Annual tornado reports from the National Weather Service (NWS)

Southeast Texas Struck by Five Tornadoes, Two EF-3s with 161 mph Winds in Porter Heights and Chambers County Amid 44 Reports Across 10 States

Dec 29, 2024, 10:05 PM

A severe weather outbreak in Southeast Texas on December 28 resulted in the confirmation of five tornadoes, two of which were classified as high-end EF-3 tornadoes with winds reaching up to 161 mph. The National Weather Service (NWS) conducted surveys and confirmed that an EF-3 tornado touched down in the Porter Heights area of Montgomery County, causing significant damage. Another EF-3 tornado was reported in Chambers County, affecting areas along Highway 124 south of FM 1941. Additionally, tornadoes of varying strengths, including an EF-2 in Brazoria County with an 8.8-mile path, an EF-1 in Galveston County, and an EF-0 near Bayshore Park, were also confirmed. The outbreak led to at least one injury reported in the Stowell-Port Arthur area, where a tornado narrowly avoided Port Arthur. The NWS noted that this event marked the first EF-3 tornado in Texas in December since 2015. The outbreak was part of a larger weather event that produced 44 tornado reports across 10 states, with 180 severe thunderstorm warnings and 106 tornado warnings issued. Over 90 tornado warnings were issued across the Deep South, resulting in 40 filtered tornado reports.