Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Memphis, TN

March 17, 2021Itawamba County, Prentiss County, Tishomingo County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 3:18 PM CDT for Itawamba County, Prentiss County, Tishomingo County, Mississippi. It was in force for 27 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Mar 17, 2021, 3:18 PM CDT (20:18 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 3:45 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Itawamba County, MS, Prentiss County, MS, Tishomingo County, MS

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:19 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 17, 11:36 AM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr
Mar 17, 12:57 PM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 161 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 2021-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 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 2021-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 217 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-262 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1466 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
65 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
217 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
186 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

188 
WFUS54 KMEG 172018
TORMEG
MSC057-117-141-172045-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0003.210317T2018Z-210317T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
318 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Itawamba County in northeastern Mississippi...
  Southern Tishomingo County in northeastern Mississippi...
  Southeastern Prentiss County in northeastern Mississippi...

* Until 345 PM CDT.
    
* At 317 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
  producing a tornado was located near Sandy Springs, or 10 miles
  west of Red Bay, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Tishomingo State Park, Belmont, Fairview, Sandy Springs, Golden,
  Dennis, Moores Mill, Bloody Springs and Neil.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter or an interior room on the
lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are
outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3438 8817 3435 8837 3452 8844 3463 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 253DEG 17KT 3446 8833 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

MJH
2 follow-up statements
555 
WWUS54 KMEG 172032
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
332 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

MSC117-172041-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210317T2045Z/
Prentiss MS-
332 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN PRENTISS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for northeastern
Mississippi. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 700 PM CDT
for northeastern Mississippi.

LAT...LON 3440 8817 3441 8836 3446 8836 3447 8833
      3455 8833 3463 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 253DEG 17KT 3448 8825 

$$

MSC057-141-172045-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210317T2045Z/
Itawamba MS-Tishomingo MS-
332 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN ITAWAMBA AND SOUTHERN TISHOMINGO COUNTIES...
    
At 331 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
producing a tornado was located near Belmont, or near Red Bay, moving
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Tishomingo State Park, Belmont, Golden, Bloody Springs, Dennis and
Moores Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter or an interior room on the
lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are
outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 8817 3441 8836 3446 8836 3447 8833
      3455 8833 3463 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 253DEG 17KT 3448 8825 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

MJH
370 
WWUS54 KMEG 172042
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
342 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

MSC057-141-172052-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-210317T2045Z/
Itawamba MS-Tishomingo MS-
342 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN ITAWAMBA AND SOUTHERN
TISHOMINGO COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 345 PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for northeastern
Mississippi. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 700 PM CDT
for northeastern Mississippi.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Memphis.

LAT...LON 3440 8817 3441 8836 3446 8836 3447 8833
      3455 8833 3463 8813
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 253DEG 17KT 3449 8820 

$$

MJH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 3:38 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Yalobusha37 min
Mar 17, 5:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGPanola, Tate20 min
Mar 17, 6:35 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCoahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tunica40 min
Mar 17, 6:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMarshall14 min
Mar 17, 7:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and 1 more48 min
Mar 17, 8:24 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGBenton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, Tunica2 hr
Mar 17, 9:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGAlcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, Tippah3 hr
Mar 17, 10:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGAlcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo3 hr
Mar 17, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union28 min
Mar 17, 4:28 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGItawamba, Prentiss, Tishomingo5 hr
Mar 17, 4:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Lafayette, Marshall, Union32 min
Mar 17, 4:52 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGItawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo4 hr
Mar 17, 4:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Union49 min
Mar 17, 4:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Pontotoc20 min
Mar 17, 5:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe45 min
Mar 17, 5:55 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw4 hr
Mar 17, 5:55 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe35 min
Mar 17, 6:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGItawamba, Monroe47 min
Mar 17, 6:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLafayette, Marshall, Yalobusha42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.