Powerful storms killed at least 13 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. (AP)
5 tornadoes touched down Saturday in northern Texas ranging from EF1 to EF3, NWS reports
One tornado lasted longer than an hour.
Five tornadoes touched down in North Texas during a six-hour span Saturday, according to a National Weather Service assessment.
The twisters ranged in strength on the Enhanced Fujita Scale from EF1 to EF3 and traveled a combined 60 miles, according to report release Wednesday night.
Though the tornadoes caused massive tree and structural damage, only one resulted in deaths and injuries.
Here’s a breakdown the path of each tornado and the destruction they caused, according to the weather service report:
Eastland County
The first tornado in northern Texas on Saturday began about 5:42 p.m. and traveled 2.46 miles near Cross Plains in Eastland County, about 160 miles southwest of Dallas.
It was ranked an EF2 with peak winds traveling 115 mph.
The tornado formed in a southwestern part of the county and traveled east-northeast damaging trees along County Road 376 and County Road 240.
It continued strengthening and caused major damage to two neighboring properties along County Road 223.
The tornado snapped at least two wooden utility poles and the trunks of several large trees on the first property. An RV trailer on the property was also completely destroyed. A family of three survived after they left the RV and sheltered behind a small building. No injuries were reported.
The windows and a door on a RV broke when it was knocked over on the second property. The tornado also moved a small structure off its wooden blocks about 30 feet and pushed it into a tree, where it sustained minor roof damage. A metal barn along the chicken coop was completely destroyed and some tree trunks were snapped.
The tornado continued across an open field, cracked several other tree trunks along both sides of County Road 223 before crossing the road and eventually dissipating.
Photos: Heavy damage seen in Valley View, Texas after a suspected tornado
40 images
Montague, Cooke and Denton counties
An EF3 tornado traveled roughly 47.99 miles through Montague, Cooke and Denton counties with wind speeds peaking at 140 mph. This tornado is linked to seven deaths and an estimated 100 injuries.
The tornado’s path began about 9:42 p.m. near Bowie, about 95 miles northwest of Dallas, and ended at 11:15 p.m. in Pilot Point, about 55 miles from the city.
A supercell thunderstorm formed the tornado, which initially impacted trees and isolated outbuildings about 5 miles southeast of Bowie before traveling east and damaging multiple rural residences in a southern part of Montague County. Two homes in particular sustained damage consistent with EF2 intensity winds between 120 and 125 mph.
The tornado continued moving east then south toward the Forestburg community, causing widespread tree and outbuilding damage consistent with slower winds between 75 and 110 mph. There was also minor structural damage on several other residences south and southeast of the area.
The tornado left Montague County west of Rosston and entered Cooke County toward Era. Widespread tree damage likely from an EF0 tornado occurred in these areas.
The intensity of the tornado increased to an EF1 with widespread tree and structural damage consistent with 90 to 110 mph winds. Some residences southeast of Era and west of Valley View had damage likely caused by EF2 winds.
The tornado intensified to its peak strength of an EF3 as it approached Valley View from the west. The upper levels and roofs of several newly constructed homes along County Road 200 were damaged or demolished and some walls were pushed in on the backside of the homes.
The tornado entered the Frf Estates neighborhood along West Lone Oak Road, which contains mostly mobile homes. Some residences were demolished and there was widespread damage throughout the neighborhood. The tornado was rated an EF2 at this point.
From there, the tornado remained at the intensity of an EF2 with 135 mph winds, traveled east and crossed Interstate 35, damaging cars and tractor trailers on the interstate before hitting the Shell gas station, a metal building shop and RV and boat storage units.
It continued near East Lone Oak Road toward Ray Roberts Lake, where some roof and tree damage occurred before the tornado crossed the lake pushing over campers on the peninsula that includes Ray Roberts Lake State Park Johnson Branch.
The last of the damage, mostly to trees, was found near the end of Anderson Road in Pilot Point where it eventually dissipated.
Ray Roberts Marina
This EF1 tornado lasted about one minute and traveled 1.42 miles. Its top wind speed peaked at 110 mph.
The twister formed about 10:46 p.m. near the southwestern portions of Ray Roberts Lake impacting areas in and around Ray Roberts Marina in Denton County.
There was notable tree damage in the area and a few homes on Jones Street were damaged. One of the homes lost most of its roof as the back patio was pulled over the house.
Inside the marina, 24 RV and motor homes were damaged as well as floating docks, boats and trees.
The tornado moved onto the lake and dissipated.
Northern Collin County
The EF1 tornado in northern Collin County hit wind speeds of 95 mph and traveled 8.31 miles in about 11 minutes.
It began about 11:20 p.m. near Celina and dissipated about 11:31 p.m. west of Weston, about 45 miles north of Dallas. Damage, mostly to trees, along the path was scattered but consistent enough along the track of the radar circulation. Some metal buildings and telephone poles were also damaged.
Photos: Celina neighborhood mangled by late-night tornado
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North of Celina
A minute-long EF3 tornado north of Celina began about 11:23 p.m. and traveled .71 miles. Its wind speeds spiked up to 165 mph.
This tornado was an intense satellite tornado, which hit a few homes along Prairie Meadow Lane.
At least two residences along the street sustained moderate-to-high-end EF3 damage with roofs and walls destroyed. Several other homes had damage consistent with EF1 and EF2 tornado winds.
