F3 Tornado — Tensas, Louisiana

2005-09-24 to 2005-09-25 · near Waterproof, Tensas, Louisiana

Wider weather episode

This tornado first touched down in Clayton and tracked to the northeast for 14 miles to 6 miles north of Waterproof. The tornado was on the ground for 3 miles in Concordia parish before it moved into Tensas parish. The damage in Clayton and just to the northeast was confined to a few trees uprooted and snapped with one tree landing on a mobile home causing 1 injury. The tornado became more intense as it moved across southern Tensas parish. The tornado tracked nearly 6 miles across swamp land before it slammed into a small church on Highway 566. The church was totally destroyed as it was blown off its pillars and deposited in a tree and across the Highway. After traveling across more fields for 2 miles the tornado hit the "Thunderbird House". Here the tornado was at its peak intensity and caused the most significant damage. All the trees on the property were uprooted and mangled, a john boat was wrapped in a tree like tin foil and the large barn in the back yard was totally destroyed. The large house had its second story torn off and deposited 1/4 to 1/2 a mile down the path. This house was around 100 years old, between 5000-6000 sq ft and firmly built. The tornado picked the house up and moved it 4 feet and tore off 2 of the side walls. Additionally, both vehicles in the driveway were moved some 10-15 feet and heavily damaged by debris. The tornado continued to the northeast were it destroyed another home blowing off the roof and all the exterior walls. At this location, a car was picked up and flipped over onto a pile of downed trees. A house on the edge of the path had widows blown out and part of the roof blown off.This tornado had a total path length of 14 miles across Concordia and Tensas parishes. Overall the tornado was not very wide but it was very intense. Fortunately, the tornado moved across a sparsely populated and rural area keeping significant damage to a minimum.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.7000, -91.5167)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5479334. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.