A very mature squall line developed along and ahead of an advancing cold front across the Ark-La-Tex region during the mid to late morning into early afternoon on March 4th. Damaging wind gusts were the primary threat with this squall line, but numerous strong mesovorticies became embedded within this quasi-linear convective system (QLCS).
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 very mature squall line developed along and ahead of an advancing cold front across the Ark-La-Tex region during the mid to late morning into early afternoon on March 4th. Damaging wind gusts were the primary threat with this squall line, but numerous strong mesovorticies became embedded within this quasi-linear convective system (QLCS). Dew points were in the mid to upper 60s with over 500 J/kg of MLCAPE and 450 m2/s2 of 0-1 km storm relative helicity (SRH). As temperatures continued to warm into the lower 70s with MLCAPE increasing to around 1000 J/kg MLCAPE, the increasing threat of supercell thunderstorm development only heightened the tornado threat. As a result, numerous reports of damaging straight-line wind gusts and several tornadoes were documented across East and Northeast Texas.
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 Mar 4, 5:22 AM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
522 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
...New AVIATION...
.UPDATE...
Issued at 453 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
Tornado Watch 18 has been issued until 11 AM CST this morning for
portions of Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and East
Texas. This is generally north and west of a line from Rusk Texas
to Texarkana Arkansas to Nashville Arkansas. A squall line has
develop and has moved just west of the I-35 corridor of Oklahoma
and North & Central Texas. This line will continue to push
eastward this morning into our forecast area just after daybreak,
with additional isolated convection possible ahead of this line.
All modes of severe weather will be possible, including locally
heavy rainfall. /20/
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Tuesday through Wednesday)
Issued at 322 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
At this hour, a lee-side surface low remains across Eastern
Colorado, with a trailing Pacific origin cold front extending
across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. Ahead of this system, a
dryline extends across the western sections of Oklahoma and Texas.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms has developed along that
dryline and is quickly shifting eastward. In our area, the
increased low-level southerly jet in response to the lee-side low
has resulted in strong gusty southerly winds and a Wind Advisory.
It has also resulted in the development of a warm front, which
has pushed northward into our East Texas zones. Some warm air
advection showers have developed in the vicinity of the warm
front. Eventually the lee-side low will start to kick out into
the Central Plains and the trailing Pacific cold front will catch
up with the dry-line and convection near daybreak. At the same
time, the warm front will continue to lift north and eastward
across the region, along with the associated advection showers.
In wake of the warm front, dew points will rise into the low to
mid 60s which will aid in destabilizing the atmosphere for today's
advertised severe weather event. Models seem to be in good
agreement that the current line of strong to severe thunderstorms
will hold together as it moves into our forecast area. With an
unstable environment expected to be in place, along with deep
layer sheer and steep lapse rates, all modes of severe weather
will be possible with the line as it moves across the region. This
includes locally heavy rainfall as well. There remains the
concern that discrete cells will develop just ahead of the squall
line as it approaches the region. Given the expected
thermodynamics, this could yield strong tornadoes across the
region. The front and squall line is expected to push out of the
region this afternoon.
In wake of the front, the current Wind Advisory will remain in
effect through 9 PM and will likely be extended across portions
of the area into Wednesday. As the aforementioned lee-side low
slowly moves out of the Plains into the Midwest, a strong
pressure gradient will form across the area resulting in continued
gusty conditions. Winds will become sustained from the southwest
between 20 to to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 to 50 mph,
especially across East Texas and remaining zones north of the
Interstate 20 corridor. Current obs and satellite confirm blowing
dust across West Texas this morning behind the convection. The
NASA GMAO Dust model has this dust reaching our area this
afternoon into the early evening hours, so decided to add hazy
conditions to the forecast during this period.
A much stronger cold front will move across the area tonight,
bringing gusty northwest winds and cooler conditions into the
region. Overnight lows will range from the upper 30s north to mid
40s south of Interstate 20. These cooler, drier, and breezy
conditions will remain across the region on Wednesday, with high
temps struggling to reach 60 degrees, despite sunny skies. /20/
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday Night through Tuesday)
Issued at 322 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
Not much has changed in thinking for the long-term period. High pressure
will settle over the area Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
With clear skies and calm winds, overnight lows will fall into the
30s areawide, with near freezing temps possible in locations
north of Interstate 20. Dry conditions will continue through the
end of the work week, but southerly winds will return as the
surface high moves east of the region, resulting in a gradual
warming trend. By the start of next weekend, a closed upper level
trough will move across the Four Corners Region. Flow ahead of
this trough will become southwesterly over the region. Rain
chances will return just after midnight Saturday morning as
disturbances move along the flow, then increase in coverage during
the day as the upper trough and associated cold front move into
the region. Dry and cooler conditions will return Sunday into
early next week, as high pressure and upper-level ridging settle
over the region in wake of the trough. /20/
&&
.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 515 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
For the 04/12Z TAFs, strong to severe thunderstorms will progress
from west to east across area airspace this morning and early
afternoon, bringing torrential rains and potentially damaging
wind gusts. The most likely windows of impacts to terminals are
reflected in TEMPO groups with this package. By mid to late
afternoon, impacts will be coming to an end for ArkLaTex airspace.
