Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1997

Tornado Warning 43, NWS Jackson, MS

May 2, 1997Washington County, Mississippi

NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at May 2, 1997, 7:08 PM CDT for Washington County, Mississippi. It was in force for 52 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 2, 1997, 7:08 PM CDT (00:08 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 1997, 8:00 PM CDT
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Jackson, MS
Area
Whole counties

County Washington County, MS

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 2, 6:45 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 134 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jackson, MS at 00:00Z on 1997-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2009 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 00:00Z on 1997-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 276 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2009 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1075 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
276 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
400 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
4.0
Supercell composite
14.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KJAN 030010 RRA
TORJAN
MSC151-030100-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
708 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  800 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI
 
   ...WASHINGTON COUNTY
 
AT 707 PM DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO CROSSING THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER JUST SOUTHWEST OF GREENVILLE. THIS STORM WAS MOVING
EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH...AND WILL MOVE NEAR GREENVILLE...LELAND...
STONEVILLE...AND ELIZABETH THROUGH 745 PM.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  MOVE QUICKLY TO UNDERGROUND SHELTER IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.
AVOID WINDOWS.  LEAVE CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A STURDY BUILDING.
<
69

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 2, 3:00 PM CDT, 4 hours 8 minutes before
MSZ001>082-030400-

MISSISSIPPI THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
300 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSISSIPPI...GENERALLY ALONG
AND EAST OF A IUKA TO WINONA TO YAZOO CITY TO A LAUREL LINE. THERE IS
A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST OF THAT LINE. A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES.

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT IN THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW TO CONTINUE THE
THREAT OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH TONIGHT. THE SEVERE WEATHER
WILL TAKE THE FORM OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES.

STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS AS WELL AS PUBLIC SAFETY AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARE URGED TO STAND BY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT.
Special weather statement, May 2, 3:04 PM CDT, 4 hours 4 minutes before
MSZ001>082-030400-

MISSISSIPPI THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
300 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MISSISSIPPI...GENERALLY ALONG
AND EAST OF A IUKA TO WINONA TO YAZOO CITY TO A LAUREL LINE. THERE IS
A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO THE WEST OF THAT LINE. A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS OVER THE EXTREME SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES.

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT IN THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW TO CONTINUE THE
THREAT OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH TONIGHT. THE SEVERE WEATHER
WILL TAKE THE FORM OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES.

STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS AS WELL AS PUBLIC SAFETY AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARE URGED TO STAND BY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON
AND TONIGHT.
Local storm report, May 2, 3:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
341 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1158 AM    GREENVILLE                MS   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WASHINGTON                     PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL 1
                                          MILE SOUTH OF GREENVILLE
                                          ON HIGHWAY 1

1235 AM    RULEVILLE                 MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   SUNFLOWER                      DIME SIZE HAIL AT
                                          RULEVILLE CITY HALL

0233 PM    VAIDEN                    MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CARROLL                        DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VAIDEN
<
0320 PM    TOMNOLEN                  MS   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY TRUCKER TO
                                          SHERIFF

0325 PM    KILMICHAEL                MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MONTGOMERY                     NUMBER OF TREES BLOWN DOWN
                                          ON HIGHWAYS 413...US 82...
                                          AND HIGHWAY 17

0325 PM    EUPORA                    MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        NUMBER OF TREES DOWN IN
                                          COUNTY... ACROSS US 82 AND
                                          NATCHEZ TRACE
Local storm report, May 2, 3:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIME AT RULEVILLE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
341 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1158 AM    GREENVILLE                MS   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WASHINGTON                     PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL 1
                                          MILE SOUTH OF GREENVILLE
                                          ON HIGHWAY 1

1235 PM    RULEVILLE                 MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   SUNFLOWER                      DIME SIZE HAIL AT
                                          RULEVILLE CITY HALL

0233 PM    VAIDEN                    MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CARROLL                        DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VAIDEN
<
0320 PM    TOMNOLEN                  MS   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY TRUCKER TO
                                          SHERIFF

0325 PM    KILMICHAEL                MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MONTGOMERY                     NUMBER OF TREES BLOWN DOWN
                                          ON HIGHWAYS 413...US 82...
                                          AND HIGHWAY 17

0325 PM    EUPORA                    MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        NUMBER OF TREES DOWN IN
                                          COUNTY... ACROSS US 82 AND
                                          NATCHEZ TRACE
Local storm report, May 2, 3:45 PM CDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
341 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1158 AM    GREENVILLE                MS   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WASHINGTON                     PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL 1
                                          MILE SOUTH OF GREENVILLE
                                          ON HIGHWAY 1

