Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2023
EF1 tornado, Orangefield Arpt to Echo, Texas, January 24, 2023
From Orangefield Arpt to Echo, this EF1 tornado ran 2.3 miles across Orange County on January 24, 2023, touching down at 4:23 PM CST and reaching 75 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $25,000 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
- January 24, 2023
- Touchdown
- 4:23 PM CST (22:23 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:29 PM CST (22:29 UTC)
- On the ground
- 6 minutes
- Path length
- 2.3 miles (3.6 km)
- Path width
- 75 yards (69 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $25,000
- County
- Orange County
- Touchdown point
- 30.032, -93.908
- Lift-off point
- 30.056, -93.883
- Record number
- 2301241623-01
The damage survey
22 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS LCH, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 120 mph.
- Tree and power line damage.
- Tornado crossed the Sabine River here. A few trees on the other side of the river are snapped at the top. This house has its roof peeled off and several trees that are damaged.
- Location where the Orange Tornado crossed Highway 87. Small tree debris is scattered across the highway along with damaged road signs. The tornado was weak at this location.
- Weak tornado damage to outbuildings and trees. One outbuilding sustaining heavy damage. A stock trailer was flipped over on its side.
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 vigorous storm system moved across the region spawning high wind gusts and a pair of tornadoes in deep southeast Texas.
A brief tornado developed over the Bessie Heights Marsh producing damage to trees and roofs from Nora Circle across Round Bunch Road, Edgar Drive to Turner Road. The tornado damaged electrical transmission lines as it weakened before Bessie Heights Road. Max estimated winds were 100 mph.
The Orange-Calcasieu Tornado touched down near Orangefield Road and quickly produced EF-2 damage a few blocks northwest of Orangefield High School. This area sustained the most severe damage from this tornado, where winds were estimated to max out at 120 mph. Numerous homes were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The tornado then crossed over Cow Bayou, and produced mostly EF-1 damage through the rest of Orange County. The tornado crossed the Sabine River over a section of West Bluff Road. A marine survey revealed that the tornado did remain continuous across the Sabine River Swamp area.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Lake Charles, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Jan 24, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
315 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE...
.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Thursday night)
Issued at 310 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
All the main weather during this period will occur from now
through the evening hours as a potent surface low moves northeast
across the forecast area from southeast Texas to east central
Louisiana.
South of the surface low the warm sector will have a chance to
move inland, probably getting up to the I-10 corridor. These
locations will have a potential to see supercell rotating
thunderstorms producing tornadoes, then see a squall line to
produce damaging wind gusts. Also, in the warm sector strong
gradient winds will occur as mixing will allow the strong low
level jet come down to the surface. We have already seen gradient
wind gusts to 55 mph at KBPT. High rainfall rates will occur which
may cause some quick street flooding.
As the low lifts off to the northeast, a cold front will move down
in behind it bringing northwest wind and cooler and drier air,
although low level cloudiness will likely take awhile to scatter
out on Wednesday.
Rua
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through next Monday)
Issued at 310 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
High pressure will be across the northern gulf coast during Friday
morning. A quite chilly air mass will have settled in and a light
freeze may occur at most locations north of Interstate 10.
The ridge will shift east through Friday and into weekend which will
start the return flow by Friday afternoon. Low pressure is expected
to develop in the southern plains Saturday which will increase the
southeast flow locally. A few showers will also be possible late
Saturday.
The next cold front will move through the region Sunday with showers
and storms possible. High moisture lvls may allow for another round
of heavy rainfall.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1140 AM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
Conditions will deteriorate as the afternoon progresses as a
strong surface low tracks across southeast Texas to east central
Louisiana. Very strong and gusty southeast to south winds are
expected with low level wind shear through the afternoon, with
occasional showers and MVFR conditions.
Showers and thunderstorms will continue to increase with the low,
and eventually a squall line will move across. Potential IFR
conditions with strong erratic wind gusts with the thunderstorms.
As the low moves off to the northeast this evening, a cold front
will move across with winds becoming northwest, and still breezy
but not as strong. Rains will end with MVFR ceilings holding into
Wednesday morning.
Rua
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 310 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
A surface low will move just north of the coastal waters this
evening. Strong south winds will occur ahead of it with gusts over
gale force, along with showers and thunderstorms, some capable of
producing water spouts. Also, the tides will run 2 to 3 feet above
normal that will produce some coastal flooding during high tide
this evening.
As the surface low moves off to the northeast overnight, a cold
front will move through the coastal waters with strong northwest
winds developing keeping a small craft advisory going after the
gale warning expires.
