Hurricane Beryl Tornado Outbreak

A tornado outbreak spawned by Hurricane Beryl and its remnants impacted the South Central United States, Mississippi Valley, and Northeastern United States between July 8–10, 2024. Hurricane Beryl, which was the first major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, and moved inland over the Southern United States, spawning numerous tornadoes across the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas on July 8. 110 tornado warnings were issued on July 8 alone, the most for any day in July. The outbreak also set new records for tornado warning issuances in a single day for the National Weather Service Offices in Shreveport and Buffalo, New York, at 67 and 9 respectively. With 67 recorded tornadoes, this was the most prolific tropical cyclone-related tornado outbreak in the United States since Hurricane Rita in 2005.

Meteorological synopsis

Starting July 6, the Storm Prediction Center outlined a slight risk convective outlook for parts of Texas and Louisiana, stating that dew points in the mid to upper 70s Fahrenheit, along with strong low-level winds and favorable hodographs, would be conducive to the development of tornadoes. On July 7, multiple forecast models were showing the presence of semi-discrete supercells forming, as SRH values ranged between 200–300m²/s², and the SPC stated that a few tornadoes were possible. On July 8, Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, United States as a Category 1 hurricane.

Confirmed tornadoes

July 8 event

July 9 event

July 10 event

Hall Summit–Barksdale Air Force Base–Eastwood–Plain Dealing, Louisiana

This large, long-tracked, strong tornado began in extreme northern Red River Parish at 2:15 p.m. CDT and moved north-northwestward, snapping several trees and uprooting more at EF1 intensity. Structural damage in the area was mainly due to fallen trees and remained minor to moderate. The tornado then entered Bossier Parish and briefly weakened to EF0 intensity, damaging trees and power poles before reaching EF1 intensity again as it crossed over US 71 into the Loggy Bayou Wildlife Management Area, continuing to damage trees as it moved over either open or wooded terrain as it moved north-northwestard. East of Elm Grove, 10 trees were uprooted at a residence along LA 154. Another area of intense tree damage occurred along Robinson Road. The tornado continued to track north-northwestward, crossing over the LA 157 and LA 527 snapping or uprooting dozens of trees. Several structures along Sligo Road between Sligo and Oakland were heavily damaged by falling trees before the tornado entered the southeast corner of Barksdale Air Force Base. The tornado moved the eastern portion of the base at EF0 to low-end EF1 strength, snapping or uprooting trees, snapping power poles, and downing powerlines.

The tornado then exited the base, snapping trees at EF0 strength as it crossed over I-20 and entered Eastwood before reaching EF1 intensity again as it crossed US 79/ US 80. Throughout the town, the tornado downed power poles and powerlines and snapped or uprooted trees, including some that fell on and damaged structures. North of town along Bellevue Road, the tornado caused minor damage to a mobile home and snapped or uprooted additional trees. The tornado then caused its most intense damage southeast of and in the Linton community east of Benton. Here, the tornado reached low-end EF2 intensity briefly multiple times, causing a widespread area of higher-end tree damage with large trees being snapped as well. Much of the tree damage was not accessible through ground survey but aerial flight imagery revealed the extent of the damage. Several structures were damaged by fallen trees, including one mobile home along East Linton Road that had a large tree knocked down onto it, killing a woman and injuring her two children. The tornado continued to cause EF1 powerline and tree damage as it continued north-northwest away from Linton and crossed over LA 162 before it weakened to EF0 strength as it moved over wooded, inaccessible terrain. Damage was generally limited to snapped tree branches as the tornado approached and passed through Hughes. The tornado then turned more northerly and briefly strengthening to EF1 strength as it crossed LA 3, snapping and uprooting trees, including one tree that fell on a small church. It then caused additional EF0 tree damage before reaching EF1 intensity one final time as it moved over LA 2, snapping and uprooting trees before lifting west of Plain Dealing at 3:50 p.m. CDT.

The tornado was on the ground for an hour and 35 minutes, tracked , and had a peak width of . One person was killed, and two others were injured.

See also

*Weather of 2024
* List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
*List of tornadoes spawned by tropical cyclones

Notes

References

External links

Drone footage shows tornado's destruction in Eden, New York

{{2024 tornado outbreaks

F3 tornadoes
Tornado outbreaks spawned by tropical cyclones
Hurricane Beryl