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Extremely destructive EF4 tornado that hit Granbury, Texas in 2013

‹ The template Infobox weather event is being considered for merging. ›
2013 Granbury tornado
View of the tornado near Granbury.
Meteorological history
FormedMay 15, 2013, 7:58 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
DissipatedMay 15, 2013, 8:11 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration13 Minutes
EF4 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds180 mph (290 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities6
Injuries54
Missing7
Damage$143 million (2013 USD)
Areas affected
Granbury, Texas
Part of the Tornadoes of 2013 and Tornado outbreak of May 15–17, 2013

During the evening hours of May 15, 2013, a violent and deadly EF4 tornado struck the southeastern part of Granbury, Texas.[1][2] It killed 6 people, making it the deadliest tornado of the Tornado outbreak of May 15–17, 2013 and the deadliest violent tornado in the region since an F4 struck Lancaster, Texas in 1994.[3][4] It was the strongest tornado of the outbreak, with estimated windspeeds of 180 mph (290 km/h) estimated by NWS Fort Worth.

The tornado touched down at 7:58 pm, dealing minor damage along Cheyenne Trail and began to rapidly intensify as it approached the Rancho Brazos subdivision, where all 6 deaths and $143 million of damage occurred. As the tornado moved into the subdivision it rapidly became violent as it destroyed and in places completely swept multiple homes. EF4 damage was noted to well-built homes on Sundown Court and Fox Hollow Court, with maximum windspeeds of up to 180 miles per hour. The tornado then began to quickly weaken, dealing EF2 damage to trees as it left the subdivision before dissipating near a farmstead along Bob White drive. The tornado tracked 2.75 miles in total and had a maximum width that was estimated to be up to 800 yards.

Meteorological Synopsis

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Storm Prediction Center issuing a Slight Risk across Northern and Central Texas

Throughout the night of May 15th 2013, an upper-level shortwave trough moved northeastward from Mexico into the Southern Plains, leading the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma, a division of the National Weather Service, to issue a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over northwestern Texas with a threat of large hail and damaging winds.[5] A low-pressure area associated with the trough moved southwest over Oklahoma, producing light to moderate rainfall and non-severe thunderstorms there as it continued into parts of North Texas. The Storm Prediction Center later expanded the slight risk further into Northern and Central Texas, and later into far southern Oklahoma, noting an enhanced risk of a few isolated tornadoes in North Texas.[5]

The atmosphere began to destabilize due to a decrease in cloud cover over western and central Texas that resulted in increased regional temperatures. Combined with wind shear and abundant low-level moisture, a vast unstable air mass formed across North Texas and parts of Central Texas The SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch from southern Oklahoma to central Texas around 3:00 p.m. CDT.[5]

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The tornado touched down at approximately 7:55 P.M. on Apache Trail Court, where a house located off of Apache Trail had visible damage at EF0 intensity. The tornado moved east-northeast, crossing Lake Granbury and the Brazos River while retaining EF0 intensity as it ran ashore on the far south side of Sundown Trail, tracking through a field before hitting Davis Road where the tornado inflicted damage on electrical transmission lines located near Rhea Court at EF0 intensity before turning to the north.[6]

A home swept away on Fox Hollow Court

The tornado then crossed De Cordova Ranch Road, entering the Rancho Brazos subdivision where all six deaths would occur,[7][8] rapidly intensifying to EF3 strength as a manufactured home located off of De Cordova Ranch was completely destroyed and thrown over 100 yards. The tornado retained EF3 intensity while crossing Canyon Road and South Sagecrest Court, collapsing the walls and upper stories of multiple homes.[9] The tornado then tracked through Fox Hollow Court, where it briefly strengthened to low-end EF4 intensity as a two-story, well-plated home was completely destroyed with the concrete foundation swept clean of any debris.[6]

The tornado then weakened back down to EF3 intensity while crossing Ranchview Drive, where a two-story home was completely destroyed at high-end EF3 intensity, trees were debarked, 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 at EF3 intensity.[6][10]