GIGs will improve dramatically from MVFR and IFR to VFR with the
passage of these storms. South winds will become southwesterly
then westerly through the day today at speeds of 10 to 20 kts with
gusts of up to 30 kts possible, with locally higher values in the
vicinity of stronger storms.
/26/
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Issued at 1215 PM CST Mon Mar 3 2025
Spotter activation will likely be needed beginning around daybreak
Tuesday morning through mid-afternoon.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 74 45 59 37 / 100 0 0 0
MLU 73 46 59 36 / 100 0 0 0
DEQ 69 38 55 30 / 100 10 0 0
TXK 72 42 57 35 / 100 10 0 0
ELD 70 42 58 32 / 100 0 0 0
TYR 71 43 58 38 / 100 0 0 0
GGG 73 43 59 35 / 100 0 0 0
LFK 74 45 62 38 / 90 0 0 0
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for ARZ050-051-059>061-
070>073.
LA...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for LAZ001>006-010>014-
017>022.
OK...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for OKZ077.
TX...Wind Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for TXZ096-097-108>112-
124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167.
&&
SHORT TERM...20
LONG TERM....20
AVIATION...26The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 162 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:32 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A metal southwest facing wall of a pole barn was blown down at a residence off of County Road 1600 near County Road 1609.
Report from Mping.
Report from Mping.
This EF1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 104 mph developed within a QLCS and began along Highway 37 just north of Winnsboro in southwest Franklin County where it snapped and uprooted several trees. The tornado continued east along Farm-to-Market Road 3357, County Road 3430, and County Road 4340 and continued snapping and uprooting numerous trees as it crossed County Road 4335, County Road 4345, and began to move along FM Road 1448. Tree damage became more extensive as it approached the intersection of FM Road 1448 and FM Road 115. At this location, most of the metal roof panels were removed from a|South Franklin Fire Department building. Farther east, two homes in the New Hope community were damaged. One house lost almost all of the upwind portion of its roof when the section overhanging a porch was uplifted. A manufactured home also lost a portion of its roof, causing part of a wall failure. Two residents were in this part of the manufactured home at the time but were uninjured. Metal roof panels on a neighboring outbuilding were also peeled back and twisted. Farther north, a church on County Road|4395 lost some of its roof. More softwood trees were snapped and uprooted along County Road 4396 before the tornado moved over Lake Bob Sandlin and crossed into Camp County. The tornado tracked just over 10 miles in southern Franklin County.
Trees downed near the intersection of FM Road 344 and FM Road 346.
This EF1 tornado was the continuation of a tornado that began in Franklin County. At this point, damage was difficult to locate as the tornado skirted the southern shore of Lake Bob Sandlin. Some tree damage indicative of a tornado was found along County Road 2417 and along Farm-to-Market Road 21. Move extensive tree damage was found beginning at County Road 2332, County Road 2330, and within the Thunderbird community just south of Lake Bob Sandlin. As the tornado continued east and moved along FM 1520, several structures were damaged at a fishing and recreational vehicle|campground. One outbuilding used as a cabin that was sitting on wooden beams and cinder blocks was blown away and destroyed. The cabin was blown into a neighboring RV, which was then overturned. Another RV was also overturned in this campground. Three injuries occurred to occupants of the RV campers. The tornado then crossed a cove of Lake Bob Sandlin, and damage started to become much more sporadic. More hardwood and softwood trees were snapped just north of Highway 255 and again just west of U.S. Highway 271 south of the Camp/Titus County Line where the tornado finally lifted. The tornado tracked nearly 8 miles across northern Camp County.
Power lines downed on top of a car near the intersection of Kinsey Drive and Loop 323.
A 58 mph wind gust was recorded by the AWOS at the Mount Pleasant Regional Airport.
Camper trailers overturned at Big Al's Barefoot Bay north of Rocky Mound.
Report from Mping.
Report from Mping.
Tree downed on a vehicle in Cason.
This EF1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 88 mph developed within a QLCS and began along Farm-to-Market Road 144 just north of Highway 49 in extreme eastern Morris County. The tornado moved east northeast across Hunt Road/County Road 1235, Green Street Road/County Road 1233, and County Road 3208, uprooting numerous trees and breaking large branches. The tornado continued northeast crossing Wilson Road, Kelly Road, Foster Road, and Old Daingerfield Road before moving across U.S. Highway 259 north of Rocky Branch. More tree limbs were downed as the tornado crossed County Road 4212, Highway 338, and Daniels Chapel Road. The tornado uprooted more softwood trees before lifting on Daniels Chapel Road just east of its intersection with Leeves Road and just west of the Morris/Cass County line. Just east of there, a significant number of large pine trees were uprooted at a property at the intersection of Daniels Chapel Road and FM Road 161. However, the damage pattern of these uproots was consistent with straight-line wind damage and not a tornado. The tornado had a maximum width of 735 yards and tracked nearly 9 miles.
