March 2nd 1999 Tornado Outbreak Over Southeast Texas and Southern Louisiana

Robert B. Darby*  &  Roger N. Erickson

National Weather Service
Lake Charles, Louisiana

HOLLY SPRINGS TORNADO

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

0658 PM - KPOE - Base reflectivity product
0658 PM - KPOE - Storm relative velocity product

The strongest tornado of the evening developed a mile northwest of Holly Springs. Moving southeast at 50 mph, this fast moving storm damaged or destroyed over 25 homes and a church in Jasper and Newton Counties. Two serious and two minor injuries occurred in the Holly Springs area and one serious and two minor injuries occurred in the Baptist Encampment area. The worst damage was done in Holly Springs where a brick home lost its roof and portions of two walls. In the Baptist Encampment area, a mobile home was flipped over 100 feet, ejecting three people. One young girl escaped with no injuries after being thrown over 50 feet from the house. Two trucks were flipped over in their driveways and a car was moved at least 15 feet. Of all the tornadoes that have hit Jasper and Newton Counties since 1950, this one ranks in the top five with wind speeds over 160 mph.

Damage in Holly Springs:

Brick home destroyed.	Another view of home - roof ripped off.	Front of home - walls collapsed.	Carport collapsed on vehicle.
Mobile home with severe damage.	Mobile home totally destroyed.	Another mobile home destroyed.	Large trees shredded.
Tree and roof damage.	Sign wrapped around metal pipe.	Portion of tree lodged in ground.	Large pine trees down.

Damage in the Baptist Encampment area:

Mobile home destroyed / large trees shredded.	Foundation of mobile home that was destroyed.	Concrete blocks where mobile home was located.	Truck was flipped in the air, crushing the cab.
Another vehicle sustained significant damage.	Mobile home destroyed.	Large trees down.	Debris wrapped around tree.
Another mobile home destroyed.	Truck flipped on its side.	Large tree uprooted.	Tree debarked.