Peak damage to a home on Sundown Court

The tornado reached EF4 intensity a second time on Sundown Court, where two multi-story houses, including one that was properly secured with anchor bolts, were destroyed and swept clean of debris. A poorly anchored home on the same street was damaged at high-end EF3 intensity as all of its walls were collapsed. It then tracked out of populated areas, heading northward and snapping tree trunks at EF1 intensity.[6]

As the tornado continued tracking northward, it struck a barn at EF1 intensity, causing heavy damage. Another farm nearby lost its roof, a nearby tree was debarked at EF2 intensity, 3 horses were thrown and killed, and several nearby trees sustained EF0 and EF1 damage.[6]

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 as it began to run almost parallel to Bob White Drive while weakening to EF0 intensity. Multiple farm buildings sustained EF0 damage on this road, and a manufactured home was damaged at EF1 intensity before the tornado lifted north of Bob White Drive. In total, it tracked around 2.75 miles and had a maximum width of 800 yards.[6]

Aftermath

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Damage

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Aerial shot of damage to the subdivision

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.[7] Damage costs were estimated to be $143 million. [11] Around 20,000 buildings were left without power in Granbury and surrounding areas as a direct result of the tornado.[12] Hundreds of people were left homeless after the tornado.[13]

Cleanup efforts

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Many volunteers arrived to help rebuild some of the destroyed homes, supported by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army.[14] [15] Additionally, The General Motors foundation donated 500,000 dollars to reconstruction efforts.[16] Texas Governor Rick Perry visited after the tornado, expressing his support for the survivors of the tornado and local emergency services.[17] Tornado preparedness significantly improved after the tornado, as 50 homes became registered storm shelter owners by November 2015 and many homes were rebuilt with strong interior rooms.[18] 53 of the families had stayed to rebuild and 19 more families moved into the Rancho Brazos subdivision in the years after the tornado.[10][19]

Fatalities

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Six were killed and an estimated 37 were injured in the immediate aftermath of the tornado,[20] with this estimate later being revised to 54 injuries.[11] 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.[21] All of the dead were adults sheltered in mobile homes.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Storm chaser captures Texas tornado". BBC News. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Pictures: Massive tornado damage in Texas". Daily Press. May 20, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ Rice, Rick Jervis and Doyle. "In the jaws of a tornado: Horror in Texas". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Hood County twister one of the deadliest tornadoes in the last 50 years, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 17, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "Storm Prediction Center May 15, 2013 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". www.spc.noaa.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Schwartz, John (May 16, 2013). "A Tornado's Mad Dash, and Then Ruins". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  8. ↑ Watkins, Tom; Mungin, Lateef (May 16, 2013). "North Texas picks up the pieces after tornadoes kill 6". CNN. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ "US - An aerial view of the violent tornado damage path that moved southeast of Granbury yesterday evening. Thanks to the Texas State Police for the aerial survey. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Before and after the Granbury tornado: The resilience of Rancho Brazos | Habitat for Humanity". www.habitat.org. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Storm Events Database - Event Details | National Centers for Environmental Information". National Centers for Environmental Information. 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Texas tornadoes kill at least six people and leave dozens injured". The Guardian. Associated Press. May 16, 2013. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ "At least 6 confirmed dead, dozens injured in Texas tornadoes". May 16, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  14. ↑ Jervis, Rick. "Tornado wrecks homes built by volunteers". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Salvation Army Staff and Volunteers Responding to Tornadoes in Cleburne and Granbury, Texas". disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Home Destroyed By Tornado Rebuilt For Granbury Family - CBS Texas". www.cbsnews.com. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  17. ↑ Chron (May 17, 2013). "Gov. Perry's remarks on the Granbury storm damage". Chron. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  18. ↑ Granbury neighborhood recovers after 2013 tornadoes, WFAA, November 16, 2015.
  19. ↑ Austin, B. J. (May 15, 2014). "A Year After A Deadly Tornado Ripped Through Granbury, The Rebuilding Continues". KERA News. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ "'It's definitely a nightmare': Tornado cluster shreds North Texas". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Monster Texas tornado kills 6, 7 still missing". Reuters. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
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