the shoulder, evidenced by the erosion pattern, and the piling up of the scoured pavement which was perpendicular to the incoming waves and the RFD.

A horse loafing shed suffered roof and wall damage on Kelsey Creek Road and Cox Trail south of Highway 154. Trees were also downed in this area as well.

Trees were uprooted on the south side of Lake Gilmer. A NWS Survey Team determined this damage to had been caused by Rear Flank Downdraft (RFD) winds.

An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 95 mph touched down between the Union Hill and Delrose communities as the previous long track tornado occluded just northeast of Lake Gilmer. A few hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted along this brief track between Chipmunk and Bear Roads, before lifting prior to reaching Highway 271 shortly before reaching the Bettie community.

Quarter size hail fell a few miles north of the Bettie community.

Pictures were posted to social media of significant street flooding in Lindale.

A EF-2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 120 mph touched down along Sand Crossing Road/CR 4428 just north of Big Cypress Bayou, downing tree limbs and snapping a couple of softwood tree trunks. The tornado moved northeast, crossing CR 2225 and moved along or just west of CR 2223 on the western shore of Ellison Creek Reservoir. A large amount of tree damage consisting of snaps and uproots were observed. The tornado then strengthened to EF-2 intensity when it damaged three homes northeast of CR 2236. The most significant structural damage was to a house that had its garage door buckled, allowing the tornadic winds inside the home, which uplifted and removed most of the roof on the back of the house. Roof removal/collapse was also noted on a couple of boat docks in this vicinity. The tornado crossed Ellison Creek Reservoir and caused widespread tree damage at a church camp on the eastern shore between Camp Circle and Lacewood Drive. There was a concentrated area of dozens of very large pine trees that were snapped at a very consistent height. Six cars were rolled and thrown approximately 100 yards from a nearby church building into this area of concentrated tree damage. Approximately 120 people were in the building where the vehicles were parked. They received the Tornado Warning several minutes before the tornado struck and were able to take cover in a safe place. The tornado then moved northeast into a neighborhood and uprooted and snapped numerous trees. Dozens of homes sustained minor to major damage due to parts of trees or entire trees falling on them. The tornado crossed Highway 259, uprooted more trees, and caused minor roof damage to a home along Bunt Drive. It then crossed Forrest Hill Road and caused more tree damage along FM 3421 west of CR 2113. While the survey team was unable to locate additional damage due to limited road access, NDVI differencing of high-resolution imagery indicated that the tornado continued northeast and damaged more trees before lifting in a wooded area south of Ore Road and west of CR 2113.

South Texas Street was flooded.

High water covered Highway 37 just south of Bogata.

Golfball size hail fell just east of Maud near Lake Wright Patman.

High water covered portions of Highway 49 in low lying areas. A local tow operator estimated water 6-8 feet deep in some areas.

High water covered multiple roads in Gilmer.

Flash flooding throughout the Texas side of Texarkana. High water covered Exit 220 on I-30 West.

High water covered Main Street and other side streets in Atlanta.

High water covered Lake Placid Road in Tyler.

High water covered portions of I-30 on the Texas side of Texarkana. Stateline Avenue was also flooded.

Interstate 30 was shut down from Mile Marker 220 to the Arkansas state line due to flooding.

Trees down on Arnold Lane near the Red Lick community.

Rushing water covered CR 2041 just south of Appleby.

Nickel size hail fell just west of Jefferson.