Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 1995
F0 tornado, Liberty to Daisetta, Texas, May 18, 1995
From Liberty to Daisetta, this F0 tornado ran 0.2 miles across Liberty County on May 18, 1995, touching down at 8:40 AM CDT and reaching 20 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $500 to $5,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F040 to 72 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 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.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 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
- F0
- Date
- May 18, 1995
- Touchdown
- 8:40 AM CDT (13:40 UTC)
- Path length
- 0.2 miles (0.3 km)
- Path width
- 20 yards (18 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $500 to $5,000
- County
- Liberty County
- Touchdown point
- 30.100, -94.650
- Record number
- 435
What the Weather Service recorded
Super cell moved across Lake Houston and intensified to form a mesocyclone as it moved into Liberty County. This super cell produced four tornadoes as it moved from west to east across the county. The third of the four tornadoes touched down in downtown Liberty and was the most significant. Twelve people were injured with two requiring to be hospitalized.
Super cell moved across Lake Houston and intensified to form a mesocyclone as it moved into Liberty County. This super cell produced four tornadoes as moved from west to east across the county. The third of the four tornadoes touched down in downtown Liberty and was the most significant. Twelve people were injured with two requiring to be hospitalized.
Super cell moved across Lake Houston and intensified to form a mesocyclone as it moved into Liberty County. This super cell produced four tornadoes as it moved from west to east across the county. The third of the four tornadoes touched down in downtown Liberty and was the most significant. Twelve people were injured with two requiring to be hospitalized.
Super cell moved across Lake Houston and intensified to form a mesocyclone as it moved into Liberty County. This super cell produced four tornadoes as moved from west to east across the county. The third of the four tornadoes touched down in downtown Liberty and was the most significant. Twelve people were injured with two requiring to be hospitalized.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
54 minutes of warning. NWS HGX issued a tornado warning for this county at 12:46 UTC, 54 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 13:45 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:35 UTC | 13:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX |
| 12:46 UTC | 13:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | HGX |
| 13:35 UTC | 13:51 UTC | Tornado Warning | HGX |
| 19:21 UTC | 20:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HGX |
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 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), 12:00Z
1.7 hours before the tornado, 139 km from the path. May 18, 1995.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1596 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -57 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2765 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 660 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 185 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 189 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.3
- Supercell composite
- 9.5
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.8 K/km
Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), 00:00Z
10.3 hours after it, 139 km from the path. May 19, 1995.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1651 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2438 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 513 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 13 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 44 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 99 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 4.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.2 K/km
The surface observations
Beaumont - Port Arthur (BPT), 62 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 UTC | 76 | 76 | 170° 9 kt | 1008.1 | FG | |
| 13:00 UTC | 78 | 78 | 170° 11 kt | 1008.5 | FG | |
| 13:30 UTC | 190° 6 kt | 1009.5 | ||||
| 14:00 UTC | 78 | 78 | 160° 4 kt | 1009.5 | TSRA FG | |
| 15:00 UTC | 82 | 78 | 170° 8 kt | 1009.5 | DZ |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Houston radar (KHGX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 13:41 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.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 1995 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 18, 1995
78 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18 | 3:30 AM CDT | F0 | Brazos, TX | 1.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 5:35 AM EDT | F2 | Mercer, KY | 1.0 | 200 | 8 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 18 | 5:35 AM EDT | F2 | Mercer, KY | 1.0 | 200 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| May 18 | 8:45 AM EDT | F2 | Rowan, KY | 2.0 | 200 | |||
