page_title: Tornadoes of 2015
section_title: October 30–31
hierarchical_section_title: Tornadoes of 2015 / October / October 30–31
caption_attribution_description: English: High-end EF2 damage to an industrial building in Pasadena, TX.
context_page_description: This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2015. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, Brazil and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather including strong thunderstorms, winds and hail.
  There were 1,265 tornadoes reported in the United States in 2015 according to the Storm Prediction Center, of which at least 1,178 have been confirmed. Worldwide, 109 fatalities have been reported: 45 in Pakistan, 36 in the United States, 14 in Mexico, seven in China, three in Myanmar, two in Brazil and one each in Italy and Russia. 2015 ended the very quiet trend of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons, and was the most active in four years.
context_section_description: A small tornado outbreak occurred across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi during a major flooding event. The first two tornadoes touched down in southern Texas during the early morning hours of the 30th, including an EF1 in Los Coyotes that was caught on surveillance video lifting a barn from its foundation and destroying it. Other outbuildings and trees sustained damage along the path as well. Another EF0 near Willamar knocked over a cotton seed holder and snapped tree limbs. More intense tornado activity occurred later on the 30th, as tornadoes impacted areas in and around the greater Austin and Houston areas, a few of which were strong. An EF0 struck the town of D'Hanis early in the morning, causing tree and roof damage throughout town. One frail, older brick building in the downtown area had its second story collapse. The town of Floresville sustained a direct hit from a strong EF2 tornado, where extensive tree and roof damage occurred, a billboard was collapsed, and recreational vehicles were thrown and destroyed, including one that was lifted and deposited on the roof of a three-story hotel. The local high school was severely damaged, sustaining two major exterior wall collapses on the second floor, as well as partial collapse of its roof. Another EF2 tornado damaged at least 25 homes near the town of Geronimo. Some of the homes sustained total roof loss, and mobile homes were rolled and destroyed. Numerous trees were downed, and outbuildings, garages, and pieces of farm equipment were damaged or destroyed as well.
  During the early morning of October 31, ten tornadoes touched down in the densely populated Houston Metropolitan Area. An EF0 tornado struck a mobile home park near Alvin, causing minor damage to 20 mobile homes and overturning one of them, injuring the couple inside. An EF1 tornado also occurred near Manvel destroying a mobile home and damaging 5 others, injuring three people. Another EF0 tornado caused roof damage to the Brazos Mall in Lake Jackson. One tornado struck the Houston suburb of Friendswood, causing mostly moderate tree and roof damage, though one well-built house had most of its roof torn off, warranting an EF2 rating. Another strong tornado began at the southeast edge of Pasadena before tearing through densely populated areas of La Porte. The most intense damage occurred in Pasadena, where a metal-frame industrial building was destroyed at EF2 strength. Significant tree and roof damage occurred in La Porte, where one home had most of its roof torn off and another was shifted off of its foundation. Many other homes sustained lesser damage. A third EF0 also touched down later in the morning, causing minor damage to homes in Highlands and Barrett. Tornadoes continued to touch down in areas further east later in the day, as weak tornadoes touched down in Louisiana and Mississippi. An EF0 tornado struck residential areas of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, causing minor tree and roof damage. Overall, this outbreak produced 24 tornadoes, though no fatalities occurred.
caption: EF2 damage to an industrial building in Pasadena, Texas.
exif: {}