Here’s the path of Wednesday’s tornado. The National Weather Service storm surveys over the next few days will try to determine if it was on the ground the entire time.
A tornado Wednesday evening traveled from Onalaska, Texas, by Lake Livingston eastward across East Texas, through Louisiana and into Mississippi.
The Texas State Network reported three people in Polk County were killed and dozens of other injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service says a preliminary study shows the storm was probably an F-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The category has winds 111 to 135 miles per hour.
Orange County escaped the tornado, which caused damage and fallen trees in a swath through Jasper and Newton counties. The twister in Newton County traveled south of Toledo Bend Reservoir and went through the areas of Burkeville and Shankleville.
Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles told KJAS in Jasper at least one house was destroyed near Jamesville. The couple living there was not injured, but their tractor blew away.
The tornado traveled about 250 miles before dissipating near Natchez, Mississippi.
The tornado was part of a system that brought gusty winds throughout Orange County on Wednesday and a strong thunderstorm later in the night.
Social Media