Severe Weather and Flooding Threats for the Central U.S.; Fire Weather Concerns for the Western U.S.

Severe weather and flooding threats will continue for portions of the central U.S. through Thursday, focused from the central High Plains to the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Hot and dry conditions will fuel fire weather concerns for the Intermountain West, and dry thunderstorms may spark additional wildfires. Dangerous heat will build across the southern U.S. Friday into the weekend. Read More >

TORNADOES & SEVERE WEATHER
NOVEMBER 17th & 18th, 2003

During the evening hours of November 17th, severe weather broke out across portions of Southeast Texas and Central Louisiana. Three tornadoes occurred during this episode in extreme northern Newton County near the Toledo Bend Reservoir Dam, near the town of Jasper, and near Bunkie, Louisiana in Avoyelles Parish. Pictures of the damage from each tornado can be viewed by clicking on the images below.

Toledo Bend Dam F2 Tornado

Numerous pine trees were blown down by a F2 tornado near the Toledo Bend Reservoir Dam. At least 16 homes were damaged by the storm.	This elevated home on the Sabine River was blown off its pilings by the tornado.
This brick home was destroyed by the storm, which was later classified as an F2 on the Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale.	Further proof that the safest place to be in a house during a tornado is an interior room, such as a bathroom, or a closet.
Friends and family pitch in to salvage the remains of this mobile home, below Toledo Bend Dam.	Another view of the destroyed mobile home below Toledo Bend Dam.

Jasper F1 Tornado

Jasper Fire Department checking out damage from an F1 tornado.	This mobile home was destroyed when a tree sliced through the roof.
Trees blew down on this home near Jasper during the tornado.	The Texas Department of Transportation reported several trees and power lines down near Jasper.

Bunkie F1 Tornado

This home, near Bunkie, lost its carport and part of its roof in an F1 tornado.	Several barns were also damaged by the storm's 80+ mph winds.
Areas of unharvested sugar cane were blown down in Avoyelles Parish.

Preliminary Local Storm Reports

TORNADO REPORTS
Date	Time	F-Scale	Location	County	State	Lat	Lon	Comments
11/17/03	1015pm	UNK	BEND	NEWTON	TX	3109	9848	11 HOMES DAMAGED. 7 HOMES DESTROYED. SEVERAL MINOR INJRIES. LOCATION WAS JUST SOUTH OF TOLEDO BEND DAM ON RIVER ROAD. PATH LENGTH 1 MILE AND THE WIDTH WAS 20 YARDS. (LCH)
11/18/03	1215am	UNK	5 W JASPER	JASPER	TX	3091	9409	DAMAGE PATH 5 MILES LONG AND 50 YARDS WIDE. 4-5 HOMES DESTROYED. 10-12 HOMES DAMAGED. (LCH)
11/18/03	130am	UNK	JASPER	JASPER	TX	3091	9400	TORNADO SIGHTED BY PUBLIC NEAR HWY 96 (LCH)
11/18/03	200am	UNK	BEAUMONT	JEFFERSON	TX	3008	9410	PUBLIC REPORTS OVERHEAD DOORS BLOWN OFF BUILDINGS AND NUMEROUS CARS IN PARKING LOT DAMAGED (LCH)

HAIL REPORTS
Date	Time	Size	Location	County	State	Lat	Lon	Comments
11/17/03	915pm	1.75"	ROGANVILLE	JASPER	TX	3180	9390	SHERIFFS DEPT REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. (LCH)

WIND REPORTS
Date	Time	Speed	Location	County	State	Lat	Lon	Comments
11/18/03	147am	69 mph	N BEAUMONT	JEFFERSON	TX	3008	9410	REPORTED BY TELEVISION METEOROLOGIST (LCH)

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Severe Weather and Flooding Threats for the Central U.S.; Fire Weather Concerns for the Western U.S.

Significant Weather Events