Tornado in Union Parish, Louisiana

A strong tornado developed under a supercell moving northeast across the parish. As the tornado developed in Union Parish, Louisiana, eyewitness reports described the tornado as resembling a stove pipe with screaming winds sounding like a banshee. Where the tornado originally touched down, a bowl like appearance was carved into the woods when viewing the initial impact point horizontally. The tornado then continued northeast across a combination of farmland and wooded region destroying 2 mobile homes and severely damaging 6 wooden houses. As the tornado moved into Union County, Arkansas, the tornado moved across only heavily wooded area void of structures.

The National Weather Service conducted a storm survey in Union Parish and concluded that damage was the result of an EF1 tornado. The tornado first touched down west of Farmerville south of Hwy. 2 snapping numerous trees in a neighborhood along Bayou Darbonne. The tornado continued east along Hwy. 2 snapping trees and powerlines eventually crossing the highway near Selig St. moving across the north side of Farmerville. The tornado crossed Marion Highway near Old Carr Road snapping numerous trees and powerlines and continued northeast crossing Tech Drive where several trees were downed onto homes causing significant damage to a few homes. The tornado continued northeast along Hudson Road snapping a few trees and eventually lifting west of John Edwards Road. Much of the town of Farmerville was without power for more than 24 hours including the hospital which ran on generators for more than 24 hours. The maximum winds were estimated at 85-90 mph.

A brief EF-2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 125 mph touched down along Lem Road north of the intersection of Green Bridge Road, where a few large tree limbs were snapped. The tornado moved north and crossed Lem Road again, with the tornado peaking in intensity as it heavily damaged one home. The roof was torn off of the home and some of the outer walls were blown down. Two pickup trucks were rolled and thrown into the yard, and additional tree damage was noted here with the most significant tree damage located just to the southeast of the home. Based on the damage noted here, it appears that a small vortex quickly intensified and moved out of the wooded area just southeast of the home, before directly impacting the home. Additional damage was noted in the tree line to the north before the tornado lifted.