The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has compiled a preliminary statement on the tornadoes that occurred on Saturday, April 29th in eastern North Texas. They’ll be back out in the area on Monday and Tuesday to continue their surveys. At this time there have been four tornadoes confirmed, but that number may rise in the coming days. The ‘tornado of interest’ that has gotten national attention is the one that impacted eastern sections of Canton. That tornado has been rated an EF-3 with maximum sustained winds near 130 MPH. The tornado that went just west of Canton from Eustace was actually stronger and is a high-end EF3, but may be upgraded based on further survey results. Two other tornadoes, each EF0, were found near Grand Saline and East Canton (just before the stronger one). These results are preliminary and subject to change.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
902 PM CDT Sun Apr 30 2017

…Public Information Statement…

…NWS Damage Survey For April 29 Tornado Event…

A National Weather Service survey team began to survey the damage
associated with at least four tornadoes that occurred in
Henderson, Van Zandt, Rains and Hopkins Counties. Two of the four
tornadoes were given a preliminary EF-0 rating while the other two
were long-tracked tornadoes with more significant damage, leading
to at least EF-3 ratings. Several survey teams will head out during
the day Monday to continue to assess the damage.

This data is preliminary and some details may change over the next
few days as additional information is gathered.

.Grand Saline Tornado…

Rating: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph
Path Length /statute/: 1.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0

Start Date: 04/29/2017
Start Time: 04:15 PM CDT
Start Location: 5 SSW Grand Saline / Van Zandt County /
TX
Start Lat/Lon: 32.6056 / -95.7526

End Date: 04/29/2017
End Time: 04:17 PM CDT
End Location: 2 WSW Grand Saline / Van Zandt County /
TX
End Lat/Lon: 32.664 / -95.7413

Summary: Storm spotters and storm chasers observed a brief tornado
to the southwest of Grand Saline. Damage to trees was observed.

.East Canton #1 Tornado…

Rating: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
Path Length /statute/: 2 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards
Fatalities: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Start Date: 04/29/2017
Start Time: 05:10 PM CDT
Start Location: 1 ESE Canton / Van Zandt County / TX
Start Lat/Lon: 32.5405 / -95.8429

End Date: 04/29/2017
End Time: 05:14 PM CDT
End Location: 3 NE Canton / Van Zandt County / TX
End Lat/Lon: 32.5784 / -95.8233

Summary: This brief tornado occurred in nearly the same area
of the larger tornado that came through later. This tornado caused
damage to trees and barns just southeast of the city center of Canton.

.Eustace to West Canton Tornado…

Rating: At least EF3
Estimated Peak Wind: 145 mph
Path Length /statute/: 23.35 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 800 yards
Fatalities: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Start Date: 04/29/2017
Start Time: 05:29 PM CDT
Start Location: 2 SSE Eustace / Henderson County / TX
Start Lat/Lon: 32.2834 / -96.0025

End Date: 04/29/2017
End Time: 06:09 PM CDT
End Location: 5 NNW Canton / Van Zandt County / TX
End Lat/Lon: 32.6096 / -95.9126

Summary: This tornado was the strongest of the tornado damage which
was surveyed today. Damage to four to five homes was noted where the
exterior walls collapsed in estimated 145 mph winds. Several cars and
numerous manufactured homes were damaged in the central part of this
tornado`s path. Additional details from this storm will be surveyed
on Monday.

.Log Cabin to Yantis Tornado…

Rating: EF3
Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph
Path Length /statute/: 55.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1760 yards
Fatalities: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Start Date: 04/29/2017
Start Time: 05:41 PM CDT
Start Location: 5 ENE Log Cabin / Henderson County / TX
Start Lat/Lon: 32.2564 / -95.951

End Date: 04/29/2017
End Time: 07:28 PM CDT
End Location: 8 NW Yantis / Hopkins County / TX
End Lat/Lon: 33.0173 / -95.6709

Summary: This tornado will be better known as the mile wide tornado
which slammed into the east side of Canton. A survey crew found damage
consistent with winds around 130 mph within the damage path. More damage
will be surveyed again tomorrow.

It is not yet clear whether this 55 mile damage path (51 miles in a straight
line) is indeed one tornado, or was caused by more than one. More details to
come late Monday.

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into
the following categories.

EF0…Weak……65 TO 85 mph
EF1…Weak……86 TO 110 mph
EF2…Strong….111 TO 135 mph
EF3…Strong….136 TO 165 mph
EF4…Violent…166 TO 200mph
EF5…Violent…>200mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in
NWS Storm Data.