EF3 Tornado — Cooke, Texas

2024-05-25 · near Prairie Pt, Cooke, Texas

Event narrative

This is segment #2 of 4 of a multi-segmented EF-3 supercellular tornado that began in Montague County, crossed into Cooke County, Denton County, and then back into Cooke County. The tornado was ongoing for about an hour and a half with a total path length just under 48 miles. The tornado was the strongest in Cooke County and resulted in 7 fatalities in Cooke County.

The tornado entered Cooke County at 1008 pm CDT time and exited into Denton County at 1049 pm CDT for a total path length of 25.41 miles. The tornado path zigzagged at times. The maximum width of the damage path is measured at over a mile in the area west of Valley View; however this is misleading. We do not believe the tornado was over a mile wide, but instead there were a few smaller circulations rotating around the main tornado circulation which was likely a maximum width of about 1200 yards (.68 miles wide). The tornado entered west of the Rosston area and moved eastward to areas south of Era. Widespread tree damage, consistent with EF-0 tornado intensities, occurred between Rosston to southwest of Era. In the vicinity of FM 51 south of Era, the intensity of damage increased, with widespread tree and structural damage consistent with EF-1 winds of 90-110 mph . Some damage to at least 3 residences southeast of Era (and west of Valley View) was consistent with EF-2 tornadic winds of 115-125 mph (DI 2, DOD 6).The tornado maintained intensity as it approached Valley View from the west. Along CR 200, the upper levels and roofs of several newly constructed homes were damaged or demolished. In addition, a few walls were pushed in on the backside of the homes (west side, DI 2, DOD 6) In this area, the tornado was rated EF-3 with maximum estimated winds of 140 mph. The tornado entered a neighborhood along W Lone Oak Rd which consisted of mainly manufactured and mobile homes. Widespread damage occurred in this neighborhood, and a few demolished homes were rated EF-2 (DI 3, DOD 6). Unfortunately, 7 fatalities occurred here, too. The tornado continued east, crossing I-35, damaging cars and tractor trailers on the interstate. The tornado hit a gas station (DI 8, DOD 7), metal building shop, RV and boat storage units on the corner of Lone Oak Rd and I-35. This area was rated EF-2 with estimated winds of 135 mph. The tornado tracked near and south of E Lone Oak Rd towards Ray Roberts Lake where more roof damage and notable tree damage was observed. The tornado crossed the lake, causing more tree damage and pushing over some campers on the peninsula that includes Ray Roberts Lake State Park Johnson Branch. This is where the tornado entered Denton County. In total, 80 people in Cooke County had to be transported due to injuries. There were likely more that sustained minor injures that weren't transported or accounted for. The highest damage rating in this portion of Cooke County was EF-3 with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph.

Wider weather episode

Another round of dryline-induced convection took place the night of May 25 as a shortwave trough moved overhead. Thunderstorms were more isolated in nature, but one ambitious supercell produced multiple tornadoes the evening of May 25th. A total of 5 tornadoes were produced by the supercell as it moved across Montague, Cooke, Denton, Collin, and Hunt counties, and one more EF-2 occurred from a separate storm in Eastland County. The most notable tornado of the event was a long-track EF-3 tornado across Montague, Cooke, and Denton counties that killed 7 people and injured over 100, drawing national attention to our forecast area and costing an estimated $20 million in damage. A short but intense satellite tornado was also rated EF-3 north of Celina in Collin County. Additional EF-1 tornadoes occurred in Denton, Collin, and Hunt counties. Storm surveys for this event took 3 days to complete. In the after math of the storms the night of May 25th, dissipating thunderstorms produced strong winds across the DFW Metroplex with measured gusts of 60-70 mph winds causing sporadic tree and fence damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.4890, -97.4870)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1182292. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.