EF2 Tornado — Jefferson, Louisiana

2007-02-13 · near Westwego, Jefferson, Louisiana

Event narrative

A tornado moved along a northerly path from Lapalco Boulevard to the Mississippi River roughly following Avenue C and Avenue D. Significant damage was observed to residential and commercial structures that indicated an intensity in the mid to upper range of an EF 2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated to be in the 125-130 mph range. Some of the most impressive structural damage observed was to an older, two story motel building which had its roof removed and a portion of the second floor walls caved in. The tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Orleans Parish.

Wider weather episode

Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours over sections of southeast Louisiana well in advance of a squall line associated with a strong upper air storm system and cold front moving through the lower Mississippi Valley. These rogue rotating supercell storms produced tornadoes as well as large hail and isolated wind damage. A tornado in Jefferson Parish destroyed 23 houses and damaged 231 others. Tornadoes in Orleans Parish destroyed 32 houses and damaged 295 others.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.9000, -90.1300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 16781. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.