The Radar's View: NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 02/18/13 TORNADO EVENT

EVENT DATE...FEB 18 2013
EVENT TIME...2:03 PM CST TO 2:06 PM CST
EVENT TYPE...EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH)...95-105
INJURIES/FATALITIES...0/0
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH... 0.6 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH... 30 YARDS

NWS SURVEY TEAM TOURED THE DAMAGE AREA WITH THE SAN JACINTO COUNTY FIRE MARSHALL. EF-1 TORNADO DAMAGE (ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE) WAS OBSERVED WITH A LARGE BARN DESTROYED AND PARTIAL ROOF LOSS TO A BRICK HOME. THERE WAS ALSO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DOOR AND GARAGE PORTION OF THE STRUCTURE. ON EITHER END OF THE DAMAGE PATH, LARGE TREES WERE UPROOTED. A SECOND SMALL SHED WAS DESTROYED ON THE EASTERN END OF THE DAMAGE PATH. SOME DEBRIS WAS OBSERVED MOVED A LARGE DISTANCE...ABOUT ONE HALF MILE...INCLUDING SHINGLES, SHEET METAL AND BEER CANS. THERE WAS ONE WITNESS WHO SAW THE FUNNEL MOVE OVER THE MOST SEVERE DAMAGE AREA, AND THIS PERSON SAW A THIN LIGHT COLORED FUNNEL AND SWIRLING DEBRIS FROM A HUNDRED YARDS OR SO AWAY BEFORE TAKING SHELTER. THE RESIDENTS OF THE DAMAGED HOME WERE AWAY WHEN THE TORNADO STRUCK AND THE ANIMALS AT THE FARM WERE NOT IN THE DESTROYED BARN, SO THERE WERE NO INJURIES WITH THIS EVENT. SEVERAL PEOPLE COMMENTED ON RECEIVING THE WARNING. A NEARBY MARKET SAW A FUNNEL CLOUD AND LED ITS SHOPPERS TO THE REAR OF THE STORE IN A SMALL ROOM.

For more damage pictures visit: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/?n=severe_2013_02_18