[2] The first indications for an organized severe weather event came on April 9, when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) outlined a risk area across much of the Ark-La-Tex region.

[4] A day 3 enhanced risk was outlined across those same regions on April 11, although SPC noted concerns about system timing and the availability of instability as numerous storms developed.

[7][8] The synoptic scale setup was expected to come together as a vigorous upper-level trough pushed eastward across the Southwest United States into the Southern Plains, developing a closed 500mb low near the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex late on April 13.

Within the warm sector of this low-pressure system, dew points were expected to rise into the upper-60s to near 70 °F, with precipitable water values in excess of 1.5 in (38 mm) and generally low cloud bases.

The culmination of these ingredients was forecast to support an outbreak of supercell thunderstorms across the Moderate risk, with the potential for strong to violent (EF2+) tornadoes with the most sustained cells, followed by the development of an eastward-progressing squall line overnight.

Despite an intense low-level jet, dewpoints were only expected to rise into the upper 50s to near 60 °F, mitigating a more substantial tornado threat as severe thunderstorm clusters were forecast to congeal into a squall line overnight.

The tornado intensified to low-end EF3 strength as it passed near Weches, where a large swath of trees was flattened and an anchored double-wide manufactured home was thrown 150 yd (140 m) and obliterated, killing the occupant.

The roof and exterior walls of the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site museum were destroyed while people were running inside for safety, resulting in several injuries and another fatality.

Several well-built homes and a brick church sustained total roof and exterior wall loss in this area, trees were denuded and partially debarked, and vehicles were thrown up to 200 yd (180 m).

A final area of significant damage occurred near the county line east-southeast of Reklaw, where a well-built home had a large portion of its roof torn off at EF2 intensity.

[20][92] Remaining on the ground for 60 minutes, the tornado traveled 41.13 miles (66.19 km) and achieved a maximum path width of 880 yards (800 m), resulting in two deaths and at least 20 injuries.