EF1 Tornado — Lavaca, Texas

2021-05-18 · near Sublime, Lavaca, Texas

Event narrative

Video evidence and an NWS Storm Survey confirmed a tornado touched down roughly one mile northwest of Sublime, south and east of CR 142. The tornado moved northwest and severely damaged a small house as well as snapped large tree branches. Wind speeds at this point were estimated to be 80-100 mph. The tornado crossed CR 142 between CR 159 and CR 143, west of the Navidad River, and continued through open farm land producing sporadic tree damage. The tornado then crossed CR 138 at the Navidad River, completely snapping three foot diameter tree trunks of a few trees near their bases and snapping large limbs of several other trees. Wind speeds at this point were also estimated to be 80-100 mph. The tornado dissipated to the northwest of CR 138. Sporadic straight-line wind damage, in the form of snapped tree limbs, was also observed along CR 159, 211, and 138, west of the tornadic circulation.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low moved slowly across the southwestern US and generated several rounds of thunderstorms over South Central Texas. Storms during this period produced two tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain that led to flash flooding. Most of the severe weather occurred in two periods on May 18: the early morning and the late afternoon and evening.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.4936, -96.8138)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 961421. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.