March 24, 2017: Tornadoes in East Texas & North Louisiana

Summary:

An EF2 tornado began just south of Interstate 20 about 7 miles southwest of Marshall, TX, and proceeded northeast across the interstate and into rural parts of Harrison County. This tornado developed as part of a bookend vortex on the north side of a bow echo. Damage consisted of snapped and uprooted hardwood and softwood trees, toppled metal carports, loss of roof material from a couple of homes, and a completely destroyed metal outbuilding.

Summary:

Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped across the city of Marshall. A very concentrated area of snapped and uprooted trees occurred in Greenwood Cemetery, and the damage pattern was consistent with a downburst.

Summary:

A downburst occurred as an eastward-moving line of thunderstorms moved across Lake Sam Rayburn. Winds likely accelerated across the open waters before slamming into the westward-exposed shoreline south of Etoile. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. In addition, the boat awning at the Shirley Creek Marina was damaged, and several residences sustained minor damage to roof shingles. One residence was severely damaged as a large portion of the roof deck was uplifted and walls partially collapsed.

Summary:

A waterspout developed over Toledo Bend Reservoir and moved inland at the Grapevine Estates subdivision as an EF1 tornado. Three boats were lifted out of the water, with two being deposited between 250 and 300 yards north of the lake and one on the back porch of a house. Three homes sustained minor siding or roof damage. One home lost its back porch roof, and another lost a carport structure. Several pine trees were snapped along Grapevine Road, making access to the neighborhood difficult.

The exact start point of this tornado is uncertain as it began over Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Summary:

An EF1 tornado began along Ping Street and moved northeast along Binning Road. The primary damage was snapped pine trees. However, two homes had trees fall on them, and four outbuildings were damaged or destroyed by falling trees.

Summary:

Twelve empty railroad cars were blown off the track at the International Paper plant. Two wooden power poles were also snapped at the base.

Summary:

An EF1 tornado began on the southwest side of Hagewood, just west of Highway 117. Although the primary damage was snapped trees, two businesses at the intersection of Highway 117 and Highway 6 sustained some damage. The first was a metal warehouse that lost some siding. Across the street, a pool supply business sustained some roof damage. There was also an I-beam structure behind the pool business that had several I-beams knocked down, including one that was blown over that had been attached to the concrete base. Several homes had minor roof damage, including one that had a corner of the roof lift enough for the ceiling to cave in. Several outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.

Summary:

The Ringgold Assembly of God Church had its roof lifted by straight-line winds. As the roof came back down, it crushed the un-reinforced cinder block walls near the front of the structure, which then partially collapsed. Portions of the roof structure were found approximately 25 yards away from the main building. Two-by-fours from the roof also pelted the home across the street, with one two-by-sour piercing the swimming pool slide in the back yard. All debris was found immediately down wind of the church.

A home about a half mile west of the church lost some shingles, and several trees were uprooted.

Summary:

An EF1 tornado began along Highway 505, just west of Wyatt, snapping several trees. The damage was sporadic and interspersed with straight-line wind damage that occurred along and north of Highway 505.

Summary:

This tornado began along Highway 505 in Jackson Parish, southwest of Weston. The primary damage was snapped trees. However, one metal outbuilding was overturned.

Summary:

Several trees were uprooted along and just north of Highway 505, west of Wyatt. These trees were all downed towards the northeast.