NWS: 12 tornadoes hit Louisiana, Mississippi on April 10; West Feliciana storm had 32-mile path

Bonnie Bolden
·2 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The National Weather Service in New Orleans has determined that at least 12 tornadoes hit Louisiana and Mississippi during an April 10 storm system, which left communities across the state cleaning up from damage caused by heavy rain and high winds.

A woman in Rapides Parish died after a tree fell on her home. It’s the only death the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed was caused by the storms.

On Friday, April 19, the NWS added five tornadoes to the previous total of eight, citing new ones in West Feliciana Parish and Harrison and Jackson Counties in Mississippi. The report cites preliminary data.

According to the NWS report, four new ones were added, and the tracks of two that had been identified before were changed into one long track spanning from Pointe Coupee to West Feliciana.

‘Ahead of the Storm’: What to know, how to get ready before tornadoes, strong storms, heavy rain

That twister, now called the Labarre-Spillman, was longer than previously thought. The path was updated from 9 miles to 32 based on a review of high-resolution images. It reportedly touched down south of Morganza and moved into Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Most damage was sustained between Bains and Spillman. The NWS report said more changes to peak intensity could be adjusted after a survey team looks at damage on Monday. The classification might be upgraded to an EF-2.

The Harrison County tornadoes were ID via ground surveys and high-resolution satellite images. Another weak, unrated twister was also noted in Jackson County, Mississippi. It went over inaccessible areas.

More potential tornado damage is also being investigated in Innis in Pointe Coupee Parish.

How strong are tornadoes?

The NWS categorizes tornadoes with the enhanced Fujita Scale by wind speed.

  • EF0: 65-85 mph

  • EF1: 86-110 mph

  • EF2: 111-135 mph

  • EF3: 136-165 mph

  • EF4: 166-200 mph

  • EF5: More than 200 mph

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