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Heavy rain in the lower Mississippi Valley Saturday, then heavy rain and snow in the Northeast starting Sunday

Heavy rains will bring potential flash flooding to portions of the lower Mississippi Valley early this weekend. Across the Pacific Northwest, an atmospheric river event is set to arrive by Sunday, bringing heavy coastal rains and high elevation snowfall. Above average temperatures continue for much of the country through the weekend. Read More >

April 3rd 2012 Severe Weather Outbreak

Forney Tornado

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service in Fort Worth have given portions of the damage in Forney a preliminary rating of EF-3, with estimated wind speeds up to 150 mph.  The tornado had a path length of 8 miles and a maximum width of 150 yards.  Additional information will be added to this page as it becomes available.

...Preliminary findings from the Kaufman, Rockwall and Hunt County surveys...

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, a crew from the National Weather Service in Fort Worth surveyed the damaged areas in the Forney and Royse City areas in Kaufman, Rockwall, and Hunt Counties.

The findings were that two tornadoes affected the area.

The first tornado remained in Kaufman County throughout its time on the ground and initially touched down near Forney southwest of Highway 80. This tornado produced damage consistent with an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The maximum path width was about 150 yards with an estimated path length of 8 miles. The maximum wind speeds are estimated to have been at 150 mph. The most intense damage associated with this tornado occurred in the Diamond Creek subdivision northeast of Forney. Two homes were completely destroyed in this subdivision and several others were heavily damaged. As the tornado moved north-northeast through the subdivision it produced damage primarily to the roof of Crosby Elementary school. There were also several vehicles damaged in the schools parking lot, one of which was lofted approximately 300 yards away from the school and found in a field to the northeast. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported with this tornado.

Forney Tornado

The second tornado touched down just southwest of Farm to Market road 548 near Bent Road in Rockwall County. This tornado moved northeast into Hunt County and lifted north of Highway 276 just across the Hunt County line. This tornado produced damage consistent with a strong EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The maximum path width was about 400 yards with an estimated path length of 3.1 miles. 

Damage associated with this tornado began in the subdivision near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 548 and Bent Road. One home was mostly destroyed within the subdivision and several others sustained heavy damage. The tornado continued its path to the northeast, damaging several homes along country manor road. The tornado continued its northeastward path through Rockwall County crossing State Highway 276 towards Hunt County. As it moved into Hunt County, it destroyed two mobile homes and damaged two others. The tornado caused heavy damage to another home in Hunt County before lifting.

Tornado Damage in Forney, Texas
This is a picture of EF-3 damage taken the morning of April 4 of
a residence in the Diamond Creek Subdivision in Forney, TX.
The damage occurred yesterday afternoon.

Tornado Damage in Forney, Texas
The NWS Survey Team took this photo of EF-3 damage
near the intersection of Ridgecrest and FM-548 in Forney, TX. 
All of the walls of a single family residence collapsed. This is tornado
damage from the Forney Tornado that occurred
Monday afternoon...April 3, 2012.