Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2010

EF1 tornado, Mabank, Texas, April 24, 2010

This EF1 tornado ran 0.2 miles across Kaufman County on April 24, 2010, touching down at 1:44 AM CDT and reaching 30 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $50,000 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.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
April 24, 2010
Touchdown
1:44 AM CDT (06:44 UTC)
Lifted
1:45 AM CDT (06:45 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.2 miles (0.3 km)
Path width
30 yards (27 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
County
Kaufman County
Touchdown point
32.370, -96.103
Lift-off point
32.372, -96.102
Record number
1004240044-01

The damage survey

1 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS FWD, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 80 mph.

  • This event happened, but is being added as a test at a much later date

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A linear mesoscale convective system developed in Lampasas County and moved northeast through north Texas on the night of Friday, April 23rd into the early morning hours of the 24th. There were some isolated reports of hail up to the size of golfballs, however most of the damage from these storms resulted from strong straight-line winds up to 90 mph. There was a brief tornado in Mabank in far southeastern Kaufman County. Most of the damage associated with the strong winds were downed trees, power poles, and power lines, but some building and residential damage was evident. Thousands of residents lost power during the event.

A brief EF-1 tornado, producing winds of 90 mph, touched down in Mabank and significantly damaged a residential home. The tornado was approximately a quarter mile in length.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 04:16 UTC and running to 07:55 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
04:16 UTC07:55 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchFWD
05:47 UTC06:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWD
06:37 UTC07:21 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningFWD

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, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 05:57 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.

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), 00:00Z

6.7 hours before the tornado, 123 km from the path. April 24, 2010.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2010-04-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -73192, lifted condensation level 2449 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Fort Worth, TX at 00:00Z on 2010-04-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 54 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 56 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-73192 J/kg
Surface CAPE
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2449 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
54 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
8.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), 12:00Z

5.3 hours after it, 123 km from the path. April 24, 2010.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2010-04-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 13 joules per kilogram, CIN -232, lifted condensation level 1387 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2010-04-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 77 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-232 J/kg
Surface CAPE
62 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1387 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
77 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-41 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.8 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 06:42 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)ReportWhereCountyRemark
05:54 UTCHAIL 22 E EnnisEllis, TXEGG SIZE HAIL 2 EAST OF ENNIS
05:56 UTCHAIL 0.881 Ssw EnnisEllis, TXNICKEL HAIL SSW OF ENNIS.
06:19 UTCTSTM WND GST 87CorsicanaNavarro, TX87 MPH WIND GUST RECORDED AT THE CORSICANA ASOS
06:30 UTCTSTM WND DMGCorsicanaNavarro, TXROOF LIFTED OFF AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN SOUTHWEST CORSICANA.
06:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 E Star HarborHenderson, TXA LARGE BOATHOUSE HAD HALF OF ITS ROOF BLOWN OFF EAST OF STAR HARBOR.
06:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 Nw Star HarborHenderson, TXIN KEY RANCH ESTATES, SEVERAL HOMES WERE LEFT UNINHABITABLE AFTER TREES FELL ON THEM. SEVERAL RESIDENTS WERE TRAPPED INSIDE BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED.
06:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGGun Barrel CityHenderson, TXTHE ROOF COLLAPSED AT A BUSINESS IN A STRIP MALL IN GUN BARREL CITY. OTHER DEBRIS AND DAMAGE TO ROAD SIGNS WAS ALSO REPORTED.
06:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGStar HarborHenderson, TXIN STAR HARBOR, SOME MINOR ROOF DAMAGE WAS REPORTED AND LARGE TREE LIMBS WERE DOWN. THE TREE LIMBS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE A COUPLE OF INCHES WIDE.
06:35 UTCTSTM WND DMGToolHenderson, TXSMALL TREE LIMBS WERE KNOCKED DOWN IN TOOL.
06:38 UTCTSTM WND GST 785 Se Star HarborHenderson, TXMEASURED IN MALAKOFF
06:42 UTCTSTM WND DMGMabankKaufman, TXSEVERAL BUILDINGS WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN ONE CITY BLOCK.
06:45 UTCTSTM WND DMGCorsicanaNavarro, TXBROOKSHIRE GROCERY STORE LOST APPROX 30% OF THE ROOF AND SOME TRUSSES WERE BENT.
06:45 UTCTORNADOMabankKaufman, TXA BRIEF EF1 TORNADO OCCURRED IN MABANK. A RESIDENTAL HOME WAS DAMAGED. ESTIMATED WINDS OF 90 MPH AND TRACK OF 1/4 MILE.
07:04 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 W VanVan Zandt, TXNUMEROUS MEDIUM SIZE TREES DOWN 2 MILES WEST OF VAN
07:15 UTCTSTM WND DMG5 W LindaleSmith, TXTREE AND POWERLINE DOWN IN HIDEAWAY LAKE COMMUNITY
07:25 UTCTSTM WND DMG9 Sw CantonVan Zandt, TXDPS TROOP REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR PURTIS CREEK PARK...2SE OF ODEM.
08:24 UTCTSTM WND DMGCorsicanaNavarro, TXBROOKSHIRE STORE IN CORSICANA LOST PART OF ITS ROOF WITH BENT TRUSSES.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2010 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 24, 2010

