Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 1997

Tornado Warning 44, NWS Jackson, MS

May 2, 1997Choctaw County, Webster County, Mississippi

NWS Jackson, MS issued this tornado warning at May 2, 1997, 7:12 PM CDT for Choctaw County, Webster County, Mississippi. It was in force for 48 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 2, 1997, 7:12 PM CDT (00:12 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 1997, 8:00 PM CDT
In force: 48 min
Issued by: NWS Jackson, MS
Area: Whole counties

Counties Choctaw County, MS, Webster County, MS

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:11 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 2, 7:48 PM CDT	Hail 0.88	Ackerman, MS

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 2, 6:45 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 150 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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 030014 RRA
TORJAN
MSC019-155-030100-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
712 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 LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
 
   ...NORTHERN CHOCTAW COUNTY
 
IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
 
   ...WEBSTER COUNTY
 
AT 710 PM DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A TORNADO ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF
EUPORA. THIS STORM WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH AND WILL MOVE
NEAR EUPORA BY 730 PM.
 
THIS STORM WILL ALSO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. DIME
SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED 3 MILES NORTH OF VAIDEN AT 705 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 12 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 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.

Local storm report, May 2, 3:41 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 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 31 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 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, 3:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 2, 7:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Washington	52 min
May 2, 7:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Holmes	41 min
May 2, 7:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Choctaw	45 min
May 2, 7:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Carroll	49 min
May 2, 7:46 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Oktibbeha	44 min
May 2, 7:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Sunflower	42 min
May 2, 7:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Montgomery	46 min
May 2, 8:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Bolivar, Washington	47 min
May 2, 8:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Choctaw, Webster	43 min
May 2, 8:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Holmes	41 min
May 2, 8:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Oktibbeha	57 min
May 2, 8:38 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	JAN	Carroll, Grenada, Holmes, Montgomery	3 hr
May 2, 8:38 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	JAN	Oktibbeha, Webster	3 hr
May 2, 8:39 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Attala, Carroll, Montgomery	51 min
May 2, 8:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Sunflower	48 min
May 2, 9:04 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Leflore	41 min
May 2, 9:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	JAN	Choctaw	51 min
May 2, 9:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Grenada	48 min
May 2, 9:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Montgomery	29 min
May 2, 9:34 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	JAN	Attala, Choctaw	3 hr
May 2, 9:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Oktibbeha	40 min
May 2, 9:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Webster	49 min
May 2, 10:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Leflore	41 min
May 2, 10:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Bolivar, Washington	54 min
May 2, 10:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Sunflower	46 min
May 2, 11:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Leflore	52 min
May 2, 11:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Grenada	48 min
May 2, 11:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Carroll	51 min
May 2, 11:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	JAN	Grenada, Webster	3 hr
May 2, 11:41 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	JAN	Oktibbeha	3 hr
May 3, 12:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Hinds, Rankin	43 min
May 3, 12:21 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Montgomery	54 min
May 3, 1:04 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Warren, Yazoo	41 min
May 3, 1:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Hinds, Madison	42 min
May 3, 1:56 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Madison, Rankin	49 min
May 3, 2:22 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Leake, Scott	53 min
May 3, 2:40 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Kemper, Neshoba	50 min
May 3, 2:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Noxubee	53 min
May 3, 2:57 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Newton	63 min
May 3, 3:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Lauderdale	44 min
May 3, 4:18 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Clarke	42 min
May 3, 4:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Lamar, Marion	53 min
May 3, 5:15 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	JAN	Forrest, Jones	45 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 1997 Every tornado warning in 1997 Tornadoes 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.