Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2024
EF1 tornado, Oak Ridge to Melrose, Texas, May 30, 2024
From Oak Ridge to Melrose, this EF1 tornado ran 4.2 miles across Nacogdoches County on May 30, 2024, touching down at 6:41 PM CDT and reaching 387 yards wide. It killed nobody.
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
- May 30, 2024
- Touchdown
- 6:41 PM CDT (23:41 UTC)
- Lifted
- 6:49 PM CDT (23:49 UTC)
- On the ground
- 8 minutes
- Path length
- 4.2 miles (6.7 km)
- Path width
- 387 yards (354 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Nacogdoches County
- Touchdown point
- 31.588, -94.542
- Lift-off point
- 31.562, -94.478
- Record number
- 2405301741-01
The damage survey
73 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS SHV, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.
- Tree fell on house and caused injury to head 13506 21 East
- Next to a tree pointing north
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
Remnants of a pre-dawn mesoscale convective system (MCS) that developed over the southern High Plains propagated downstream into the Ark-La-Tex region during the afternoon hours on May 30th. Diurnal heating and weak convective inhibition allowed for renewed development of severe thunderstorms along the leading edge of this long-lived MCS. Surface temperatures warmed into the 80s ahead of this convection across East Texas and North Louisiana, which contributed to MLCAPE values on the order of 1500-2000 J/kg within a modestly sheared environment. Additionally, a shortwave trough associated with this convection promoted further advancement downstream into an air mass that was supportive of robust updrafts. As a result, numerous severe thunderstorms affected much of East Texas with widespread damaging winds and one large hail report. In addition, multiple reports of flash flooding and an isolated tornado were also documented.
This EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 100 mph, was part of a line of convection that moved through Nacogdoches County and was embedded in a much wider swath of wind damage. The tornado first touched down southwest of the corner at County Road 302 and County Road 313. The damage in this area consisted of many trees snapped or uprooted that were convergent and more chaotic than the surrounding damage. However, there was some damage to the roofing of a small barn on the property along with a snapped power pole nearby. The tornado then crossed County Road 313 just south of County Road 302 where significant tree damage was observed. From there, the road network was sparse and no other points were accessible until the tornado crossed County Road 302 north of San Augustine Highway to the west of Melrose. EF-0 damage continued along County Road 302 south to San Augustine Highway with damage observed along the highway into Melrose. The tornado then crossed County Road 331 where damage seemed to increase and was consistent with that of EF-1 wind speeds. From there, the tornado continued north of San Augustine Highway until it reached FM 3276 before it lifted just to the east of 3276.
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 19:55 UTC and running to 02:00 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19:55 UTC | 02:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SHV |
| 22:31 UTC | 23:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SHV |
| 23:08 UTC | 02:15 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | SHV |
| 23:09 UTC | 00:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SHV |
| 23:37 UTC | 02:30 UTC | Flash Flood Warning | SHV |
| 23:37 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SHV |
| 23:49 UTC | 00:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SHV |
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 Marginal Risk. The outlook in force was issued at 20:06 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.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at May 30, 6:39 PM CDT, 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 30, 6:39 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
639 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
...New AVIATION...
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Friday Night)
Issued at 224 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
Active weather day this afternoon across our northwest half as
ample instability is combining with a very moist atmosphere and
upstream forcing from remnant MCV and associated outflow boundary
to produce locally heavy downpours mainly near and northwest of
the I-30 Corridor. After coordinating with WPC along with
neighboring offices to the west and north, have decided to issue a
Flood Watch with this afternoon's package to encompass the
northern half of NE TX along the I-20 Corridor and to include
Southeast Oklahoma and the western third of SW AR as well with the
watch valid through 7 pm tomorrow evening.
The players for this event are the above mentioned disturbance
moving our way in WNW flow aloft and latest progs and CAMS are in
good agreement with another disturbance to follow this one, moving
out of the Upper Red River Valley, moving into the Middle Red
River Valley and Piney Woods of NE TX after midnight towards
sunrise Friday morning, bringing with it additional heavy
rainfall. Could easily see two to four inches of rainfall with
isolated higher amounts and depending on how much our region sees
with this first round of convection through much of the evening,
would not be surprised if the Flood Watch may have to be expanded
further east and south to encompass more of SW AR, NE TX and maybe
even NW LA. What's not very clear with this forecast is how this
current disturbance will influence the size and intensity of the
convection associated with the second disturbance by the time it
begins moving into our region near or shortly before sunrise on
Friday and thus, this will be addressed with future forecasts.
Progs are really all over the place on the handling of the above
mentioned features but this forecast will follow the HREF which
shows a break in the storm coverage beyond Friday Morning across
the Flood Watch area with diurnal heating across our remaining
area helping to ignite scattered to numerous areas of convection
downstream of our current Flood Watch for Friday Afternoon.
Not to be forgotten is the wind and hail threats for the remainder
of the afternoon and evening as the southern half of NE TX has
become very unstable this afternoon and the broken line of
convection near the I-20 Corridor of N TX west of TYR will dive
southeast with a cold pool progressing southeast and will thus
pose at least a severe wind threat. Thus, Severe Thunderstorm
Watch #353 is valid through 9PM this evening.
Thanks for the coordination today FWD, TSA, LZK, WPC and
SPC...prelims to follow...13.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through next Wednesday)
Issued at 224 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
Did not make much in the way of changes to the weekend and early
portion of next week forecast. There continues to be weak
disturbances embedded in west northwest flow aloft, one that will
likely begin impacting our region late Saturday and continue into
Sunday. Beyond the weekend, what weak ridging we had to deal with
is all but exited our region to the east with additional ridging
aloft progd to build north of the Tx Hill Country into the
Intermountain West. This will only serve to further enhance
northwest flow aloft across the Southern Plains/Lower Miss Valley
and as a result, this flow could bring with it additional
thunderstorm chances through at least the middle part of next
week. Sided with the NBM for now with slight chance to low end
chance pops until disturbances in this flow can become better
defined.
13
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 622 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is moving south and east
across the ArkLaTex at this hour, bringing imminent impacts to
KLFK and KSHV. Prevailing VCTS/TSRA as needed through the evening.
Lingering showers and possible lightning for KTXK, KGGG and KTYR.
VIS/CIGs will be reduced accordingly to MVFR and IFR late
overnight and towards daybreak. Thunder chances will continue
through the night, with southeasterly winds becoming light and
variable, aside from locally high guts in the vicinty of and
resulting from thunderstorms and rain-cooled trailing regions.
Areas of LLWS will be possible for the next several hours,
particularly across deep east Texas.
/26/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SHV 85 73 85 71 / 60 50 60 50
MLU 84 70 84 69 / 60 40 70 50
DEQ 81 66 79 65 / 60 70 60 40
TXK 84 69 82 68 / 60 60 60 40
ELD 82 67 82 67 / 50 50 70 50
TYR 84 69 82 71 / 60 60 60 20
GGG 83 70 83 70 / 60 60 60 30
LFK 88 70 85 72 / 60 50 70 40
&&
.SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flood Watch through Friday evening for ARZ050-051-059-070.
LA...None.
OK...Flood Watch through Friday evening for OKZ077.
TX...Flood Watch through Friday evening for TXZ096-097-108>112-
124>126-136>138.
&&
SHORT TERM...13
LONG TERM....13
AVIATION...26Hazardous weather outlook, May 30, 5:47 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 TXZ138-311100- Harrison- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 355 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 PM CDT this evening. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms could be severe. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. In addition, locally heavy rainfall could result in a threat for flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this evening. TXZ124-125-136-137-311100- Wood-Upshur-Smith-Gregg- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 353 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 PM CDT this evening. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms could be severe. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. In addition, locally heavy rainfall could result in a threat for flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this evening. TXZ149-150-152-165-311100- Cherokee-Rusk-Nacogdoches-Angelina- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 353 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 9 PM CDT this evening. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms could be severe. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this evening. ARZ050-051-059-070-OKZ077-TXZ096-097-108>112-126-311100- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Miller-McCurtain-Red River-Bowie-Franklin- Titus-Camp-Morris-Cass-Marion- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms may produce gusty winds and small hail. In addition, locally heavy rainfall could result in a threat for flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. LAZ001>003-010>012-017-018-TXZ151-153-166-167-311100- Caddo-Bossier-Webster-De Soto-Red River-Bienville-Sabine- Natchitoches-Panola-Shelby-San Augustine- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 355 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Louisiana, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 PM CDT this evening. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms could be severe. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed this evening. ARZ060-061-071>073-LAZ004>006-013-014-019>022-311100- Hempstead-Nevada-Lafayette-Columbia-Union-Claiborne-Lincoln-Jackson- Ouachita-Winn-Grant-Caldwell-La Salle- 547 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana and northwest Louisiana. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Widespread showers and thunderstorms expected today across the ArkLaTex late this afternoon into the evening hours. Some strong storms with gusty winds may be possible with heavy rainfall leading to localized street flooding in some storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Some storms may be severe on Friday with locally heavy rain, damaging winds, large hail, and possibly an isolated tornado threat. Otherwise, periods of showers and thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall will be possible each day through the middle of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. 09
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 30, 5:57 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
557 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0441 PM Hail 1 WNW Union Grove 32.59N 94.92W
05/30/2024 M1.00 Inch Upshur TX Broadcast Media
Report of quarter size hail in the Union
Grove community.
&&
CKSpecial weather statement, May 30, 5:58 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
558 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
ARZ071-072-LAZ001>003-302330-
Lafayette AR-Columbia AR-Bossier LA-Caddo LA-Webster LA-
558 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL LAFAYETTE AND
SOUTHWESTERN COLUMBIA COUNTIES...NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER...NORTHWESTERN
CADDO AND NORTHWESTERN BOSSIER PARISHES THROUGH 630 PM CDT...
At 557 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bradley to near Plain Dealing to Belcher.
Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Springhill, Cullen, Plain Dealing, Sarepta, Bradley, Taylor, Belcher,
Gilliam, Bussey, Welcome, Alden Bridge, Rocky Mount, Gin City,
Cavett, State Line, and Bolinger.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
northwestern Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3320 9345 3293 9341 3272 9362 3272 9397
3288 9382 3312 9375
TIME...MOT...LOC 2257Z 255DEG 23KT 3307 9375 3285 9372 3275 9387
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
20Local storm report, May 30, 6:12 PM CDT, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
612 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 7 E New Summerfield 31.97N 94.99W
05/30/2024 M58 MPH Cherokee TX Mesonet
Texas Water Development Board Mesonet site
at Lake Striker reported a wind gust of 58
mph.
&&
CKSpecial weather statement, May 30, 6:22 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
622 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
TXZ152-153-165>167-310000-
Sabine TX-Angelina TX-Nacogdoches TX-San Augustine TX-Shelby TX-
622 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN NACOGDOCHES...SOUTHERN
SHELBY...NORTHWESTERN ANGELINA...SAN AUGUSTINE AND NORTHWESTERN
SABINE COUNTIES THROUGH 700 PM CDT...
At 622 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Rosevine to near Etoile to near Apple Springs.
Movement was north at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Diboll, Hudson, Huntington, San Augustine,
Melrose, Patroon, Martinsville, Bland Lake, Neuville, Woden,
Rosevine, Macune, Etoile, Burke, Chireno, Jericho, Central, and
Redland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
eastern Texas. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch also remains in effect
until 1000 PM CDT for eastern Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3123 9486 3126 9490 3128 9488 3130 9490
3132 9490 3134 9491 3134 9495 3135 9496
3139 9495 3152 9475 3173 9454 3170 9390
3136 9390 3133 9445 3119 9486
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 171DEG 24KT 3142 9400 3140 9447 3126 9488
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
53Special weather statement, May 30, 6:28 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
628 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
ARZ071-072-LAZ002-003-310015-
Lafayette AR-Columbia AR-Bossier LA-Webster LA-
628 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN LAFAYETTE AND
SOUTHWESTERN COLUMBIA COUNTIES...NORTHWESTERN WEBSTER AND NORTHERN
BOSSIER PARISHES THROUGH 715 PM CDT...
At 628 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bradley to 6 miles west of Cullen to 8
miles southwest of Sarepta to 11 miles west of Cotton Valley to near
Benton. Movement was northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Springhill, Benton, Cullen, Plain Dealing, Cotton Valley, Sarepta,
Bradley, Taylor, Bussey, Canfield, Welcome, Lerch, Rocky Mount, Gin
City, Walkerville, Cornelius, State Line, Bolinger, Ivan, and Alden
Bridge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
northwestern Louisiana.
&&
LAT...LON 3328 9348 3307 9331 3295 9332 3275 9341
3273 9349 3266 9374 3273 9372 3279 9372
3290 9373 3308 9378
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 239DEG 20KT 3307 9366 3294 9355 3283 9358 3276
9360 3271 9367
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
20Special weather statement, May 30, 6:32 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
632 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
LAZ001-002-310015-
Bossier LA-Caddo LA-
632 PM CDT Thu May 30 2024
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CADDO AND WEST
CENTRAL BOSSIER PARISHES THROUGH 715 PM CDT...
At 632 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Mooringsport to near Blanchard. Movement
was northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Shreveport, Vivian, Blanchard, Benton, Oil City, Mooringsport,
Hosston, Belcher, Gilliam, Dixie, Caddo Lake, and Cavett.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
northwestern Louisiana...and northeastern Texas.
&&
LAT...LON 3298 9393 3265 9361 3252 9391 3261 9398
3265 9405 3274 9405
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 212DEG 21KT 3267 9401 3256 9391
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
20The 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.