38 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 242:31 AM CDTEF0Wood, TX4.21003$75,000
April 242:45 AM CDTEF0Wood, TX1.670$10,000
April 246:57 AM CDTEF0Union Parish, LA0.570
April 248:43 AM CDTEF1Smith, MS10.750$40,000
April 249:22 AM CDTEF2Jasper, MS22.91,056$1.3 million
April 2410:44 AM CDTEF0Sumter, AL0.130
April 2411:09 AM CDTEF4Yazoo City tornado, Mississippi149.03,08010146$386 million
April 2411:19 AM CDTEF1Marengo, AL8.22002$170,000
April 2411:20 AM CDTEF0Union, MS0.130$25,000
April 2411:50 AM CDTEF0Hale, AL5.8100$60,000
April 2412:37 PM CDTEF0Nodaway, MO0.125
April 2412:40 PM CDTEF0Nodaway, MO0.125
April 241:40 PM CDTEF0Taney, MO0.570$20,000
April 242:05 PM CDTEF0Mississippi, AR2.150$3,000
April 242:09 PM CDTEF2Oktibbeha, MS7.0800$650,000
April 242:28 PM CDTEF2Clay, MS1.9300$80,000
April 242:40 PM CDTEF1Monroe, MS6.51501$350,000
April 244:23 PM CDTEF0Christian, KY2.040$4,000
April 244:25 PM CDTEF0Saint Louis, MO0.6300
April 244:26 PM CDTEF1Decatur, TN25.6400$1.1 million
April 244:27 PM CDTEF0Marion, AL7.2200$105,000
April 244:30 PM CDTEF0Saint Louis, MO4.4325
April 245:40 PM CDTEF1Edmonson, KY1.150$30,000
April 246:15 PM CDTEF1Hickman, TN1.8100$30,000
April 246:57 PM CDTEF2Cullman, AL5.8300
April 248:25 PM EDTEF1Mercer, KY1.850
April 247:32 PM CDTEF1Lauderdale, MS4.3100$450,000
April 247:42 PM CDTEF0Macon, TN1.550$16,000
April 248:06 PM CDTEF1Fayette, AL6.6200$77,000
April 248:21 PM CDTEF1Fayette, AL4.6400$75,000
April 249:59 PM CDTEF1Blount, AL0.9200$50,000
April 2410:01 PM CDTEF3Walker, AL29.6400$658,000
April 2410:05 PM CDTEF3Marshall, AL17.71,32035$14 million
April 2410:35 PM CDTEF3DeKalb, AL21.31,32010$3.0 million
April 2411:25 PM CDTEF3DeKalb, AL to GA14.3440$2.7 million
April 2412:01 AM CDTEF4Crossville–Collinsville tornado, AL16.68805$3.0 million
April 241:50 AM EDTEF0Monroe, TN5.050$25,000
April 241:55 AM EDTEF1Loudon, TN8.0100$30,000

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.