EF2 tornado in Caldwell County, Texas

An NWS Storm Survey team determined a tornado caused EF-2 damage along a 7.5 mile track from 3 miles ESE of Kingsbury to 3 miles ESE of Fentress in Caldwell County. Maximum winds were estimated at 115 mph. The rotation in the storm began to tighten as the storm crossed I-10 at 4:47pm CST. Based on radar data the tornado began roughly a minute later. The tornado crossed Appling Rd. where it took off metal panels from two different barn structures including one barn that lost all of its metal roofing and possibly part of an exterior wall. The tornado next crossed Hwy 90 and moved almost parallel to Woodrow Center Rd. for about a mile and a half damaging several large trees and two houses. One house lost some roof shingles. The other sustained more significant damage to its roof. On the same property a large RV was moved about 100 feet from where it was parked and then destroyed when it hit a tree. An old wooden barn was pushed over and twisted. The tornado continued down Woodrow Center Rd. and across Gander Slough Rd. It moved back into an area of shrubs and trees with not many roads along the San Marcos River. Back along the river, a large grove of trees sustained damage with large trees snapped in the middle of the trunk, uprooted completely, or heavily damaged. As the storm began to cycle the tornado began to move northeast and then more north. Another grove of trees was heavily impacted before another house was hit along with a four person ATV being thrown. Two large trees, estimated over 300 years old, were snapped or fully

uprooted. The tornado then crossed Hwy 80 before impacting one more house, damaging an old RV, and causing more tree damage. The tornado quickly fell apart to the northeast of Stairtown, and dissipated near FM 671.

A warm front brought a warm, moist airmass over South Central Texas early in the day. A dryline moved into this area from the west and generated thunderstorms. Some of these storms produced tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts.