Research - National Weather Service

Original Research by Robert B. Darby*, Forecaster
Additional/Updated Research by Sam Shamburger, Forecaster

On September 11th and 12th, 1998, ten tornadoes occurred in Southwest Louisiana in association with Tropical Storm Frances, which made landfall on the morning of September 11th along the Central Texas coast south of Matagorda Bay. Atmospheric conditions remained favorable for tornadic development well after the tropical storm had moved inland. The tornadic cells formed in the heavy rain bands that moved onshore from the Gulf of Mexico. Below is a map of Southwest Louisiana showing the tornado locations in Jeff Davis, Acadia, Evangeline, Allen, Lafayette, St. Landry, Rapides, and Vermilion Parishes. Tornadoes marked in black occurred on September 11, 1998, and tornadoes marked in blue occurred on September 12, 1998.

The following are the tornado warnings and severe weather statements issued on September 11, 2008:

Four out of the five tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service verified with actual tornado touchdowns. All of the tornadoes were radar indicated by WSR-88D in Lake Charles. Lead times on the warnings ranged from 2 minutes to as high as 34 minutes. This gave residents time to seek shelter from the tornadic storms. Many Basile residents interviewed after the tornado stated they knew the storm was coming well in advance. Fortunately, only a few minor injuries were reported.

The tornado 4 miles west of Lake Arthur was the first tornado, occurring around 1055 AM CDT. One small home near the lake was totally destroyed, down to the concrete slab (see damage pictures below). Debris from the home was strewn over a half mile to the northwest. Luckily, no one was home at the time, so there were no injuries. A large house next door had several windows blown out due to the high winds. Approximate damage from the tornado is expected to be around sixty thousand dollars.

Home totally destroyed (fog partially obscuring photo)

Part of the roof was lodged into the ground over half a mile away

Midland Tornado - F1

WSR-88D Radar Images - Base Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity:

Base reflectivity taken near tornado touchdown

Associated storm relative velocity product

Tornado Damage:

The Midland tornado was the second tornado of the day, which caused significant damage to the town of Midland. At approximately 518 PM CDT, the tornado touched down south of town, moving northwest through the community (see map of the tornado damage path). The hardest hit was the high school, which had sections of the roof completely torn off. Several smaller structures around the school were also destroyed. Approximately 12 homes sustained some type of damage. Estimated losses to the school alone is projected to be up to 3.5 million dollars. This is the same tornadic storm that continued northwest and hit the city of Basile on the Acadia / Evangeline Parish line.

Barn destroyed near Midland school

Damage to school gymnasium
roof

Basile Tornado - F1

WSR-88D Radar Images - Base Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity:

Reflectivity - 9 minutes before touchdown

Corresponding storm relative velocity product

Reflectivity near tornado touchdown

Corresponding storm relative velocity product

Tornado Damage:

The Basile tornado struck the south side of the city at approximately 550 PM CDT. This tornado originated from the same tornadic storm that hit the Midland area in Acadia Parish. The tornado moved through the center of town before dissipating in some fields northwest of the community. (See map of the tornado damage path) The worst damage occurred to the middle school wing at the high school, where the roof was torn off. An additional 25 homes and businesses also received some form of damage from the tornado. Preliminary estimates put losses around one million dollars to the Basile area.

Basile School building looking Northeast / roof destroyed	Debris piled up to be taken to the dump	Another view of the school / walkway destroyed
Barn totally destroyed / another barn flattened nearby	Part of roof from a large barn wrapped around tree	Tree completely blown over near Basile

Tornado - 4 South of Oakdale - F0

The tornado occurred at 619 PM CDT, 4 miles south of Oakdale on highway 165 between Oakdale and Oberlin. This is also the same tornadic circulation that produced the Basile and Midland tornadoes earlier that evening. The public reported the tornado briefly touched down in a field, causing damage to nearby trees. No significant damage or injuries were reported.

WSR-88D Radar Images - Base Reflectivity and Storm Relative Velocity:

Base reflectivity taken around tornado touchdown

Associated storm relative velocity product

Acknowledgments: The author would like to thank Roger Erickson (Warning Coordination Meteorologist) and Steve Rinard (Meteorologist in Charge) for the tornado damage pictures and formal storm survey of Tropical Storm Frances.