EF0 Tornado — St. Helena, Louisiana

2024-06-04 · near Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana

Event narrative

An EF-0 85 MPH tornado was identified after further analysis of radar and high resolution satellite data. This tornado was embedded within a line of strong storms and quickly moved east-southeast causing intermittent, but confined swaths of tree damage along a linear path extending from near Highway 37 south of Greensburg, LA all the way to Highway 441. The most notable swath of tree damage was noted on high resolution satellite imagery near Highway 43 about a mile north of Muse Road. Tornado intensity is estimated by tree damage evident on high resolution satellite imagery.

Wider weather episode

The start of what would eventually be a very potent Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) began around midnight on June 4th in central Oklahoma. A cluster of thunderstorms became outflow dominant with the convection chasing the outflow boundary southeastward. The MCS had weakened quite a bit as it moved into northwest Louisiana. However, strong daytime heating and pooling moisture ahead of this was waiting for it in southeast Louisiana. Those warm temps and high dewpoints increased surface and mid level instability that would support very strong updrafts. Although shear was relatively low, it was sufficient to support severe weather. About the time the MCS reached the Mississippi River, it began to rapidly intensify into a well organized system. As it moved through the area, it produced wide spread wind damage and four tornadoes. No injuries or fatalities reported with these tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.8100, -90.6800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1193115. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.