A tornado touched down in the eastern Hill Country late Friday night, crossing parts of Kendall and Comal counties, the National Weather Service confirmed Sunday after conducting a storm survey Sunday afternoon.
Based on damage found across the area, the tornado was rated an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 110 mph. At its widest, the tornado measured about 300 yards across.
The tornado’s path
The tornado first touched down at 11:35 p.m. on the west side of FM 3551 in eastern Kendall County, about four miles southeast of the unincorporated community of Kendalia. It produced sporadic tree damage as it traveled east through rural Kendall County, according to the National Weather Service’s report.
After moving into Comal County, the twister downed five electrical poles and one light pole near the intersection of U.S. 281 and FM 306. It then continued east-southeast into the Indian Hill subdivision, where it caused more tree, fence and shingle damage.
Before dissipating, the tornado continued straight east into Tanglewood Trail and the northern sections of Mystic Shores, just northwest of Canyon Lake, continuing to cause tree and shingle damage. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 23 minutes, covering a distance of 20.1 miles.
Was a warning issued?
The National Weather Service did issue a tornado warning for Comal and Kendall counties late Friday night. However, the warning was issued at 11:40 p.m., five minutes after the tornado initially touched down in eastern Kendall County.
Residents in the Indian Hill, Tanglewood Trail and Mystic Shores areas had between five and 15 minutes of lead time before the tornado arrived.
Damage from straight-line winds
Surveyors also found significant wind damage both north and south of the tornado’s track. One home, southeast of the tornado, had its roof torn off and tossed 100 yards to the east. Another home on Sundown Trail also incurred significant roof damage as well.
It was concluded, based on radar data, that the damage to these homes was a result of straight-line winds, not a tornado.
Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at [email protected].
Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.
In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.
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