Tornadoes and Severe Weather--February 18, 2013

Severe Thunderstorms & Tornadoes Across the
Four State Region--February 18, 2013

A powerful late winter storm system brought severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to the Four State Region during the late afternoon and early evening of February 18, 2013. A strong cold front approaching from the northwest providing a focus for thunderstorm development. An impressive amount of vertical wind shear also supported rotating updrafts and supercells. Thunderstorms began to rapidly develop shortly after noon. Due to the vertical wind shear and cold temperatures aloft, many of these supercells produced large hail. Numerous reports of large hail were received. In many cases, the hail was as big as golf balls.

Numerous tornadoes were reported, especially across East Texas. In particular, a tornado was Beckville was witnessed by many people and was also extensively photographed. The supercell that produced the Beckville tornado produced several brief tornadoes between Kilgore, TX, and Carthage, TX. Another supercell was the source of several tornadoes between US Highways 79 and 84 between New Summerfield, TX, and Timpson, TX.

Upper-air map at 500mb from 00z on 2/19 (6pm CST on 2/18) showing the large upper trough passing over the Central Plains and upper Midwest. Map provided by the Storm Prediction Center.


Radar loop of the supercell that produced multiple tornadoes between Kilgore, TX, and Carthage, TX.				Golf ball-sized hail stone that fell in Douglassville, TX. Photo courtesy of Tina Tilley.

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Shreveport conducted damage surveys in the days following the storms. Below is a preliminary report from the findings of the survey. The report is presented in chronological order of when the tornadoes occurred. Click here to see a Google Map of confirmed tornado tracks. More information may be added to this page in the coming days as it becomes available.

TOTAL TORNADO COUNT = 17

EF-0 = 15

EF-1 = 2

LOCATION	RATING	PEAK WIND	START TIME – END TIME	LENGTH/WIDTH	FATALITIES/INJURIES	REMARKS
8 miles S of Mansfield, DeSoto Parish, LA -- 7 miles SSE of Mansfield, DeSoto Parish, LA	EF-0	70 mph	2:38pm CST - 2:42pm CST	2 miles/10 yards	None	Several large branches were snapped along Hudson Darby Road and Highway 513
4 miles SW of Garland, Miller County, AR	EF-0	70 mph	3:30pm CST	40 yards/20 yards	None	A very brief tornado snapped hardwood braches and one small hardwood tree along Highway 134
7 miles SE of Kilgore, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	5:09pm CST - 5:10pm CST	0.75 miles/30 yards	None	Several large branches and a hardwood tree were snapped along County Roads 281 and 283
9 miles ESE of Kilgore, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	5:18pm CST	30 yards/20 yards	None	A brief tornado snapped the tops of several pine trees along Highway 322 near Barnes Creek
11 miles ENE of New Summerfield, Rusk County, TX -- 11 miles NNE of Reklaw, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	5:27pm CST - 5:31pm CST	1.5 miles/30 yards	None	A pine tree was uprooted and the tops of several pine trees were snapped along County Road 2126 and FM 782
11 miles ENE of New Summerfield, Rusk County, TX -- 11 miles NNE of Reklaw, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	75 mph	5:27pm CST - 5:29pm CST	1.15 miles/0.15 miles	None	Several trees were uprooted and large branches were snapped along FM 1798 and FM 839 near Cat Creek
6 miles NW of Mount Enterprise, Rusk County, TX -- 4 miles NW of Mount Enterprise, Rusk County, TX	EF-1	90 mph	5:48pm CST - 5:51 pm CST	2 miles/60 yards	None	A travel trailer was overturned and a roof was torn off a metal barn along County Road 3168. Large branches and trees were snapped along County Road 3156.
4 miles NNE of Beckville, Panola County, TX -- 5 miles NE of Beckville, Panola County, TX	EF-0	75 mph	5:57pm CST - 5:59pm CST	1.25 miles/50 yards	None	Numerous large limbs and a few trees were snapped along FM 1794. The tornado was witnessed by several people and was extensively photographed by the public.
4 miles NNE of Mount Enterprise, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	6:01pm CST	20 yards/10 yards	None	A brief tornado snapped large hardwood branches along Highway 315
3 miles SW of Belcher, Caddo Parish, LA	EF-0	70 mph	6:01pm CST	115 yards/25 yards	None	A brief tornado snapped several hardwood branches along Gamm Road
9 miles N of Carthage, Panola County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	6:05pm CST – 6:07pm CST	0.8 miles/30 yards	None	Numerous large limbs and a few pine trees were snapped along FM 1794 just south of the Sabine River
2 miles S of Belcher, Caddo Parish, LA	EF-0	70 mph	6:08pm CST	40 yards/20 yards	None	A very brief tornado snapped several hardwood branches along Dixie/Shreveport Road
5 miles ENE of Mount Enterprise, Rusk County, TX	EF-0	75 mph	6:12pm CST	50 yards/20 yards	None	Several trees were snapped and an above-ground swimming pool was wrapped around a tree along FM 95
10 miles NNE of Carthage, Panola County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	6:13pm CST	20 yards/10 yards	None	A brief tornado snapped a small hardwood tree along County Road 307
9 miles NE of Carthage, Panola County, TX	EF-0	75 mph	6:19pm CST	30 yards/20 yards	None	Two pine trees were snapped near the intersection of FM 31 and County Road 316
7 miles NNW of Garrison, Rusk County, TX	EF-1	90 mph	6:19pm CST	50 yards/20 yards	None	The roof of a metal building was partially peeled back. The roof of a mobile home was damaged and a few trees were snapped along US Highway 84 in Caledonia
Timpson, Shelby County, TX	EF-0	70 mph	6:37pm CST	0.15 miles/10 yards	None	A brief tornado snapped several large hardwood branches along County Road 4916 and also along US Highway 59

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Click to view individual survey results.
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Disclaimer

This survey data is preliminary and subject to change as more information becomes available. Road accessibility and inconsistencies between mapping and GPS software may limit the accuracy of the tracks plotted on this map. Line widths are not representative of actual tornado widths. The information plotted on this map is intended for general reference use only.

For official post-storm information, use Storm Data from the National Climatic Data Center.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office