1235 AM    RULEVILLE                 MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   SUNFLOWER                      DIME SIZE HAIL AT
                                          RULEVILLE CITY HALL

0233 PM    VAIDEN                    MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CARROLL                        DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VAIDEN
<
0320 PM    TOMNOLEN                  MS   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY TRUCKER TO
                                          SHERIFF

0325 PM    KILMICHAEL                MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MONTGOMERY                     NUMBER OF TREES BLOWN DOWN
                                          ON HIGHWAYS 413...US 82...
                                          AND HIGHWAY 17

0325 PM    EUPORA                    MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        NUMBER OF TREES DOWN IN
                                          COUNTY... ACROSS US 82 AND
                                          NATCHEZ TRACE
Local storm report, May 2, 3:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED TIME AT RULEVILLE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MISSISSIPPI
341 PM CDT FRI MAY 02 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1158 AM    GREENVILLE                MS   .5 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WASHINGTON                     PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL 1
                                          MILE SOUTH OF GREENVILLE
                                          ON HIGHWAY 1

1235 PM    RULEVILLE                 MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   SUNFLOWER                      DIME SIZE HAIL AT
                                          RULEVILLE CITY HALL

0233 PM    VAIDEN                    MS   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   CARROLL                        DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          VAIDEN
<
0320 PM    TOMNOLEN                  MS   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        REPORTED BY TRUCKER TO
                                          SHERIFF

0325 PM    KILMICHAEL                MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   MONTGOMERY                     NUMBER OF TREES BLOWN DOWN
                                          ON HIGHWAYS 413...US 82...
                                          AND HIGHWAY 17

0325 PM    EUPORA                    MS   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/97   WEBSTER                        NUMBER OF TREES DOWN IN
                                          COUNTY... ACROSS US 82 AND
                                          NATCHEZ TRACE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Jackson, MS issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 7:12 PM CDTTornado WarningJANChoctaw, Webster48 min
May 2, 7:19 PM CDTTornado WarningJANHolmes41 min
May 2, 7:30 PM CDTTornado WarningJANChoctaw45 min
May 2, 7:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANCarroll49 min
May 2, 7:46 PM CDTTornado WarningJANOktibbeha44 min
May 2, 7:48 PM CDTTornado WarningJANSunflower42 min
May 2, 7:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMontgomery46 min
May 2, 8:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANBolivar, Washington47 min
May 2, 8:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANChoctaw, Webster43 min
May 2, 8:19 PM CDTTornado WarningJANHolmes41 min
May 2, 8:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANOktibbeha57 min
May 2, 8:38 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningJANCarroll, Grenada, Holmes, Montgomery3 hr
May 2, 8:38 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningJANOktibbeha, Webster3 hr
May 2, 8:39 PM CDTTornado WarningJANAttala, Carroll, Montgomery51 min
May 2, 8:42 PM CDTTornado WarningJANSunflower48 min
May 2, 9:04 PM CDTTornado WarningJANLeflore41 min
May 2, 9:09 PM CDTTornado WarningJANChoctaw51 min
May 2, 9:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANGrenada48 min
May 2, 9:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMontgomery29 min
May 2, 9:34 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningJANAttala, Choctaw3 hr
May 2, 9:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANOktibbeha40 min
May 2, 9:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWebster49 min
May 2, 10:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLeflore41 min
May 2, 10:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANBolivar, Washington54 min
May 2, 10:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANSunflower46 min
May 2, 11:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLeflore52 min
May 2, 11:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANGrenada48 min
May 2, 11:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANCarroll51 min
May 2, 11:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningJANGrenada, Webster3 hr
May 2, 11:41 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningJANOktibbeha3 hr
May 3, 12:17 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANHinds, Rankin43 min
May 3, 12:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMontgomery54 min
May 3, 1:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANWarren, Yazoo41 min
May 3, 1:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANHinds, Madison42 min
May 3, 1:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANMadison, Rankin49 min
May 3, 2:22 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLeake, Scott53 min
May 3, 2:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANKemper, Neshoba50 min
May 3, 2:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNoxubee53 min
May 3, 2:57 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANNewton63 min
May 3, 3:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLauderdale44 min
May 3, 4:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANClarke42 min
May 3, 4:52 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANLamar, Marion53 min
May 3, 5:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningJANForrest, Jones45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 1997Every tornado warning in 1997Tornadoes in 1997

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.