Winds will decrease during Wednesday as high pressure builds over
the region. An onshore flow will redevelop by the weekend as the
high pushes east of the area.
Rua
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX 40 49 33 52 / 80 0 0 0
LCH 41 51 36 54 / 60 0 0 0
LFT 45 53 38 55 / 90 0 0 0
BPT 40 54 36 56 / 20 0 0 0
&&
.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Wednesday for LAZ027-030.
High Wind Warning until 11 PM CST this evening for LAZ028-029-
031>033-042>045-052>055.
Wind Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Wednesday for
LAZ028-029-031>033-042>045-052>055.
High Wind Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for LAZ041-073-074.
Wind Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Wednesday for
LAZ041-073-074.
Coastal Flood Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for LAZ052>054-
073-074.
TX...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CST Wednesday for TXZ180-201-259>262.
High Wind Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for TXZ215-216.
Wind Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Wednesday for
TXZ215-216.
Coastal Flood Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for TXZ215.
GM...Gale Warning until 3 AM CST Wednesday for GMZ430-432-435-450-452-
455-470-472-475.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 AM to 6 AM CST Wednesday for GMZ430-
432-435-450-452-455-470-472-475.
&&
SHORT TERM...07
LONG TERM....78
AVIATION...07Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 24, 3:23 PM CST, 1 hour before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 LAZ030-TXZ201-259>262-252130- Beauregard-Hardin-Northern Jasper-Northern Newton-Southern Jasper- Southern Newton- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 27 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend,quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ031-042-252130- Allen-Jefferson Davis- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 27 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Louisiana. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. High Wind Warning. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend,quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ052>054-252130- Vermilion-Iberia-St. Mary- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Louisiana and southwest Louisiana. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. High Wind Warning. Coastal Flood Warning. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend, quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ073-074-TXZ215-252130- West Cameron-East Cameron-Jefferson- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 27 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. High Wind Warning. Coastal Flood Warning. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend, quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ028-029-032-033-043>045-055-252130- Rapides-Avoyelles-Evangeline-St. Landry-Acadia-Lafayette- Upper St. Martin-Lower St. Martin- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central Louisiana, south central Louisiana and southwest Louisiana. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. High Wind Warning. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend, quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ027-TXZ180-252130- Vernon-Tyler- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend, quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. LAZ041-TXZ216-252130- Calcasieu-Orange- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...TORNADO WATCH 27 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. High Wind Warning. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. Outside of a chance for showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend, quiet weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ435-452-455-470-472-475-252130- Vermilion Bay- Coastal waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX from 20 to 60 NM- Coastal waters from Intracoastal City to Cameron LA from 20 to 60 NM- Coastal waters from Lower Atchafalaya River to Intracoastal City LA from 20 to 60 NM- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CST WEDNESDAY... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Gale Warning. Small Craft Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. GMZ430-432-450-252130- Sabine Lake-Calcasieu Lake- Coastal waters from Cameron LA to High Island TX out 20 NM- 323 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CST WEDNESDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 27 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Gulf of Mexico and the coastal lakes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Gale Warning. Tornado Watch. Small Craft Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jan 24, 2:26 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
226 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
TXZ180-201-259>261-242100-
Hardin TX-Northern Newton TX-Northern Jasper TX-Southern Jasper TX-
Tyler TX-
226 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Tyler, west
central Newton, northeastern Hardin and Jasper Counties through 300
PM CST...
At 225 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong
thunderstorms near Warren, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Jasper, Woodville, Newton, Kirbyville, Call, Ebenezer, Fred, Town
Bluff, Bon Weir, Caney Head, Trout Creek, Magnolia Springs, Mt.
Union, Spurger, Jamestown, Roganville, Ivanhoe, Sam Rayburn Dam,
Bleakwood and Hillister.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM CST for southwestern
Louisiana...and southeastern Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3109 9418 3110 9410 3096 9384 3074 9361
3072 9361 3043 9408 3038 9419 3058 9438
3082 9447
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 227DEG 41KT 3058 9432
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
78Special weather statement, Jan 24, 2:58 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
258 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
LAZ027-030-TXZ259>262-242130-
Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Southern Newton TX-Northern Newton TX-
Northern Jasper TX-Southern Jasper TX-
258 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern
Beauregard and western Vernon Parishes, Newton and eastern Jasper
Counties through 330 PM CST...
At 257 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Browndell to near Roganville to near Buna.
