User:ChrisWx/List of Louisiana tornadoes

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An EF3 tornado in eastern New Orleans on February 7, 2017

The U.S. state of Louisiana experiences roughly 40 tornadoes per year, including since 1840±, the year with the first recorded event in the state.

Climatology

On average, about 40 tornadoes touch down in Louisiana each year.

Events

Pre-1950

• May 7, 1840 – A violent unrated tornado touched down in Concordia Parish, and tracked for 35 miles (56 km) through Natchez, Mississippi, killing at least 317 people, and injuring at least 109 others. The death toll was likely higher, as many enslaved people, potentially hundreds of them, were reportedly killed on plantations as the tornado moved through the parish, and were not counted on the official death toll. The tornado was the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

1970–1979

A completely destroyed home near Delhi following the F5 tornado that took place on February 21, 1971; multiple people were killed at this location

• February 21, 1971 – During a larger tornado outbreak, a tornado touched down in Madison Parish, three miles to the southeast of Delhi, completely destroying multiple houses and other structures near the city, in the community of Waverly, and near the community of Transylvania at F5 intensity, before moving into Issaquena County, Mississippi. Eleven people were killed in Louisiana, with 18 others injured. The tornado traveled for 109.2 mi (175.7 km), had a peak width of 500 yd (460 m), killed 48 people, and injured 510 others. As of 2024, this is the only F5 tornado to have taken place in the state. In 1984 and 1993, tornado researcher Thomas P. Grazulis had assessed this tornado as an F4 in Louisiana, but had its rating revised in a 2001 assessment to accept the official F5 rating.

2020–present

High-end EF3 damage to a home in Arabi following the tornado that took place on March 22, 2022

• January 2, 2023 – Amid a larger three-day tornado outbreak across the southern United States, seven tornadoes touched down within Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado was a 1.1-mile-wide (1.8 km) tornado that severely damaged multiple houses, snapped large trees, and injured three people east of Jonesboro, and the second EF2 tornado knocked down several large electrical-transmission towers and destroyed an outbuilding to the south of Haile.
• January 24, 2023 – Seven tornadoes affected the state during a tornado outbreak that was taking place in Texas and Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. After causing EF2 damage west of Orange, Texas, a tornado crossed the state line into western Calcasieu Parish, where it caused tree damage, and destroyed multiple mobile homes, RVs, and outbuildings as it impacted the Nibletts Bluff Park near Vinton. The tornado injured two people. An EF1 satellite tornado also occurred to the south of the EF2 tornado, which caused damage to more trees and mobile homes before merging into the previous tornado. After the first EF2 tornado lifted, the second EF2 tornado touched down in the northern part of the parish and moved northeast into Beauregard Parish, near the community of Gaytine, where it significantly damaged several homes, outbuildings, and trees.
• February 8, 2023 – Three tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado impacted western portions of Tangipahoa, damaging multiple homes, a convenience store, a church, and trees, and the second EF2 tornado impacted Grand Prairie, damaging trees and several homes, including one which had its roof ripped off.
• April 9–10, 2024 – During a three-day severe weather outbreak which produced 35 tornadoes along the Gulf Coast, 16 tornadoes touched down within Louisiana, including two EF2 tornadoes. As a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) moved into the state, twin EF1 tornadoes took place near Grand Lake, and as the tornadoes dissipated, an EF2 tornado touched down on the eastern edge of McNeese State University, damaging homes, other buildings, trees, and power lines in the area. Later in the day, two EF1 tornadoes moved near St. Francisville, including one which traveled for 32.4 mi (52.1 km) and was 880 yd (800 m) wide, causing large amounts of tree damage along its path. Multiple tornadoes also impacted areas near Slidell, including an EF2 tornado which impacted the southern portions of the city, causing major damage to homes and businesses in the area, damaging power poles and trees, and injuring several people.
• May 13, 2024 – Seven tornadoes were produced by an MCS which moved through the Acadiana region, two of which were rated EF2. The first EF2 tornado moved through eastern Sulphur, damaging homes, trees, power lines, and destroying multiple warehouses, shortly before another EF1 tornado impacted Westlake and Downtown Lake Charles, damaging more homes, businesses, power lines, and trees. Another EF2 tornado impacted Cecilia and Henderson, which damaged homes, businesses, trees, power lines, destroyed outbuildings, and rolled multiple mobile homes and RVs. The tornado killed one person and injured another.

Sources

• National Weather Service (February 1971). Storm Data Publication (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information – via Storm Events Database.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (May 1984). Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982. OSTI (Technical report). NUREG. Washington, D.C.: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. OSTI 7099491. CR-3670.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (November 1990). Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989. Vol. 2. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-02-3.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (July 1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001a). The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3538-0.
• Grazulis, Thomas P. (2001b). F5-F6 Tornadoes. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films.

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Lists of tornadoes in the United States
• Tornadoes in Louisiana
• F4 tornadoes by location
• F3 tornadoes by location
• F2 tornadoes by location
• Science and technology in Louisiana
• Louisiana history-related lists