SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA TORNADO OUTBREAK IN ASSOCIATION WITH TROPICAL STORM FRANCES  (continued)

RADAR IMAGES, DESCRIPTION AND DAMAGE:

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.

* Corresponding author address: Robert B. Darby, NWSO 500 Airport Blvd. #115, Lake Charles, LA 70605;
e-mail: Robert.Darby@noaa.gov.

** Current affiliation: National Weather Service, Tulsa OK