Burleson County
Tornado Event on March 10, 2000

INTRODUCTION

On the evening of March 10, 2000, a line of strong to severe thunderstorms was bearing down on southeast Texas from the north and central parts of the state. By the time the line reached the outer fringes of the area...one storm along the line began to intensify rapidly. A supercell had formed...but by the time the storm reached the small community of Harmony (just south of Caldwell on SH 36) of a few mintues later...a tornado had developed. This write-up will focus mainly on that storm and the strong tornado that it produced in central Burleson county.

SYNOPSIS

Throughout the 1999-2000 winter season, Southeast Texas was in the midst of a severe drought. La Nina conditions had kept nearly all of the rain and severe weather well to the north of the area. Upper level ridging across the eastern half of the country remained strong throughout the season and forced storm systems to pass north of the area. This pattern began to change aroundthe first of March when the ridge started to weaken. This allowed storms that crossed the Rockies to head further east toward Texas. One of these storms led to the development of the March 10th Burleson County tornado.

During the afternoon on the 10th, a strengthening shortwave was moving to the east across the northern portions of Texas. This impulse helped to initiate shower and thunderstorm formation along a line across north central Texas. As the storms made progress to the southeast toward Burleson County, they began to encounter and interact with an increasingly unstable airmass.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for a developing supercell before it crossed into Burleson County. The supercell began to show tornadic characteristics, and the warning was upgraded to a tornado warning. The first tornado touched down about tem minutes after this warning. Throughout the life of the tornadic supercell, radar data showed evidence of a strong mesocyclone. The best radar signature was observed at the time F3 damage was observed.

This Burleson County tornado was the strongest tornado observed in Southeast Texas since the Channelview tornado of December 1992.

FORECAST PRODUCTS

• Area Forecast Discussion issued at 930am
• Area Forecast Discussion issued at 305pm
• Area Forecast Discussion issued at 630pm
• Area Forecast Discussion issued at 850pm

WARNING PRODUCTS

• SVR for Burleson, Madison and Brazos Counties - issued at 720pm.
• TOR for Burleson County - issued at 745pm.
• TOR for Walker and Grimes Counties - issued at 759pm.
• TOR for Burleson and Washington Counties - issued at 814pm.
• SVS for Burleson and Washington Counties - issued at 833pm.

RADAR & SATELLITE IMAGES

• Satellite Images: [1] - [2] - Loop
• From the Aggie Doppler Radar: [1] - [2]

LOCAL STORM REPORT

• Local Storm Report issued 1055pm

DAMAGE SURVEY REPORT

• Report
• Photos of the damage: [1] - [2]
• Map of Tornado Track