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2nd tornado in a week reportedly touches down in Lacombe, causes damage

Courtesy of National Weather Service New Orleans
Courtesy of National Weather Service New Orleans

A tornado was reportedly spotted in Lacombe on Wednesday evening, just a week after another tornado touched down in that same part of the New Orleans area's north shore during a severe weather event.

The twister was first reported by TV news stations in metro New Orleans just before 8 p.m. At the time it was reported, WVUE Chief Meteorologist David Bernard said the tornado was moving to the northeast at about 50 mph.

A video from WDSU meteorologist Lee Southwick showed damage, fallen trees and downed power lines in the Big Branch area.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper said in a tweet that he was headed to the area to check on citizens after the reported tornado and urged residents to stay off the roads.

The number of residents without power is estimated to be around 3,000, Cooper said. He added that they have received reports of tree damage, but none yet of structural damage.

Wednesday’s severe weather, which meteorologists said could produce EF2 tornadoes or stronger and has covered a large swatch of the southeast U.S., took place a week after more severe weather hit New Orleans last Tuesday.

During that event, two tornadoes touched down in the metro area. One was an EF3 and had peak winds of 160 mph, damaging homes in Arabi, injuring multiple residents and taking the life of one 25-year-old man.

The handful of blocks in St. Bernard Parish that were hit by the strong twister were still recovering from the storm as of Wednesday. That tornado traveled for 11 miles, starting in Jefferson Parish, moving through St. Bernard before lifting up in New Orleans East.

The second tornado to hit last week touched down near Lacombe. It was categorized as an EF1 and damaged a few properties in its 12-mile trek.

Katelyn Umholtz is the digital editor for WWNO and WRKF and is based out of New Orleans.

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