PLEASANT HILL, La. (KALB) - The National Weather Service has confirmed at least four tornadoes that touched down in Cenla due to Beryl. There are 19 total tornadoes confirmed for Louisiana so far. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. (Correction: The NWS originally said five tornadoes touched down in Cenla. However, they later admitted this was a typo on their part.) Beryl exceeded expectations over the Atlantic, and even over land after making landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning. Many sections of Beryl’s rain bands begin rotating, prompting many tornado warnings across Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. The National Weather Service in Shreveport issued a total of 67 tornado warnings on Monday, which is close to doubling their previous record of tornado warnings issued in one day. Of the many tornado warnings across the ArkLaTex, 18 of those warnings included our Cenla parishes. The National Weather Service in Shreveport has started surveying storm damage around Cenla and the ArkLaTex. So far, the National Weather Service has released their findings from two surveys in central Louisiana.
Tornado #1: NWS Shreveport confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched down in Sabine Parish, about one mile west of Converse. The tornado was on the ground for around 23 minutes and traveled just under 17 miles before lifting in DeSoto Parish to the east/northeast of Stanley. This tornado reached a maximum width of 1425 yards and produced peak winds of 125 mph.
Details from the NWS survey: A supercell within Tropical Storm Beryl spawned this tornado, which began along Hwy 174 west of Converse. The tornado moved generally in a northwesterly direction and snapped numerous hardwood and softwood trees along Old Camp Road in northern Sabine Parish. The tornado intensified as it crossed into southern De Soto Parish and continued to snap large trees as it crossed Barnes Road. The tornado was intensifying as it caused extensive tree damage was noted between and along Barnes Road, Nubin Ridge Road, and Lulu Lane. Broken wooden power poles were also observed along Lula Lane. A church at the intersection of Hwy 539 and Hwy 481 suffered significant damage. The primary church building was a Metal Building System and had some metal wall panels blown in and portions of the metal roof removed. The original church structure, which dates to the 1900s was heavily damaged. The roof and exterior walls of the southern half of the building collapsed. The steeple from this building was found in a field 0.3 miles to the north-northwest. Another Metal Building System housing a gymnasium and basketball court was severely damaged. The steel I-beams of the structure was pulled free from their anchors, and thrown into the back of the original church building. Most of the anchoring bolts were still in the ground. The damage to the original church building and the gymnasium was rated as EF2 was estimated wind speeds of 125 mph. Extensive tree damage was also noted in this vicinity. A single-wide manufactured home just northwest of the church suffered minor roof damage.The tornado continued northwest damaging more hardwood and softwood trees as it cross Hamilton Road, Harris Bluff Road, and Jesse Wyatt Road. The tornado caused more damage along Roger Field Road and generally paralleled Hunter Road before crossing Hwy 84. More broken tree limbs were observed as the tornado generally moved north along Blunt Mill Road. It finally lifted just north of the intersection Cedar Hill Road and Blunt Mill Road.
Tornado #2: NWS Shreveport confirmed that an additional EF-2 tornado touched down in Sabine Parish, about five miles south of Pleasant Hill. The tornado traveled almost 26 miles during its 45-minute stint on the ground. It lifted about six miles northeast of Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. During its peak intensity, this tornado reached a maximum width of 1677 yards and had peak winds of 127 mph.
Details from the NWS survey: A supercell produced by Tropical Storm Beryl spawned a tornado that began along Hwy 175 just north of the Belmont community. The tornado produced sporadic tree damage as it traveled north- north-northwest northwestnorth-northwest near Spring Ridge and as it crossed Moffett Lane. The tornado widened considerably as it passed directly through Pleasant Hill, where the vast majority of damage consisted of snapped hardwood and softwood trees. One structure sustained some loss of metal roof panels. The tornado continued north producing more tree damage along Antioch Church Road and crossed Hwy 175 in Southern De Soto Parish extensive tree damage along Parish Road 419 and Cross Road. At a refinery on Cross Road, two single-wide manufactured homes being used as offices were severely damaged. One was rolled onto its side. The other was completely flipped with the walls and flooring separating from the undercarriage. Most of contents remained near the site. A wide swath of trees were bowing to the north-northwest in this location. At the intersection of Hwy 346 and Cross Road, extensive structural and tree damage was observed. Numerous hardwood and softwood trees were snapped with the trunks falling on structures and vehicles. Two houses sustained significant loss of roofing. A single-wide manufactured home sitting on cinder blocks was completely destroyed. The structure was pulled free from its anchoring cables, which could not be found. Almost all of the debris from the mobile home, including the steel undercarriage, was blown approx. 45 yards across the highway and wrapped around trees. The tornado continued north of Hwy. 346, snapping and/or uprooting several trees near Cross Road, Horton Road and down very rural Desoto Fire Tower Road. The storm passed near the community of Naborton and crossed Hwy 84 before turning northwest and lifting near Carmel, Louisiana. This tornado was continuous for just over 25 miles in Sabine and Desoto Parishes in Northwest Louisiana.
Tornado #3: NWS Shreveport confirmed that a third tornado touched down in Sabine Parish, this one being rated an EF-1. The tornado touched down in between Converse and Mitchell along LA 174, traveling approximately 10 miles during its 16-minute stint on the ground. It lifted just to the west of Oxford in DeSoto Parish. During its peak intensity, this tornado reached a maximum width of 500 yards and had peak winds of 95 mph.
Details from the NWS survey: A strong EF-1 tornado first touched down between Converse and Oak Grove, Louisiana in far northern Sabine Parish. The storm moved almost due north, snapping and uprooting numerous trees along its northward path. The storm continued into southern Desoto Parish, crossing Hwy. 512 and then north northwest towards Hudson Darby Road before lifting. Some structures were damaged by fallen trees and limbs along this storm’s path, as well as across northern Sabine and southern DeSoto Parishes and downing several powerlines.
Tornado #4: NWS Shreveport confirmed that a fourth tornado touched down in Natchitoches Parish, this one also received an EF-1 rating. The tornado touched down just north of Campti, traveling just under six miles during its 9-minute stint on the ground. It lifted about seven miles north of Campti. During its peak intensity, this tornado reached a maximum width of 100 yards and had peak winds of 90 mph.
Details from the NWS survey: A strong EF-1 tornado first touched down between Converse and Oak Grove, Louisiana in far northern Sabine Parish. The storm moved almost due north, snapping and uprooting numerous trees along its northward path. The storm continued into southern Desoto Parish, crossing Hwy. 512 and then north northwest towards Hudson Darby Road before lifting. Some structures were damaged by fallen trees and limbs along this storm’s path, as well as across northern Sabine and southern DeSoto Parishes and downing several powerlines.