National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce
Overview
A total of five tornadoes touched down on April 6, 2003, in Northeast and East Texas and North Central Louisiana. The tornado outbreak began at 12:30pm CDT near Ponta, TX, in eastern Cherokee County, and ended at 4:25pm CDT at Clay, LA, in Jackson Parish.

TOTAL TORNADO COUNT = 5

F0 = 2
F2 = 2
F3 = 1
 
TOR. # START POINT END
POINT
RATING PEAK WIND LENGTH/
WIDTH
FATALITIES/
INJURIES
REMARKS
 #1 E of Ponta, Cherokee County, TX 7 miles NE of Henderson, Rusk County, TX F3 158 to 206 mph 38 miles/
1/4 mile
None This tornado began just east of Ponta, TX. It moved northeast crossing the Rusk County line near New Salem. The tornado continued through wooded rural areas and crossed U.S. Hwy 259 approximately 5 miles S of Henderson. The track turned back towards the northwest near the community of Liberty before ending about 7 miles NE of Henderson.

Numerous wood frame homes and mobile homes were damaged, with a few being destroyed. A power substation was also damaged. Numerous trees were twisted, broken, or uprooted.
 #2 W of Tatum, Rusk County, TX NW of Tatum, Rusk County, TX F2 113 to 157 mph 5 miles/
220 yards
6 injuries This tornado began west of Tatum. It caused 6 injuries, but no fatalities. About 20 wood frame and mobile homes were damaged, and about 6 were destroyed. Numerous trees were twisted, broken, or uprooted.
 #3 SW of Pollok, Angelina County, TX 5 miles SE of Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX F2 113 to 157 mph 28 miles/
1/4 mile
None This tornado began SW of Pollok in Angelina County. Most of the damage with this tornado consisted of damage to homes and outbuildings. Numerous trees were toppled and snapped.
#4 Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX  Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, TX F0 40 to 72 mph 1/8 mile/
25 yards
None This tornado struck part of southwest Nacogdoches while Tornado #3 was also occurring. Minor damage occurred to several buildings.
#5 W of Clay, Jackson Parish, LA 4 miles E of Clay, Jackson Parish, LA F0 40 t0 72 mph 5.5 miles/
50 yards
None Damage from this tornado consisted mainly of trees down. Some farm and ranch outbuildings were damaged east of Clay.
Tornado paths in Cherokee and Rusk Counties on April 6, 2003
Map of tornado paths in Cherokee and Rusk Counties on April 6, 2003.
 
Tornado paths in Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties on April 6, 2003
Map of tornado paths in Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties on April 6, 2003.
 
Tornado path map in Jackson Parish on April 6, 2003
Map of the tornado path in Jackson Parish on April 6, 2003.
 
 
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