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F1 tornado in Erath County, Texas

Tornado December 29, 2006 · Erath County, Texas

Rating

8.0 mi

Path length

75 yd

Path width

$25K

Damage as recorded

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The path drawn at its surveyed width of 75 yards (0.04 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Several residents reported seeing a tornado near Alexander. A local dairy was destroyed, as was a barn. Damage to fences and trees was also reported. Numerous cows were killed.

The wider storm

A rare winter tornado outbreak occurred on December 29 over portions of North Texas, spawning almost two dozen tornadoes. Very high shear and low instability created an environment favorable for tornadoes. A strong surface low pressure system and warm front located in southern North Texas increased the probablitity for low-level rotation. In addition to tornadoes, severe reports of large hail and flash flooding were widespread.

Began near Alexander (32.0122, -98.2000).

Other tornadoes from the same storm system

21 more tornadoes the National Weather Service filed under this storm episode.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 7371. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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