Tornadoes · United States · Louisiana · 2007
EF1 tornado, Youngsville to Pitette, Louisiana, February 13, 2007
From Youngsville to Pitette, this EF1 tornado ran 2.2 miles across Lafayette Parish on February 13, 2007, touching down at 12:10 AM CST and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $250,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF1
- Date
- February 13, 2007
- Touchdown
- 12:10 AM CST (06:10 UTC)
- Lifted
- 12:15 AM CST (06:15 UTC)
- On the ground
- 5 minutes
- Path length
- 2.2 miles (3.5 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $250,000
- County
- Lafayette Parish
- Touchdown point
- 30.110, -92.020
- Lift-off point
- 30.140, -92.010
- Record number
- 0702130010-01
What the Weather Service recorded
An approaching cold front resulted in showers and thunderstroms across southwest Louisiana, some of which became severe. Several tornadoes touched down across Acadiana.
This tornado began just northeast of the intersection of Verot School Road and Highway 92 and traveled northeast, ending near Bonin Road. Two brick homes received signficant roof damage on Rue Paon in the Hunters Ridge subdivision. One home had its garage destroyed which caused part of the roof to be ripped off. The neighbors roof weas damaged by flying debris. Other homes received minor to moderate damage on Fortune Road, Ellie Road, Rue Canard, and Vivian Driver. A total of 33 homes were damaged. A few trees were knocked down, with other debris blown across fields and into trees along the path.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
8 minutes of warning. NWS LCH issued a tornado warning for this county at 06:02 UTC, 8 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 06:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 04:39 UTC and running to 09:20 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20:13 UTC | 04:39 UTC | Tornado Watch | LCH |
| 04:39 UTC | 09:20 UTC | Tornado Watch | LCH |
| 06:02 UTC | 06:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | LCH |
| 07:29 UTC | 07:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | LCH |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a General Thunderstorms Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 05:37 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), 00:00Z
6.2 hours before the tornado, 114 km from the path. February 13, 2007.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 276 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -24 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 358 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 585 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 61 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 25 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 258 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 297 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 2.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.5 K/km
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), 12:00Z
5.8 hours after it, 114 km from the path. February 13, 2007.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 726 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 900 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 515 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 25 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 146 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 75 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 2.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.5 K/km
The radar
The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 06:10 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:10 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 Nw Youngsville | Lafayette, LA | CONFIRMED TORNADO BASED ON NWS STORM SURVEY...RATED EF1. PATH LENGTH 2 MILES. PATH WIDTH 50 YARDS. TORNADO BEGAN JUST NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF VEROT SCHOOL ROAD AND HIGHWAY 92 AND TRAVELED NORTHEASTWARD ENDING NE |
