THE NOVEMBER 23, 2004 TORNADO OUTBREAK

Sam Shamburger &  Roger Erickson*

National Weather Service Forecast Office
Lake Charles, Louisiana

FRED TORNADO

The second tornado from Supercell B developed just west of FM 92 about 4 miles south of Fred, very near the Kountze tornado while it was still on the ground.  Both tornadoes were photographed and widely visible in this area, and damaged numerous trees, homes and mobile homes in northeastern Hardin County.  One elderly woman was killed when two trees fell into her mobile home just east of the intersection of FM 92 and Old Spurger Highway.  This was the first tornado-related death ever reported in Hardin County.  Both tornadoes traveled together to the northeast for a few miles across northern Hardin County before the Kountze tornado dissipated.

The Fred tornado continued into southern Tyler County, causing widespread damage to trees.  Crossing the Neches River into Jasper County, the tornado continued damaging trees before reaching homes and structures southwest and west of Kirbyville.  As the tornado dissipated west of Kirbyville, the next tornado was seen developing nearby.

WSR-88D Radar - Base Reflectivity and Storm-Relative Velocity Products

Tornado Photos
 

Both photos were taken from Fred, looking east (courtesy of Tena Burnes).

Damage Photos
 

All pictures are damage to mobile homes just east of the intersection of FM 92 and Old Spurger Highway.