First US tornado of 2024 reported in Texas
A small twister moved through Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4 and caused minor damage along its half-mile-long path, according to the National Weather Service.
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LAKE JACKSON, Texas – A tornado that spun through a coastal Texas town Thursday appears to be the first tornado of 2024 in the U.S.
According to the National Weather Service office in Houston, the twister touched down just before 6 a.m. about 3 miles northwest of Lake Jackson, about 55 miles south of Houston, before lifting about 2 minutes later. Winds reached a maximum of 80 mph along its half-mile-long path, ranking it an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
A map created by the National Weather Service shows the path of a small tornado that hit near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024.
(NWS / NOAA)
A survey team from the NWS found some minor structural damage to nearby homes, but most of the damage included downed trees and power lines.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 1 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 2 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 3 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 4 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 5 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 6 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
![Damage from first tornado of 2024 near Lake Jackson, Texas.]()
Image 7 of 7Toppled trees and damaged power lines are seen in photos of the mess left behind by a small tornado near Lake Jackson, Texas, on Jan. 4, 2024. It was the first reported tornado of the year. (CenterPoint Energy)
The country’s second tornado of the year appears to have happened in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday.
While tornadoes most often occur during the spring and fall, they can happen any time of the year.
A preliminary count by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center showed 1,423 tornadoes happened in the U.S. during 2023. More than 80 people were killed by twisters last year, which is slightly above the annual average.