The 2013 Granbury tornado was a violent and destructive EF4 tornado that struck Granbury, Texas in the evening hours of May 15, 2013.[1][2] It killed 6 people, making it the deadliest tornado of the Tornado outbreak of May 15–17, 2013, and was one of the worst tornadoes to ever hit the region.[3]
 The tornado near peak intensity outside of Granbury | |
| EF4 tornado | |
|---|---|
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 180 mph (290 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Injuries | 54 |
| Missing | 7 |
| Areas affected | Granbury, Texas |
Part of the Tornadoes of 2013 | |
It caused intense damage in the Rancho Brazos subdivision, where all 6 deaths occurred.[4] The tornado tracked 2.75 miles in total, and had a maximum width that was estimated to be up to 800 yards.[5]
Tornado summary
editThe tornado touched down at approximately 7:55 P.M. on Apache Trail Court. A house that was located off of Apache Trail had visible damage, which was rated EF0. The tornado moved east-northeast, crossing Lake Granbury and the Brazos River while retaining EF0 intensity. The tornado ran ashore on the far south side of Sundown Trail, and it tracked through a field before hitting Davis Road. The tornado inflicted EF0 damage on electrical transmission lines located near Rhea Court, before turning to the north.[5]
The tornado then crossed De Cordova Ranch Road, entering the Rancho Brazos subdivision, where all six deaths would occur.[4][6] It would then begin rapidly intensifying to EF3 strength. A manufactured home located off of De Cordova Ranch as completely destroyed. The tornado retained EF3 intensity while crossing Canyon Road and South Sageccrest Court. The tornado also tracked through Tumbleweed Lane. The tornado then briefly strengthened to low-end EF4 intensity, and a two-story home located on Fox Hollow Court was completely destroyed, and the house foundation was swept clean of any debris.[5]
The tornado then weakened back down to EF3 intensity while crossing Ranchview Drive. A to-story home was completely destroyed on Ranchview Drive at high-end EF3 intensity, and another manufactured home located nearby was destroyed at high-end EF2 intensity. The tornado continued to move northward, hitting Highview Court and the northern edge of Echo Trail.[5]
The tornado reached EF4 intensity a second time on Sundown Court, where two multi-story houses were destroyed and swept clean of debris. These houses were located next to each other. Another house on the same street sustained high-end EF3 damage to its structure, and collapsed walls were observed. It then tracked out of populated areas, heading northward and snapping tree trunks at EF1 intensity.[5]
As the tornado continued tracking northward, it struck a barn, heavily damaging it at EF1 intensity. Windspeeds here were at 97 mph. Another farm nearby lost its roof, and windspeeds were estimated to be up to 100 mph at this location. A tree was debarked at EF2 intensity a short distance from the farms, and several other trees sustained EF0 and EF1 damage. The tornado retained large swaths of EF1 damage.[5]
The tornado continued moving northward before narrowly avoiding a single home located on Acton Highway. It then abruptly turned to the east, inflicting EF2 damage on trees. It also began to run almost parallel to Bob White Drive while weakening to EF0 intensity. Multiple farm buildings sustained EF0 damage on this road. The tornado also damaged a manufactured home at EF1 intensity before lifting north of Bob White Drive. In total, it tracked around 2.75 miles and had a maximum width of 800 yards.[5]
Aftermath
editDamage
edit
97 of the 110 houses and trailer homes in the Rancho Brazos subdivision were either heavily damaged or destroyed; 19 were completely destroyed, while 17 sustained critical structural damage. 17 mobile homes were also destroyed.[4] Around 20,000 buildings were left without power in Granbury and surrounding areas as a direct result of the tornado.[7] Hundreds of people were left homeless after the tornado.[8]
Fatalities
editSix were killed and an estimated 37 were injured in the immediate aftermath of the tornado,[9] with this estimate later being revised to 54 injuries.[10] 11 people were initially declared missing, all of which lived or were in the Rancho Brazos subdivision, although that number was later dropped to 7.[11]
See also
edit- 2015 Garland tornado, another EF4 that struck areas near Dallas 2 years later
- List of F4, EF4, and IF4 tornadoes
- List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2010–2019)
- List of Texas tornadoes
References
edit- ^ "Storm chaser captures Texas tornado". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Pictures: Massive tornado damage in Texas". Daily Press. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Rice, Rick Jervis and Doyle. "In the jaws of a tornado: Horror in Texas". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b c Schwartz, John (2013-05-16). "A Tornado's Mad Dash, and Then Ruins". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Mungin, Tom Watkins,Lateef (2013-05-16). "North Texas picks up the pieces after tornadoes kill 6". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Texas tornadoes kill at least six people and leave dozens injured". The Guardian. Associated Press. 2013-05-16. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "At least 6 confirmed dead, dozens injured in Texas tornadoes". 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "'It's definitely a nightmare': Tornado cluster shreds North Texas". Los Angeles Times. 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Monster Texas tornado kills 6, 7 still missing". Reuters. Retrieved July 29, 2024.