A strong, closed upper level low pressure system drifted east across the Texas Panhandle and into Western Oklahoma April 29th and the early morning hours of April 30th. Very strong southerly winds transported rich tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico across much of EastCentral Texas, North Louisiana, Southwest Arkansas, and Eastern Oklahoma, with much above normal temperatures returning north across the warm sector as far north as Southern and Eastern Oklahoma. This helped to enhance the instability over these areas, where strong wind shear and deep layer forcing increased well ahead of the upper low over the Interstate 35 corridor of Northcentral Texas. Meanwhile, a shortwave trough ejected northeast across Southeast Texas and Northcentral Louisiana ahead of the closed low during the late morning through the afternoon hours, with scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developing over portions of Deep East Texas which spread northeast and intensified across Northcentral Louisiana. One isolated supercell was responsible for extensive wind damage across these areas, while even spawning an isolated tornado over Central Natchitoches Parish just northwest of Natchitoches. Scattered showers and thunderstorms later developed near and east of the DFW Metroplex during the afternoon of the 29th, which spread east into East Texas by late afternoon and early evening. These storms gradually weakened as they entered the Ark-La-Tex, although sporadic wind and hail damage was observed across portions of extreme Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and Northwest Louisiana. These storms intensified a bit during the early morning hours of April 30th, with more concentrated reports of trees and power lines being blown down over portions of Northcentral Louisiana, and even an isolated tornado over Eastern Winn Parish. These storms exiting the region prior to daybreak on April 30th.

Thunderstorm Wind in WINN, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 02:25:00 to 30-APR-17 02:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: GAARS MILL
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down northeast of Dodson.

Thunderstorm Wind in OUACHITA, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 03:35:00 to 30-APR-17 03:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: MILLHAVEN
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A portion of a power pole was snapped due to thunderstorm winds along Highway 80 between Van Buren Drive and Stubbs Vinson Road, resulting in downed power lines which left about 40 homes without power.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 00:30:00 to 30-APR-17 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NATCHITOCHES
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees were blown down throughout Natchitoches Parish. A tree and power lines were downed on Highway 494 past the First Church.

Thunderstorm Wind in SABINE, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 12:40:00 to 29-APR-17 12:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANY
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 14:15:00 to 29-APR-17 14:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: JONESBORO
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees were blown down on Fire Tower Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:05:00 to 29-APR-17 13:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBELINE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees and power lines were blown down in Robeline. A tree was downed onto a mobile home.

Tornado in WINN, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 02:07:00 to 30-APR-17 02:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: MENEFEE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado touched down along Highway 34 several miles northeast of Winnfield, and initially moved north along the highway before turning to the northeast, crossing Brewer Road, James Ketchum Road, Friendship Church Road and Highway 126. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along its path, especially along James Ketchum, Friendship Church Road, and Highway 126. Some outbuildings were damaged, and one home had a tree fall on the patio roof. The tornado lifted just north of Highway 126 just west of Sikes.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 11:35:00 to 29-APR-17 11:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees were blown down.

Tornado in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:24:00 to 29-APR-17 13:28:00 (CST-6)
Location: NATCHITOCHES MUNI
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated winds between 100-110 mph touched down along the northern fringes of Sibley Lake along Wilkerson Road, downing large tree branches. The tornado crossed the northern fingers of the lake along Shoreline Road, Lakeside Drive, and Peninsula Drive, where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. One home on Lakeside Drive suffered roof damage, while another home had several windows blown out and siding lost. One snapped tree crushed a tree house, while another landed on a workshop. The tornado also destroyed one dock along the lake. The tornado crossed another finger of Sibley Lake from Peninsula Drive to Monroe Street and Johnson Lane, where additional trees were snapped and uprooted, and power poles snapped. The tornado lifted along Johnson Lane before lifting as it approached the eastern most finger of the lake along Highway 1 and North Natchitoches.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 14:10:00 to 29-APR-17 14:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: JONESBORO
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees were blown down on Hill Street in Jonesboro.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:10:00 to 29-APR-17 13:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: PROVENCAL
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Two trees were snapped on the north side of Provencal.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:36:00 to 29-APR-17 13:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEAR LAKE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Large tree limbs were blown down between Hart Road and Sandy Point Road.

Hail in WEBSTER, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 15:27:00 to 29-APR-17 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: SYKES FERRY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Penny size hail fell in Sarepta. Report from Twitter forwarded by KSLA-TV.

Hail in WEBSTER, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 15:30:00 to 29-APR-17 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: SYKES FERRY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Quarter size hail fell in Sarepta. Report from the KSLA-TV Facebook page.

Thunderstorm Wind in JACKSON, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 01:45:00 to 30-APR-17 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WESTON
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees were blown down parishwide. Power was out in Quitman.

Thunderstorm Wind in BOSSIER, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 15:00:00 to 29-APR-17 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLAIN DEALING
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Trees and power lines were blown down in Plain Dealing. A cable was downed across the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 3.

Thunderstorm Wind in WINN, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 02:15:00 to 30-APR-17 02:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUDSON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several trees were snapped and uprooted along Highway 34, Aunt Maries Road, and Highway 126. Although these trees were near the tornado path, they were associated with straight-line thunderstorm winds as the trees fell to the north.

Thunderstorm Wind in OUACHITA, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 03:02:00 to 30-APR-17 03:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: CADERVILLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A tree was blown down on Highway 34.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:17:00 to 29-APR-17 13:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAGEWOOD
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Two trees were snapped along Highway 6. Several trees lost large limbs. One house in the Hagewood community also lost a number of roofing shingles.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 13:44:00 to 29-APR-17 13:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: IRMA
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A cluster of trees along Highway 84 east of Clarence were snapped or lost large limbs. All of the trees fell to the north.

Thunderstorm Wind in SABINE, LOUISIANA
From 29-APR-17 12:15:00 to 29-APR-17 12:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLORIEN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees and power lines were blown down across much of Southern Sabine Parish.

Thunderstorm Wind in NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA
From 30-APR-17 00:45:00 to 30-APR-17 00:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMPTI
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A large tree was blown down on Campti Bayou Road.