Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2024
EF0 tornado, Burlington, Texas, April 28, 2024
This EF0 tornado ran 0.2 miles across Milam County on April 28, 2024, touching down at 2:50 PM CDT and reaching 40 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $5,000 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 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
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
- EF0
- Date
- April 28, 2024
- Touchdown
- 2:50 PM CDT (19:50 UTC)
- Lifted
- 2:51 PM CDT (19:51 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.2 miles (0.3 km)
- Path width
- 40 yards (37 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $5,000
- County
- Milam County
- Touchdown point
- 31.010, -96.994
- Lift-off point
- 31.013, -96.993
- Record number
- 2404281350-01
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.
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 shortwave trough, dryline, and Pacific front all worked together to produce multiple rounds of thunderstorms Friday April 26 through Sunday April 28. All modes of severe weather took place across the region, along with multiple instances of flash flooding. 11 tornadoes occurred across McLennan, Hill, and Navarro counties on April 26th, and another 4 tornadoes occurred in Milam, Limestone and Freestone counties on April 28th.
This EF-0 tornado was confirmed by video and a damage assessment from local officials. A tornado occurred east of Highway 77 in Burlington, damaging a small shed on one property and a few uninhabited mobile homes on a neighboring property. Damage mostly consisted of peeled metal paneling on the roofs and sides. Maximum estimated winds were 80 mph.
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 Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 28, 1:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 1:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 1:22 PM CDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 122 PM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-291145- Montague-Cooke-Grayson-Fannin-Lamar-Young-Jack-Wise-Denton-Collin- Hunt-Delta-Hopkins-Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Tarrant-Dallas- Rockwall-Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rains-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell- Johnson-Ellis-Henderson-Comanche-Mills-Hamilton-Bosque-Hill-Navarro- Freestone-Anderson-Lampasas-Coryell-Bell-McLennan-Falls-Limestone- Leon-Milam-Robertson- 122 PM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. Thunderstorms remain possible along and east of I-35 this afternoon. Any storms that develop this afternoon could be severe with damaging winds, hail, and a few tornadoes. Heavy rain will lead to flooding in some areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. After a break in thunderstorm activity on Monday, occasional storm chances will resume Tuesday and continue through next weekend. A few thunderstorms could be strong to severe. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Timely reports of severe weather and flooding will be appreciated.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 28, 10:34 AM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1034 AM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1010 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NW Waco 31.61N 97.23W
04/28/2024 M59 MPH McLennan TX ASOS
59 MPH wind gust measured at Waco Regional
Airport on back edge of dissipating
thunderstorms.
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 28, 10:43 AM CDT, 4 hours 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1043 AM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1018 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 NW Waco 31.61N 97.23W
04/28/2024 M64 MPH McLennan TX ASOS
64 MPH wind gust measured at Waco Regional
Airport on back edge of dissipating
thunderstorms.
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 28, 11:02 AM CDT, 3 hours 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1102 AM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1012 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 1 WNW Woodway 31.50N 97.25W
04/28/2024 M70 MPH McLennan TX Broadcast Media
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 28, 11:43 AM CDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1143 AM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1223 PM Tornado 6 SSW Gholson 31.63N 97.26W
04/26/2024 McLennan TX NWS Storm Survey
A brief EF-0 tornado occurred along Wisdom
Ct west of Waco. Fences were damaged and
large tree limbs were broken. Maximum
estimated winds were 80 mph.
1226 PM Tornado 6 S Gholson 31.63N 97.25W
04/26/2024 McLennan TX NWS Storm Survey
A second tornado from the same supercell
occurred west of Waco damaging neighborhoods
on either side of Wortham Bend Road near
China Spring Rd. Damage in these
neighborhoods consisted of damaged trees,
downed fences, broken windows, and mostly
minor roof damage. One home lost most of the
front part of its roof, and a few homes were
impaled with flying fence panels. This
tornado was rated an EF-1 with maximum
estimated winds of 95 mph.
1248 PM Tornado 3 SE West 31.78N 97.05W
04/26/2024 McLennan TX NWS Storm Survey
Another tornado developed north of Tours,
just west of Berger Road. This tornado
initially damaged trees and a shed, but
strengthened as it crossed Czech Hall Road.
The tornado hit a property on County Line
Road causing EF-2 damage to a barn and a
shop on the property. The tornado scattered
heavy farm material into the field to the
east. The tornado continued into Hill County
crossing CR 3238 where an eye witness
reported it dissipated before developing the
next tornado. Maximum estimated winds were
110 to 115 mph.
