Severe Thunderstorms in the Southern Plains; Coastal Storm to Bring Rain and Wind to New England

Severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of the southern Plains today. Large hail is the main threat, along with some damaging winds. A few instances of 2+ inch diameter hail are possible. A storm system moving north along the New England coast will bring heavy rain and gusty winds to the region through Friday. Read More >

Overview

Officials from the National Weather Service in Shreveport conducted a storm survey for tornadoes in Claiborne Parish, LA, and into Union County, AR, on February 12, 2005.

A nearly continuous path of damage was noted from where the tornado entered the county in the town of Junction City on the Louisiana/Arkansas state line until it ended three miles northeast of the community of Lawson in eastern Union County. The storm left a trail of thousands of downed and broken trees along with numerous homes and other structures heavily damaged or completely destroyed along its 24-mile track across the southern portions of the county. The storms also resulted in two fatalities and thirteen injuries requiring hospitalization or medical attention. This tornado was rated F3.

Another tornado occurred across southwest and central portions of Claiborne Parish. A dozen injuries were reported with this tornado, one of them serious. This tornado was rated F2.

TOTAL TORNADO COUNT = 2

F2 = 1

F3 = 1

Tornado Table

Graphics

Photos

TOR. #	START POINT	END POINT	RATING	PEAK WIND	LENGTH/ WIDTH	FATALITIES/ INJURIES	REMARKS
#1	E of Langston, Claiborne Parish, LA	North side of Lake Claiborne, Claiborne Parish, LA	F2	113 to 157 mph	15 miles/ 250 yards	12 injuries	This tornado began east of Langston, LA. A total of two to three dozen homes were damaged. Trees were blown over and snapped off where the tornado began. The tornado tracked northeast and caused low-end F2 damage by destroying a mobile home along Harris Road. Minor to moderate roof damage occurred at Moreland Road and Simpson Loop about 3.5 miles south of Homer. The tornado continued to the northeast one mile to Powell Road where a mobile was destroyed. Other minor roof damage occurred to a few homes. This was about 1.5 miles south of Homer. The tornado continued northeast past the Louisiana Hill Experiment Station where threes were snapped off and blown down. Several homes were damaged on the south side and north side of lake Claiborne. Ten to twenty homes were damaged in this area. One home had the roof blown off just south of the airport and 4 homes were blown apart on the north shore of Lake Claiborne. Numerous trees were snapped off and blown down.
#2	Junction City, Claiborne Parish, LA	3 miles NE of Lawson, Union County, AR	EF3	158 to 206 mph	24 miles/ 0.5 miles	2 fatalities/ 13 injuries	This tornado began near Junction City in Claiborne Parish, LA. Thousands of trees were downed and broken as it moved northeast. Numerous homes and structures were damaged. The tornado was at its greatest intensity in rural areas about 8 miles south of El Dorado, AR, as it moved through homes and farms in the vicinity of Tatum Road and Rushwood Road. This is where the fatalities and injuries occurred. Several vehicles, including a school bus, were thrown and overturned. An area of trees were leveled as if clear cut. A number of homes and the fire station were heavily damaged in the community of Lawson, AR.

Map of the tornado paths in Claiborne Parish and Union County.

Radar reflectivity image of the Union County tornado.

Radar velocity image of the Union County tornado.

Major damage on Tatum Road near Junction City where one fatality occurred.

The fire station in Lawson, AR, was heavily damaged.

Major damage to a home near Lake Claiborne.

Destroyed mobile home and overturned vehicle south of El Dorado, AR

A mobile home was lifted of its blocks (foreground). The mobile home was destroyed, and the debris, along with an overturned vehicle, was found in the trees in the background. This damage was located south of El Dorado, AR, between Hwy 167 and Hwy 7 on Tatum Road.