EF3 Tornado — Van Zandt, Texas

2015-05-10 · near Primrose, Van Zandt, Texas

Event narrative

A NWS storm survey team found EF-3 damage in the city of Van. This tornado began near highway 64, near Edom before moving in a northerly direction. The storm crossed Interstate 20 on the southeast side of Van, before carving a destructive path over the eastern side of the city. The greatest damage was done in a housing development to the north of the public school administration building, where over 50 homes were damaged or destroyed. Two fatalities occurred with this tornado, as a married couple was apparently asleep in their mobile home when the tornado hit.

Wider weather episode

An active Spring weather pattern led to numerous severe thunderstorms, many of which produced tornadoes, across north Texas during Mother's Day Weekend. The prolonged period of strong to severe storms was made possible by a slow-moving upper level low pressure system which moved east from the Rockies through the Southern Plains. Activity began on Friday and continued through Mother's Day evening.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.4095, -95.6190)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 570339. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.