EF-1 Tornado Confirmed As Cause Of Extensive Damage In Ball, Louisiana

The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado is what caused extensive damage in the Town of Ball area early Thursday morning. According to the NWS Public Information Statement released at 8:05 p.m. Thursday, the tornado, which hit at 3:14 a.m., had winds of 105 miles per hour, was 100 yards wide and sustained a path of one mile.

Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities.

According to the statement: “A tornado touched down south of Ball Road and just east of McRay Drive. The tornado moved southeast, snapping and uprooting numerous softwood and hardwood trees. The most extensive damage was from southern Ball Loop Drive to Leah Street where several houses and vehicles were damaged by uprooted trees. The tornado dissipated east of Leah Street. While the tornado was only 100 yards wide, downdraft winds wrapping around the tornado resulted in additional trees snapped or downed and damage to buildings across portions of Ball.”