1248 PM Tornado 3 SSE West 31.76N 97.07W
04/26/2024 McLennan TX NWS Storm Survey
A brief, EF-0 tornado damaged trees west of
Heritage Pkwy and south of Easy Rd northwest
of Tours. Maximum estimated winds were 75
mph.
0106 PM Tornado 3 SW Penelope 31.83N 96.97W
04/26/2024 Hill TX NWS Storm Survey
The same supercell produced another brief,
EF-1 tornado, based on eye witness accounts,
on either side of FM 339 southwest of
Penelope. The tornado formed in the field
just east of the road, hitting a residence
and dissipating soon afterwards. Two houses
were damaged: One had metal panels peeled
off the roof, and the home shifted off its
cinder blocks about 8 inches. Winds got in
the garage of the uninhabited second house
and lifted the roof off, then it collapsed
back on the house and the walls buckled. The
tornado lifted just east of property; could
see a few small tree limbs broken to the
east. Maximum estimated winds were 105 mph.
0149 PM Tornado 1 W Abbott 31.88N 97.09W
04/26/2024 Hill TX NWS Storm Survey
An EF-1 tornado occurred near Abbott, first
developing on the west side of I-35W and CR
2341 where trees were damaged and uprooted.
A semi-tractor trailer was rolled over on
the interstate. The tornado moved northeast
causing tree damage until it reached CR 3106
where it caused minor damage to a few homes.
The tornado dissipated near after crossing
CR 3106 again, north of CR 3145. Maximum
estimated winds were 95 mph.
&&Local storm report, Apr 28, 2:04 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
204 PM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0152 PM Flash Flood 1 E Temple 31.10N 97.35W
04/28/2024 Bell TX Fire Dept/Rescue
At least four roads in Temple inundated.
Report of one vehicle water rescue.
&&Local storm report, Apr 28, 2:06 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
206 PM CDT Sun Apr 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 PM Flash Flood Holland 30.88N 97.41W
04/28/2024 Bell TX Public
Report from mPING: Street/road flooding;
Street/road closed; Vehicles stranded.
&&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), 12:00Z
7.8 hours before the tornado, 204 km from the path. April 28, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -83272 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 3 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 792 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 144 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 172 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.3 K/km
Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), 00:00Z
4.2 hours after it, 204 km from the path. April 29, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1374 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2456 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 854 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 67 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 17 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 0.7
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.6 K/km
The surface observations
Cameron (T35), 15 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 Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:51 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 2024 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 28, 2024
18 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 28 | 1:23 AM CDT | EF1 | Cherokee, OK | 4.3 | 350 | |||
| April 28 | 8:31 AM CDT | EF1 | Travis, TX | 4.8 | 20 | $5.0 million | ||
| April 28 | 3:08 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone, TX | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 28 | 3:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Freestone, TX | 1.3 | 90 | |||
| April 28 | 3:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Freestone, TX | 0.9 | 50 | $15,000 | ||
| April 28 | 5:23 PM CDT | Unrated | Pittsburg, OK | 2.0 | 100 | |||
| April 28 | 6:25 PM CDT | EF1 | Madison, TX | 4.3 | 100 | $80,000 | ||
| April 28 | 6:50 PM CDT | Unrated | McIntosh, OK | 1.3 | 75 | |||
| April 28 | 7:07 PM CDT | EF1 | Caddo Parish, LA | 3.2 | 350 | $500,000 | ||
| April 28 | 7:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Bossier Parish, LA | 2.9 | 300 | |||
| April 28 | 7:32 PM CDT | EF1 | Bossier Parish, LA | 3.0 | 325 | |||
| April 28 | 7:33 PM CDT | EF0 | Bossier Parish, LA | 1.7 | 275 | |||
| April 28 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Trinity, TX | 0.3 | 200 | 1 | 1 | $100,000 |
| April 28 | 7:37 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, AR | 0.8 | 275 | $50,000 | ||
| April 28 | 7:43 PM CDT | EF1 | Lafayette, AR | 1.4 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| April 28 | 8:01 PM CDT | EF0 | LeFlore, OK | 4.3 | 200 | |||
| April 28 | 8:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Stone, MO | 0.4 | 100 | $10,000 | ||
| April 28 | 10:15 PM CDT | Unrated | Carroll, AR | 2.1 | 75 |
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.