Numerous showers and elevated thunderstorms developed across southeast Texas during the early morning hours on March 5, then spread eastward across southern Louisiana through the remainder of the morning. Some of these thunderstorms eventually became surface-based supercells, with one supercell producing four tornadoes across Jefferson Davis and Acadia Parishes.

Thunderstorm Wind in ACADIA, LOUISIANA
From 05-MAR-11 09:58:00 to 05-MAR-11 10:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAYNE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey noted wind damage occurred to the east of the Rayne Tornado in association with the rear flank downdraft of the parent supercell. Several pine trees were snapped along both sides of Interstate 10 up to two miles east of the tornado path. A mobile home lost shingles on Meche Road, and a nearby automobile was damaged by a flying trampoline. Power lines were also blown down in the area.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 05-MAR-11 08:30:00 to 05-MAR-11 08:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: NIBLETT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 tornado began southwest of the Highway 99 and Marceaux Road intersection and ended east of Highway 382. Power lines were blown down on Highway 99, and several farm buildings received minor damage along Highway 382 with sheet metal blown across the roadway.

Tornado in JEFFERSON DAVIS, LOUISIANA
From 05-MAR-11 08:50:00 to 05-MAR-11 08:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROANOKE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 tornado began southwest of the Lyons Road and Mouton Road  intersection and ended northwest of Highway 26 and Bobby Road. Several power poles were knocked down along Mouton Road and Lyons Road. A mobile home lost part of its roof on Bobby Road, and tree limbs were blown down along the path.

Tornado in ACADIA, LOUISIANA
From 05-MAR-11 09:44:00 to 05-MAR-11 09:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: CROWLEY
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 Tornado struck along Interstate 10 in Crowley. A Waffle House restaurant suffered minor damage to the roof, signage, and windows, with 3 injuries from broken glass. A nearby storage building at a car wash collapsed, and several other buildings in the area suffered minor roof damage. A few trees and tree limbs were also blown down.

Tornado in ACADIA, LOUISIANA
From 05-MAR-11 09:51:00 to 05-MAR-11 10:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAYNE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 15.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF2 Tornado touched down northwest of the Ebenezer Road/Standard Mill Road intersection southwest of Rayne and moved across the northern portion of the city, before ending near the community of Castille. A few outbuildings were destroyed in a small subdivsion on Ebenezer Road and a few trees were blown down. The tornado crossed Highway 90 with no visible damage before striking the Rayne Water Treatment Plant west of town, completely destroying three metal buildings (EF2) and blowing debris over 200 yards to the east and northeast. The tornado then entered the main residential section of the city of Rayne at Marie Avenue and Lessley Street, demolishing two mobile homes and damaging several others (EF2). A patchwork of EF0/EF1 damage was noted to homes and trees as the storm moved across the northwestern part of Rayne. One woman was killed on Bella Avenue just north of West a School Street when a large tree fell onto and flattened her small home. The tornado intensified as it neared and crossed Martin Luther King Boulevard, where two small homes and an abandoned two story building were leveled, and several duplexes lost their entire roofs (EF2). Crossing Highway 35, another duplex lost much of its roof as did an auto parts store. Several security cameras from nearby buildings filmed the tornado in this area. The storm weakened as it moved into northeastern Rayne, causing generally minor roof and exterior damage to the high school and adjacent stadium (EF1). EF0 damage was noted as the tornado crossed Interstate 10, with several pine trees snapped and minor damage to buildings. Minor damage continued to a few buildings on Nation Road and Highway 98 (EF0), with the final damage noted to a mobile home on Charlie Arceneaux Road.
The City of Rayne Police Department confirmed a total of 1 fatality and 11 injuries. The Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office reported that 42 houses were destroyed, 48 sustained major damage, 79 houses suffered moderate damage, and another 514 houses received minor damage, for a total of 683 damaged homes. Another unknown number of businesses were also damaged.