March 8, 2011: Tornado in Clarksville, TX

Overview

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in Red River County, TX, following severe storms that occurred on March 8, 2011. It was determined that damage near Clarksville was the result of an EF1 tornado.

The tornado began at around 5:15pm, approximately 8 miles west of Clarksville along US Hwy 82, where it knocked down several small trees. The tornado tracked east-northeast crossing County Road 2123, where it damaged several trees. It crossed County Road 2161 was all EF0. Once the tornado reached the north side of Clarksville, it intensified and widened to its widest point. The tornado crossed through a neighborhood north of Clarksville on the west side of Hwy 37, where approximately a dozen homes sustained minor damage to their roofs, awnings, or carports. Numerous trees were snapped or damaged, as well.

Just north of the neighborhood at a business, a FEMA trailer was completely destroyed with insulation and pieces of the trailer strewn northeast and east. On the east side of Hwy 37, numerous power poles were snapped, a semi tractor trailer was overturned onto a small pickup, and two homes sustained moderate damage to their roofs. The tornado continued east-northeast crossing FM 1159 where several homes, a barn, and a small warehouse sustained minor to moderate damage to the roof and walls. Another home sustained roof damage near the intersection of FM 1159 and CR 1700. The tornado continued east north of CR 1700 damaging trees before lifting east of CR 3202.

The tornado was on the ground for 11 miles and approximately 20 minutes. Maximum winds are estimated at 80-90 mph. The maximum width of the tornado was 225 yards.

TOTAL TORNADO COUNT = 1

EF1 = 1

Damage Map

Click here to download the survey KMZ file.

This survey data is preliminary and subject to change as more information becomes available. Road accessibility and inconsistencies between mapping and GPS software may limit the accuracy of the tracks plotted on this map. Line widths are not representative of actual tornado widths. The information plotted on this map is intended for general reference use only.

For official post-storm information, use Storm Data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.