Shreveport, LA (KSHV), 12:00Z
11.7 hours before the tornado, 124 km from the path. May 30, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 660 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -98 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 843 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 673 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 20 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 17 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 99 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 69 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.7 K/km
Shreveport, LA (KSHV), 00:00Z
0.3 hours after it, 124 km from the path. May 31, 2024.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1136 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 2695 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 861 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 38 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 12 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 79 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 112 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.5
- Supercell composite
- 5.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.6 K/km
The surface observations
Nacogdoches (Awos) (OCH), 19 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23:50 UTC | 320° 9 kt | 1016.9 | +RA FG | |||
| 23:53 UTC | 66.2 | 340° 7 kt | 17 | 1017.3 | +TSRA | |
| 23:55 UTC | 20° 5 kt | 1016.9 | +RA | |||
| 23:56 UTC | 66 | 4 kt | 1016.9 | +TSRA | ||
| 00:00 UTC | 10° 5 kt | 1016.9 | RA | |||
| 00:05 UTC | 10° 5 kt | 1016.6 | RA | |||
| 00:06 UTC | 66.2 | 10° 5 kt | 1016.6 | TSRA | ||
| 00:10 UTC | 20° 2 kt | 1016.9 | RA | |||
| 00:15 UTC | 360° 4 kt | 1016.9 | RA | |||
| 00:20 UTC | 360° 7 kt | 1016.6 | RA | |||
| 00:25 UTC | 350° 11 kt | 1015.9 | -RA | |||
| 00:30 UTC | 360° 9 kt | 1015.6 | RA | |||
| 00:35 UTC | 360° 5 kt | 1015.6 | RA | |||
| 00:40 UTC | 30° 5 kt | 1015.2 | RA | |||
| 00:45 UTC | 40° 4 kt | 1015.2 | RA | |||
| 00:50 UTC | 30° 2 kt | 1014.9 | RA | |||
| 00:55 UTC | 350° 2 kt | 1015.2 | RA | |||
| 00:56 UTC | 66 | 3 kt | 1015.2 | VCTS RA | ||
| 01:00 UTC | 0° 0 kt | 1015.2 | RA | |||
| 01:04 UTC | 66.2 | 90° 3 kt | 1015.2 | RA | ||
| 01:05 UTC | 80° 2 kt | 1015.2 | RA | |||
| 01:10 UTC | 110° 5 kt | 1015.2 | -RA | |||
| 01:14 UTC | 66.2 | 110° 5 kt | 1015.6 | VCTS -RA | ||
| 01:15 UTC | 110° 5 kt | 1015.6 | -RA | |||
| 01:20 UTC | 130° 8 kt | 1015.6 | RA | |||
| 01:25 UTC | 130° 8 kt | 1015.6 | RA | |||
| 01:30 UTC | 120° 10 kt | 1015.2 | -RA | |||
| 01:35 UTC | 110° 8 kt | 1014.9 | -RA | |||
| 01:40 UTC | 100° 10 kt | 1013.9 | -RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:38 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23:41 UTC | TORNADO | 7 Ese Nacogdoches | Nacogdoches, TX | This EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph, was part of a line of convection that moved through Nacogdoches County and was embedded in a much wider swath of wind damage. The tornado first touched down southwest of the |
| 23:45 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Nacogdoches | Nacogdoches, TX | Numerous trees and powerlines down across the county. |
| 23:50 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 8 Wnw Chireno | Nacogdoches, TX | *** 1 INJ *** A large tree was uprooted with strong winds of up to 90 mph. The tree unfortunately fell on top of a home. During the tree falling on the home, the homeowner sustained a head injury. |
| 00:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Center | Shelby, TX | Reports of trees down across several roadways in Shelby County. |
| 00:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 9 Wnw Chireno | Nacogdoches, TX | Several power lines and trees down across Hwy 21 between Melrose and Chireno, east of Nacogdoches. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
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 May 30, 2024
11 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30 | 5:10 PM CDT | EF2 | Midland, TX | 10.3 | 1,700 | $75,000 | ||
| May 30 | 5:16 PM CDT | Unrated | Midland, TX | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 30 | 5:16 PM CDT | Unrated | Pecos, TX | 1.5 | 50 | |||
| May 30 | 6:40 PM CDT | EF3 | Midland, TX | 5.3 | 250 | $150,000 | ||
| May 30 | 7:30 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 2.5 | 175 | |||
| May 30 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 1.6 | 275 | $100,000 | ||
| May 30 | 7:36 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 1.0 | 110 | |||
| May 30 | 7:51 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 3.9 | 400 | $100,000 | ||
| May 30 | 7:58 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 0.5 | 250 | |||
| May 30 | 7:59 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| May 30 | 9:16 PM CDT | EF1 | Rapides Parish, LA | 4.1 | 50 | $20,000 |
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.