Movement was east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Jasper, Newton, Kirbyville, Merryville, Evadale, Toledo Bend Dam,
Call, Fields, Bon Weir, Buna, Burkeville, Browndell, Trout Creek,
Bivens, Mayflower, Wrights Settlement, Harrisburg, Junction,
Stringtown and Farrsville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM CST for southwestern
Louisiana...and southeastern Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3131 9342 3088 9332 3052 9355 3033 9410
3035 9408 3041 9412 3075 9395 3113 9404
3116 9391 3118 9361 3117 9358 3119 9355
3123 9354 3124 9356 3128 9353 3128 9344
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 256DEG 43KT 3114 9399 3076 9390 3046 9406
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
78Local storm report, Jan 24, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
315 PM CST TUE JAN 24 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0816 AM HAIL 3 E DUSON 30.23N 92.15W
01/24/2023 U0.50 INCH LAFAYETTE LA PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: HALF-INCH (0.50 IN.).
&&Local storm report, Jan 24, 3:29 PM CST, 54 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
329 PM CST TUE JAN 24 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0304 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW NEDERLAND 29.95N 94.03W
01/24/2023 U55 MPH JEFFERSON TX ASOS
CORRECTS PREVIOUS NON-TSTM WND DMG REPORT
FROM 3 WSW NEDERLAND. ASOS STATION KBPT
SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT.
&&Special weather statement, Jan 24, 3:34 PM CST, 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
334 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
LAZ027-028-030-031-041-TXZ262-242215-
Calcasieu LA-Allen LA-Beauregard LA-Vernon LA-Rapides LA-
Southern Newton TX-
334 PM CST Tue Jan 24 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of western Rapides,
Beauregard, north central Calcasieu, Vernon and western Allen
Parishes through 415 PM CST...
At 334 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hornbeck to 6 miles west of De Ridder to
near Bancroft. Movement was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
De Ridder, Leesville, Rosepine, Merryville, Anacoco, Elizabeth,
Reeves, Dry Creek, Singer, Fort Polk, Sugartown, De Quincy, Slagle,
Ragley, Fields, Pitkin, Mittie, Grant, New Llano and Hornbeck.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 600 PM CST for southwestern
Louisiana...and southeastern Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3083 9280 3042 9310 3042 9313 3038 9313
3036 9315 3044 9376 3084 9345 3128 9348
3128 9344 3136 9339 3137 9303 3135 9295
3137 9295 3137 9292 3139 9291 3139 9289
3143 9284
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 271DEG 43KT 3133 9343 3085 9340 3050 9366
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BrazzellLocal storm report, Jan 24, 4:12 PM CST, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
412 PM CST TUE JAN 24 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0407 PM TORNADO 6 SE FANNETT 29.86N 94.19W
01/24/2023 JEFFERSON TX OFFICIAL NWS OBS
RADAR INDICATES A TDS.
&&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
10.4 hours before the tornado, 67 km from the path. January 24, 2023.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -15296 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 744 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 28 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 395 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 502 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 1.7 K/km
The surface observations
Orange (ORG), 9 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Lake Charles radar (KLCH), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:22 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 2023 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of January 24, 2023
13 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 24 | 1:38 PM CST | EF0 | Fort Bend, TX | 14.6 | 100 | |||
| January 24 | 2:07 PM CST | EF0 | Brazoria, TX | 2.5 | 50 | |||
| January 24 | 2:15 PM CST | EF3 | Harris, TX | 23.3 | 1,000 | $6.6 million | ||
| January 24 | 2:58 PM CST | EF0 | Chambers, TX | 2.4 | 30 | |||
| January 24 | 3:27 PM CST | EF2 | Liberty, TX | 2.0 | 50 | $150,000 | ||
| January 24 | 4:05 PM CST | EF1 | Jefferson, TX | 5.5 | 75 | $15,000 | ||
| January 24 | 4:28 PM CST | EF2 | Orange, TX to LA | 25.2 | 500 | 2 | $1.3 million | |
| January 24 | 4:44 PM CST | EF1 | Calcasieu Parish, LA | 1.4 | 90 | $15,000 | ||
| January 24 | 5:05 PM CST | EF2 | Calcasieu Parish, LA | 12.4 | 300 | 3 | $505,000 | |
| January 24 | 5:12 PM CST | EF1 | Beauregard Parish, LA | 6.5 | 75 | $20,000 | ||
| January 24 | 7:37 PM CST | EF1 | Pointe Coupee Parish, LA | 1.1 | 75 | 3 | $113,000 | |
| January 24 | 10:01 PM CST | EF1 | Terrebonne Parish, LA | 3.0 | 75 | $60,000 | ||
| January 24 | 10:55 PM CST | Unrated | Jefferson Parish, LA | 2.9 | 100 |
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.