Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Memphis, TN

December 23, 20154 counties in Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Dec 23, 2015, 3:53 PM CST for 4 counties in Mississippi. It was in force for 52 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 23, 2015, 3:53 PM CST (21:53 UTC)
Expired
Dec 23, 2015, 4:45 PM CST
In force
52 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Tornado emergency
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
2.0 in

Counties Lafayette County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Panola County, MS, Tate County, MS

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:56 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 23, 3:55 PM CSTTORNADO1 S Como, MSMULTIPLE DAMAGED HOMES JUST SOUTH OF COMO MISSISSIPPI. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. TIME IS RADAR ESTIMATED.
Dec 23, 4:48 PM CSTTORNADOHolly Springs, MSMULTIPLE TREES AND HOMES DAMAGED NEAR TCHULOHOMA AND HWY 5. HIGHWAY 5 IS NOW CLOSED.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Dec 23, 11:57 AM CSTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KBYH), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 37 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2015-12-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 343 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2015-12-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 331 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
343 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
568 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
331 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
353 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

871 
WFUS54 KMEG 232153
TORMEG
MSC071-093-107-137-232245-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0016.151223T2153Z-151223T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
353 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
  MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHEASTERN TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
  NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...

* UNTIL 445 PM CST
    
* AT 353 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
  WAS LOCATED OVER COMO...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JOHN W KYLE STATE
  PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

  THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. 

  HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

  SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

  IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS 
           MAY BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE 
           HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO 
           HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
           DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BARR AND HARMONTOWN AROUND 405 PM CST.
  LAWS HILL AROUND 410 PM CST.
  MARIANNA AROUND 415 PM CST.
  HOLLY SPRINGS AND WALL DOXEY STATE PARK AROUND 420 PM CST.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
MAHON...LOOXAHOMA...GLENVILLE...ROCKHILL...POTTS CAMP...BLACKWATER...
WAITES...MC GHEE...LAKE CENTER AND AIKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3452 9004 3498 8935 3485 8935 3484 8932
      3477 8930 3462 8930 3442 8995
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 237DEG 58KT 3450 8993 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...2.00IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
112 
WWUS54 KMEG 232156
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
356 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

MSC071-093-107-137-232245-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-151223T2245Z/
LAFAYETTE MS-MARSHALL MS-TATE MS-PANOLA MS-
356 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE...MARSHALL...SOUTHEASTERN TATE AND
NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES...
        
AT 355 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED OVER COMO...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF JOHN W KYLE STATE
PARK... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH. LARGE AND DAMAGING TORNADO IS
CROSSING I-55 AT COMO. 

THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY 
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES 
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO 
         HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
         DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  BARR AND HARMONTOWN AROUND 405 PM CST.
  LAWS HILL AROUND 410 PM CST.
  MARIANNA AROUND 415 PM CST.
  HOLLY SPRINGS AND WALL DOXEY STATE PARK AROUND 420 PM CST.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
MAHON...LOOXAHOMA...GLENVILLE...ROCKHILL...POTTS CAMP...BLACKWATER...
WAITES...MC GHEE...LAKE CENTER AND AIKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3452 9004 3498 8935 3485 8935 3484 8932
      3477 8930 3462 8930 3442 8995
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 237DEG 58KT 3451 8990 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...2.00IN

$$
031 
WWUS54 KMEG 232217
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
417 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

MSC071-093-107-137-232245-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-151223T2245Z/
LAFAYETTE MS-MARSHALL MS-TATE MS-PANOLA MS-
417 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015

...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR HOLLY SPRINGS...

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CST FOR
NORTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE...MARSHALL...SOUTHEASTERN TATE AND
NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES...
        
AT 416 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR MARIANNA...OR 8 MILES WEST OF WALL DOXEY STATE PARK...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR HOLLY SPRINGS. TAKE COVER NOW. THIS IS A
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO. 

SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO. 

IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY 
         BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES 
         WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO 
         HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE 
         DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE. 

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  MARIANNA AROUND 420 PM CST.
  WALL DOXEY STATE PARK AROUND 425 PM CST.
  HOLLY SPRINGS AROUND 430 PM CST.

OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
MAHON...LOOXAHOMA...GLENVILLE...ROCKHILL...POTTS CAMP...BLACKWATER...
WAITES...MC GHEE...LAKE CENTER AND AIKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE
TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE
CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3452 9004 3498 8935 3485 8935 3484 8932
      3477 8930 3462 8930 3442 8995
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 236DEG 47KT 3466 8962 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...2.00IN

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 23, 2:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCoahoma36 min
Dec 23, 3:00 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCoahoma23 min
Dec 23, 3:13 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGCoahoma, Quitman47 min
Dec 23, 3:35 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGPanola40 min
Dec 23, 3:41 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCoahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie49 min
Dec 23, 4:12 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGPanola, Tallahatchie48 min
Dec 23, 4:32 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatMEGBenton, Marshall, Tippah43 min
Dec 23, 4:34 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGPanola, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha41 min
Dec 23, 4:45 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGLafayette, Marshall45 min
Dec 23, 4:56 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatMEGAlcorn, Benton, Tippah49 min
Dec 23, 4:59 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGLafayette, Yalobusha46 min
Dec 23, 5:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Tippah, Union41 min
Dec 23, 5:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGQuitman, Tallahatchie40 min
Dec 23, 5:24 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGBenton, Tippah, Union51 min
Dec 23, 5:34 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGTippah, Union41 min
Dec 23, 5:50 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGAlcorn, Prentiss40 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 2015Every tornado warning in 2015Tornadoes in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.