| May 18 | 8:00 AM CDT | F0 | Liberty, TX | 1.0 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 8:08 AM CDT | F0 | Liberty, TX | 1.0 | 73 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 8:20 AM CDT | F1 | Liberty, TX | 6.5 | 500 | 12 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 18 | 10:25 AM CDT | F1 | Pulaski, MO | 1.0 | 100 | 2 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| May 18 | 11:58 AM CDT | F1 | Dickson, TN | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| May 18 | 12:05 PM CDT | F2 | Jefferson, MO | 7.2 | 150 | 3 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 18 | 12:22 PM CDT | F0 | , DC | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:30 PM CDT | F2 | Davidson, TN | 15.0 | 73 | 28 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 18 | 12:37 PM CDT | F1 | Monroe, IL | 0.6 | 83 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:40 PM CDT | F2 | Monroe, IL | 4.0 | 300 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:42 PM CDT | F1 | Monroe, IL | 4.5 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:44 PM CDT | F1 | Monroe, IL | 6.0 | 200 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:46 PM CDT | F2 | Monroe, IL | 4.2 | 170 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:46 PM CDT | F0 | Saint Clair, IL | 0.4 | 73 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 12:48 PM CDT | F1 | Monroe, IL | 4.8 | 150 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:05 PM CDT | F0 | Saint Clair, IL | 8.0 | 120 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:15 PM CDT | F1 | Macon, TN | 1.0 | 23 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:15 PM CDT | F0 | Randolph, IL | 6.0 | 70 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:17 PM CDT | F0 | Randolph, IL | 3.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:26 PM CDT | F0 | Washington, IL | 7.5 | 60 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:28 PM CDT | F1 | Washington, IL | 18.0 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:29 PM CDT | F1 | Cape Girardeau, MO | 8.0 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 2:30 PM EDT | F1 | Prince George's, MD | 0.3 | 30 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 18 | 1:50 PM CDT | F0 | Jefferson, IL | 0.3 | 40 | |||
| May 18 | 1:55 PM CDT | F2 | Lake, TN to KY | 24.0 | 150 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:55 PM CDT | F0 | Fayette, TN | 1.0 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 1:55 PM CDT | F0 | Hardeman, TN | 8.0 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 3:30 PM EDT | F2 | Caroline, MD | 10.0 | 200 | |||
| May 18 | 2:35 PM CDT | F1 | Beauregard Parish, LA | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| May 18 | 2:55 PM CDT | F0 | Henderson, TN | 0.5 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 3:25 PM CDT | F1 | Wabash, IL | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 3:30 PM CDT | F1 | Allen Parish, LA | 0.5 | 30 | 1 | ||
| May 18 | 3:30 PM CDT | F1 | Evangeline Parish, LA | 0.5 | 23 | |||
| May 18 | 4:00 PM EST | F1 | Martin, IN | 0.1 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:00 PM CDT | F1 | Todd, KY | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:12 PM CDT | F1 | Trigg, KY | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:15 PM CDT | F2 | Trigg, KY | 10.0 | 73 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 5:15 PM EDT | F2 | Hardin, KY | 0.5 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:30 PM CDT | F0 | Wayne, TN | 0.5 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 5:30 PM EDT | F1 | Bullitt, KY | 2.0 | 200 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:40 PM CDT | F2 | Breckinridge, KY | 1.0 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:40 PM CDT | F0 | Prentiss, MS | 1.0 | 23 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:45 PM CDT | F1 | Colbert, AL | 6.5 | 150 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 4:52 PM CDT | F4 | Lawrence, TN | 29.0 | 1,000 | 3 | 32 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| May 18 | 4:55 PM CDT | F0 | Rutherford, TN | 8.0 | 73 | 4 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| May 18 | 6:00 PM EDT | F1 | Pulaski, KY | 0.5 | 200 | |||
| May 18 | 5:04 PM CDT | F0 | Metcalfe, KY | 1.0 | 200 | |||
| May 18 | 5:10 PM CDT | F2 | Metcalfe, KY | 3.0 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 6:10 PM EDT | F2 | Laurel, KY | 3.0 | 300 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| May 18 | 6:10 PM EDT | F0 | Clay, KY | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 18 | 5:25 PM CDT | F2 | Warren, KY | 2.5 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 6:25 PM EDT | F0 | Breathitt, KY | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 18 | 5:30 PM CDT | F2 | Warren, KY | 1.5 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 5:30 PM CDT | F0 | DeKalb, TN | 2.0 | 23 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18 | 6:30 PM EDT | F2 | Perry, KY | 24.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18 | 5:33 PM CDT | F4 | Limestone, AL | 39.0 | 1,300 | 1 | 55 | $500,000 to $5 million |
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.