FORNEY, Texas — April 3, 2017, marks the five-year anniversary of an EF-3 tornado touching down in portions of Forney causing approximately $100 million in damage — on a day which saw 17 confirmed tornadoes in north Texas.
FORNEY, Texas — April 3, 2017, marks the five-year anniversary of an EF-3 tornado touching down in portions of Forney causing approximately $100 million in damage — on a day which saw 17 confirmed tornadoes in north Texas.
According to National Weather Service (NWS) data, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the tornado began around the downtown Forney area and intensified to a rated EF-3 tornado, based on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, as it approached the Diamond Creek neighborhood north of U.S. Highway 80. The tornado tracked for approximately eight miles, had a maximum width of 150 yards, and wind speeds estimated at 150 miles per hour.
On that day, a total of 55 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and 18 Tornado Warnings were issued by the Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service between 7:32 a.m. and 8:13 p.m., according to the NWS.
“The most intense damage associated with this tornado occurred in the Diamond Creek subdivision,” stated the NWS. “Two homes were completely destroyed in this subdivision and several others were heavily damaged.”
“As the tornado moved north-northeast through the subdivision it produced damage primarily to the roof of Crosby Elementary school,” stated the NWS. “There were also several vehicles damaged in the schools parking lot, one of which was lofted approximately 300 yards away from the school and found in a field to the northeast.”
Other damage was reported to commercial businesses in the downtown area and along U.S. Highway 80.
Luckily, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
The Forney tornado would be the highest rated tornado of the day in the north Texas area. 13 of the tornadoes were rated EF-0, the lowest rating on the EF scale, one was rated EF-1, and three were rated EF-2.
Below is an image gallery inForney.com published on April 4, 2015, provided by Big Shots Photography.