| 06:10 UTC | TORNADO 1 | Youngsville | Lafayette, LA | CONFIRMED TORNADO BASED ON NWS STORM SURVEY...RATED EF1. PATH LENGTH 2 MILES. PATH WIDTH 50 YARDS. TWO BRICK HOMES RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE. ONE HAD A GARAGE DESTROYED...WHICH RIPPED PART OF THE ROOF OFF. THE NEI |
| 06:10 UTC | TORNADO | Youngsville | Lafayette, LA | LAFAYETTE 911 REPORTS POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR VEROT SCHOOL ROAD IN THE YOUNGSVILLE AREA. DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AND NO INJURIES REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. TIME APPROXIMATE. |
| 06:15 UTC | TORNADO | Youngsville | Lafayette, LA | KLFY-TV REPORTS 6 HOMES DAMAGED WITH HOLES IN ROOFS IN HUNTERS RIDGE SUBDIVISION. 2 HOUSES ARE 75 PERCENT DESTROYED. |
| 06:20 UTC | TORNADO | 4 S Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | LAFAYETTE PARISH 911 REPORTS DAMAGE TO HOUSES IN THE YOUNGSVILLE/BROUSSARD AREA. TIME APPROXIMATE. |
| 06:32 UTC | TORNADO | Youngsville | Lafayette, LA | LAFAYETTE 911 REPORTS POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR VEROT SCHOOL ROAD IN THE YOUNGSVILLE AREA. DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AND NO INJURIES REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. |
| 06:36 UTC | TORNADO 2 | 3 Se Breaux Bridge | St. Martin, LA | *** 3 INJ *** BASED ON NWS STORM SUREVEY...THIS TORNADO IS RATED EF2...WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 111-120 MPH. PATH LENGTH WAS 5 MILES. PATH WIDTH 300 YARDS. SEVERAL BRICK HOMES HAD ROOFS REMOVED. APPROXIMATELY 26 HOMES RECEIVE |
| 06:36 UTC | TORNADO 2 | 3 Se Breaux Bridge | St. Martin, LA | *** 3 INJ *** CONFIRMED TORNADO BASED ON NWS STORM SURVEY...RATED EF2...WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 111-120 MPH. PATH LENGTH WAS 5 MILES. PATH WIDTH 300 YARDS. TORNADO BEGAN SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF POYDRAS HIGHWAY AND E |
| 06:36 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Se Breaux Bridge | St. Martin, LA | *** 2 INJ *** TORNADO DAMAGED OR DESTROYED 28 HOMES BETWEEN BREAUX BRIDGE AND PARKS WITH 2 MINOR INJURIES. LOCATION AND TIME BASED ON RADAR. REPORTED BY ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF OFFICE. |
| 06:40 UTC | TORNADO | Breaux Bridge | St. Martin, LA | SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF OFFICE REPORTS DAMAGE TO ROOFS OF HOMES IN BREAUX BRIDGE. |
| 06:42 UTC | TORNADO | 4 S Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | LAFAYETTE PARISH 911 REPORTS DAMAGE TO HOUSES IN THE YOUNGSVILLE/BROUSSARD AREA. |
| 06:44 UTC | TORNADO | 10 Sw New Iberia | Iberia, LA | IBERIA PARISH LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN THE VICINITY OF THE PORT OF IBERIA. ONLY REPORT OF DAMAGE RECEIVED WAS A GARAGE DOOR BLOWN OFF A HOME. |
| 06:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Sw New Iberia | Iberia, LA | NWS STORM SURVEY FOUND ONLY MINOR EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO TWO MOBILE HOMES ON SEGURA ROAD. |
| 06:55 UTC | HAIL 1 | 5 Ssw New Iberia | Iberia, LA | REPORTED AT PORT OF IBERIA BY IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF OFFICE. TIME APPROXIMATE AND BASED ON RADAR DATA. |
| 06:55 UTC | TORNADO | 5 Sw New Iberia | Iberia, LA | IBERIA PARISH LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN THE VICINITY OF THE PORT OF IBERIA. ONLY REPORT OF DAMAGE RECEIVED WAS A GARAGE DOOR BLOWN OFF A HOME. TIME APPROXIMATE AND BASED ON RADAR. |
| 07:03 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 4 Ese New Iberia | Iberia, LA | BASED ON NWS STORM SURVEY...A SMALL TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN ON COTTON STREET. ONE MOBILE HOME WAS PUSHED INTO A NEIGHBORING CAR AND HOUSE. PATH LENGTH WAS LESS THAN HALF A MILE. PATH WIDTH OF 25 YARDS. RATED EF0 WIT |
