EF1 Tornado — Jefferson, Texas

2009-08-18 · near Gillburg, Jefferson, Texas

Event narrative

An EF1 Tornado touched down just west of the Kohls Department Store in the Parkdale Mall area. The tornado struck the Kohls, tearing off part of its roof and collapsing the front entrance. Damage to the store forced it to close for several weeks. The tornado continued to the northeast and crossed a Walmart parking lot, flipping over four vehicles and damaging dozens of others. Further to the northeast, the tornado struck Parkdale Mall, damaging the roofs of several department stores. The tornado lifted in the east parking lot of Parkdale Mall before reaching Highway 69.

Numerous photographs and videos of the tornado were taken.

Wider weather episode

Scattered thunderstorms developed during the morning and afternoon hours across southeast Texas. One of these thunderstorms moving across the northern portions of Beaumont spawned an EF1 tornado which struck the Parkdale Mall area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.1199, -94.1726)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 194711. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.