EF1 Tornado — Natchitoches, Louisiana

2011-04-26 · near Robeline, Natchitoches, Louisiana

Event narrative

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in Natchitoches Parish in Louisiana and concluded that damage near Robeline was the result of an EF1 tornado with possible multiple vortices. This tornado was a continuation of the tornado that first touched down in northeast Sabine Parish. In Natchitoches Parish, the tornado produced damage near the Robeline Provencal Road. Along Hwy. 6, numerous homes were damaged largely from falling trees, however a few homes sustained roof damage from winds. Numerous carports were tossed or flipped. Numerous trees were snapped and or uprooted along the path as well. Southeast of Robeline along Robeline Provencal Road numerous trees fell on homes and cars where several homes were nearly destroyed. The tornado continued east snapping trees and moving into largely forested areas north of Big Hill Fire Tower Road. The tornado lifted shortly before reaching Hagewood south along Hwy. 117. This is one of two tornadoes which affected Natchitoches Parish where it is estimated that at least 100 homes received damage from the storms. Maximum winds are estimated at 95-105 mph.

Wider weather episode

A very volatile atmosphere developed during the late afternoon...evening and overnight hours of April 26th across the Four State Region. An area of low pressure moved from the Texas Hill Country into Northeast Texas during the afternoon. Meanwhile, a warm front had moved northward from central Louisiana and was oriented west to east near the Arkansas/Louisiana state line. A dry line had moved just east of the I-35 corridor of North Central Texas and a strong cold front trailed the dry line. Very strong speed and directional shear was noted in the low and mid levels of the atmosphere such that supercells developed. Many of these produced tornadoes across the region. Other storms produced strong straight line wind gusts with bowing segments and large hail.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.6487, -93.3356)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 291642. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.