| 07:03 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Ese New Iberia | Iberia, LA | IBERIA PARISH LAW ENFORCMENT REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN ON COTTON STREET EAST OF NEW IBERIA. A TRAILER WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER TRAILER WITH THIS STORM. |
| 07:08 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 4 Ese New Iberia | Iberia, LA | CONFIRMED TORNADO BASED ON NWS STORM SURVEY...RATED EF0...WIND SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 AND 85 MPH. PATH LENGTH WAS LESS THAN HALF A MILE. PATH WIDTH OF 25 YARDS. A SMALL TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN ON COTTON STREET. ONE MOBIL |
| 07:10 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Se New Iberia | Iberia, LA | KLFY-TV REPORTS TORNADO STRUCK BELAIRE SUBDIVISION IN NEW IBERIA. ONE ROOF BLOWN OFF A MOBILE HOME. TIME APPROXIMATE. |
| 07:15 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | New Iberia | Iberia, LA | GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN NEW IBERIA BY KLFY-TV. |
| 07:20 UTC | HAIL 1 | 5 Sw New Iberia | Iberia, LA | REPORTED AT PORT OF IBERIA BY IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF OFFICE |
| 07:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Loreauville | Iberia, LA | NWS STORM SURVEY FOUND ONLY VERY MINOR WIND DAMAGE IN LOREAUVILLE. |
| 07:25 UTC | TORNADO | 5 N Erath | Vermilion, LA | A HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NORTH OF ERATH WAS DESTROYED BY A SMALL TORNADO. TENTATIVELY EF0 - WIND SPEEDS 65 TO 85 MPH. |
| 07:30 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 3 Nw Richard | Acadia, LA | |
| 07:30 UTC | TORNADO | Loreauville | Iberia, LA | REPORTED BY IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF OFFICE. DAMAGE UNKNOWN. |
| 08:13 UTC | HAIL 1 | Catahoula | St. Martin, LA | LARGE HAIL REPORTED IN CATAHOULA BY KLFY-TV. |
| 08:30 UTC | HAIL 1 | Henderson | St. Martin, LA | LARGE HAIL REPORTED IN HENDERSON BY KLFY-TV. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2007 tornado in LouisianaEvery tornado in Louisiana since 1950Warnings in force in Louisiana nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of February 13, 2007
20 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 13 | 12:36 AM CST | EF2 | Saint Martin Parish, LA | 4.3 | 300 | 3 | $1.5 million | |
| February 13 | 1:03 AM CST | EF0 | Iberia Parish, LA | 0.5 | 25 | $30,000 | ||
| February 13 | 1:25 AM CST | EF0 | Vermilion Parish, LA | 0.5 | 25 | $40,000 | ||
| February 13 | 2:55 AM CST | EF2 | Jefferson Parish, LA | 2.3 | 50 | 9 | $2.0 million | |
| February 13 | 3:03 AM CST | EF2 | Orleans Parish, LA | 6.5 | 50 | 15 | $2.0 million | |
| February 13 | 3:10 AM CST | EF2 | Orleans Parish, LA | 1.3 | 50 | 1 | 10 | $1.0 million |
| February 13 | 3:52 AM CST | EF1 | Smith, MS | 3.7 | 75 | $300,000 | ||
| February 13 | 4:13 AM CST | EF0 | Jefferson Davis, MS | 3.0 | 75 | $5,000 | ||
| February 13 | 4:45 AM CST | EF0 | Pearl River, MS | 0.3 | 25 | $2,000 | ||
| February 13 | 7:20 AM CST | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| February 13 | 3:05 PM EST | EF1 | Liberty, FL | 0.3 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| February 13 | 5:47 PM EST | EF1 | McCormick, SC | 16.0 | 200 | $4,000 | ||
| February 13 | 5:55 PM EST | EF1 | Edgefield, SC | 15.3 | 60 | |||
| February 13 | 5:01 PM CST | EF0 | Hale, AL | 6.5 | 25 | $55,000 | ||
| February 13 | 5:10 PM CST | EF1 | Bibb, AL | 9.7 | 400 | $105,000 | ||
| February 13 | 6:28 PM EST | EF1 | Screven, GA | 0.6 | 35 | 1 | $9,000 | |
| February 13 | 5:48 PM CST | EF0 | Bibb, AL | 7.5 | 250 | $10,000 | ||
| February 13 | 7:01 PM EST | EF1 | Allendale, SC | 0.0 | 30 | $3,000 | ||
| February 13 | 6:22 PM CST | EF1 | Autauga, AL | 1.1 | 200 | $10,000 | ||
| February 13 | 7:27 PM EST | EF0 | Bamberg, SC | 2.0 | 40 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.