A National Weather Service Damage Assessment Team has surveyed the storm damage in Paincourtville and Convent, LA. It has been determined the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado has been rated an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Damage estimates were consistent with winds of 140 mph.

A strong tornado touched down just southwest of Paincourtville, LA in Assumption Parish and moved northeast for 12 miles across the parish. The tornado then crossed the Mississippi River into St. James Parish, LA. The strong tornado continued northeast for another 8 miles, with the last visible damage on Airline Highway about 7 miles north-northeast of Convent, LA.

In Assumption Parish, significant damage was noted to residential and business structures in the vicinity of the junction of Louisiana Highways 1, 308, and 70 on the northern side of Paincourtville. EF2 scale damage was seen in this area with considerable damage to a small two story apartment building, a hardware store, and other commercial businesses. A tractor trailer was also overturned at a commercial business in this area. The tornado tracked northeast along Louisiana Highway 1/Louisiana Highway 308 causing major damage to an area of small frame houses and mobile homes. Most of the damage noted in this area was rated an EF1. Further to the northeast, the 2nd floor of a well-constructed brick structure was nearly removed. A low end EF3 scale rating to 140 mph was assigned to this damage. Continuing northeast, two small frame homes on piers were swept off their foundation and destroyed. Overall, Assumption Parish Emergency Management reported the following damage: 45 structure destroyed or not salvageable, 22 structures with major damage, and another 22 structures with moderate damage. No fatalities were recorded in Assumption Parish.

The tornado continued to travel to the northeast crossing the Mississippi River into St. James Parish. Considerable tree damage was observed in the batture area on both sides of the river. After crossing the Mississippi River, the damage path was quite wide as it moves through the Sugar Hill RV Park where numerous travel trailers were tossed and destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in this area, and the damage path was 350 yards wide at this point. Two fatalities occurred at the RV Park; 31 people were transported to medical facilities; and 7 of those were listed in critical condition on arrival. Another 25 to 50 were injured and treated at the scene or self transported to medical care. An EF scale rating of an upper end EF2 was assigned to this area with max wind of 125 mph. The tornado continued to track northeast and crossed Louisiana Highway 3125 with trees snapped and uprooted in a 200 yard path. A residence suffered minor damage in this area. The tornado weakened as it crossed US Highway 61 (Airline Highway) with tree limbs snapped and a few trees uprooted in a more narrow path. No damage to trees was seen along Interstate 10 to the northeast. St. James Parish Emergency Management preliminarily reported 25 to 50 homes were total losses and a public housing complex had major damage.

Surveyed damage track in Paincourtville/Convent, LA    Disclaimer

KLIX WSR-88D radar data for Paincourtville/Convent, LA tornado at 1526 2/23/2016

KLIX WSR-88D radar data for Paincourtville/Convent, LA tornado at 1536 2/23/2016