An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 100 mph touched down on Farm-to-Market Road 44 South approximately one mile southwest of the town of Lydia, lifting a roof off of a shed adjacent to a residential home. The tornado then moved east northeast toward downtown Lydia, producing tree damage across County Road 4645 before crossing into Bowie County. This tornado tracked just under two miles in far eastern Red River County before exiting into Bowie County. However, it should be noted that the tornado intensity in Southeast Red River County near Lydia was weaker than its peak intensity in Bowie County, with wind speeds in Red River County estimated near 90 mph.
This EF1 tornado was the continuation of a tornado that began in Red River County. Upon exiting Red River County, the tornado continued east toward the town of New Hope, continuing to produce extensive tree damage in the form of snapped trunks and uproots. After moving east of New Hope, the tornado followed along County Road 4303 toward Hubbard, eventually crossing Farm-to-Market Road 1840 before heading toward the town of Malta. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 82 near Malta and continued east northeast for a few more miles, before eventually lifting near the intersection of County Road 3014 and FM Road 3378. The tornado tracked nearly 17 miles across western and northwestern parts of Bowie County with a maximum width of 850 yards and estimated peak wind speeds of 100 mph.
This QLCS-embedded EF1 tornado began along U.S. Highway 259 in southwest Bowie County and moved east northeast across County Road 4307, Interstate 30, County Road 4210, County Road 4230, and Farm-to-Market Road 561, damaging numerous trees. Most of the trees were either uprooted or snapped with several large limbs being downed on power lines. As the tornado continued northeast, it removed most of the metal roof covering from a house at the intersection County Road 4206 and County Road 4204. More tree damage was noted as the tornado crossed County Road 990, County Road 4121, County Road 4122, and County Road 4120. More tree damage occurred along Highway 98, County Road 4015, County Road 4011, and County Road 4116. At the Barry B. Telford Unit, a large metal building system on the southeast side of the prison property was destroyed when the metal frame was pulled free from its anchors. Three camper trailers in the prison's RV park were overturned and destroyed. The tornado continued northeast, breaking more large softwood limbs along FM Road 1840 and Highway 8 in the southern portion of New Boston where it finally lifted. The tornado had a maximum width of 580 yards and tracked nearly 19 miles.
Report from Mping.
Several roofs severely damaged with partial removal in De Kalb.
Several structures damaged in New Boston.
Trees downed near the intersection of Highway 42 and FM Road 850, including a downed tree blocking the lanes of FM Road 850.
Multiple trees downed along County Road 4105.
Trees and power lines downed over North Holiday Boulevard in Overton.
Report from Mping.
This brief EF1 tornado with estimated maximum winds of 90 mph began at Harkins Lane and traveled eastward for approximately 1 mile just north of Farm-to-Market Road 1998. Nearly all of the damage was to softwood and hardwood trees in the form of uproots and snaps. The highest concentration of tree damage was in the neighboring Scottsville and Rock Springs Cemeteries near the start of the path. It is possible the tornado was on the|ground a bit longer than one mile, but the lack of ground access hindered the ability of the survey team to confirm this. Fortunately, there were no injuries in association with this brief tornado and the maximum width was only 100 yards.
Report from Mping.
A 59 mph wind gust was recorded by the ASOS at the Angelina County Airport in Burke.
Numerous trees downed across Huxley.
This strong EF1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 105 mph touched down in the Sabine National Forest along Forest Road 144, where numerous softwood trees were snapped and uprooted. The heaviest concentration of damage was near the intersection of Forest Road 144 and Forest Road 144A, where the tornado was at its strongest and widest. This tornado tracked northeast across inaccessible areas of the forest, before crossing Highway 87 just south of the Six Mile community. Numerous additional softwood trees were snapped and uprooted between Forest Road 182 and Shawnee Shores Drive, before lifting within a cove in Toledo Bend Reservoir along Shawnee Shores Drive. The tornado had a maximum width of 625 yards and tracked over 5 miles.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 2025Warnings in Texas, March 2025
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: 1247935, 1247936, 1247938, 1249739, 1247942, 1249740, 1247943, 1244762, 1247944, 1247945, 1247946, 1247947, 1249735, 1249741, 1249742, 1249736, 1247948, 1247949, 1247950, 1247953, 1247954, 1247956, 1247957, 1249737, 1247958, 1244766, 1247959, 1249738.