Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 34, NWS Memphis, TN

March 31, 2021Calhoun County, Chickasaw County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 31, 2021, 12:17 AM CDT for Calhoun County, Chickasaw County, Mississippi. It was in force for 28 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
Mar 31, 2021, 12:17 AM CDT (05:17 UTC)
Expired
Mar 31, 2021, 12:45 AM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Calhoun County, MS, Chickasaw County, MS

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 71 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:16 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
Mar 31, 12:24 AM CDTTORNADO1 Ssw Vardaman, MSTHE TORNADO DEVELOPED SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 8, AND DOWNED TREES ALONG AND EAST OF DOBBS STREET. SOME TREES FELL ONTO HOMES AND VEHICLES. THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 8, AND DAMAGED THE VARDAMAN SCHOOL COMPLEX. AWNINGS WERE DAMAGED, TREES BLOWN DOWN, AND A PORTION OF
Mar 31, 12:26 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGVardaman, MSREPORTS OF DAMAGE TO SCHOOL BUILDING AND SEVERAL BUSES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POWER POLES DOWN IN VARDAMAN AND A REPORT OF A TREE ON A HOUSE.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 5.3 hours before the alert went out and 130 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 00:00Z on 2021-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4 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 00:00Z on 2021-03-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 269 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
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
571 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
269 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
279 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

950 
WFUS54 KMEG 310517
TORMEG
MSC013-017-310545-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0034.210331T0517Z-210331T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1217 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Chickasaw County in northeastern Mississippi...
  Southeastern Calhoun County in northeastern Mississippi...

* Until 1245 AM CDT.
    
* At 1217 AM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
  producing a tornado was located over Derma, or 14 miles west of
  Houston, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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...
  Houston, Calhoun City, Vardaman, Derma, Pyland, Trebloc, Houlka,
  New Houlka, Thorn, Van Vleet, Parkersburg, Loyd, Thelma, Tabbville,
  Anchor, Atlanta and Buena Vista.

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 3374 8930 3391 8937 3408 8895 3408 8888
      3384 8878
TIME...MOT...LOC 0517Z 250DEG 32KT 3385 8925 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
477 
WWUS54 KMEG 310533
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1233 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

MSC013-310543-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-210331T0545Z/
Calhoun MS-
1233 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

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

LAT...LON 3389 8914 3400 8914 3408 8896 3408 8888
      3391 8881 3385 8912
TIME...MOT...LOC 0533Z 250DEG 32KT 3390 8909 

$$

MSC017-310545-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-210331T0545Z/
Chickasaw MS-
1233 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 AM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CHICKASAW COUNTY...
    
At 1233 AM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
producing a tornado was located over Pyland, or near Houston, moving
east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

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...
Houston, Pyland, Houlka, New Houlka, Thorn, Van Vleet, Parkersburg
and Thelma.

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 3389 8914 3400 8914 3408 8896 3408 8888
      3391 8881 3385 8912
TIME...MOT...LOC 0533Z 250DEG 32KT 3390 8909 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
202 
WWUS54 KMEG 310544
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1244 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

MSC017-310552-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-210331T0545Z/
Chickasaw MS-
1244 AM CDT Wed Mar 31 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CHICKASAW COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
1245 AM CDT...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.  However
gusty winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
Chickasaw County, Mississippi. 

LAT...LON 3389 8914 3400 8914 3408 8896 3408 8888
      3391 8881 3385 8912
TIME...MOT...LOC 0542Z 250DEG 32KT 3393 8900 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 30, 7:50 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGDeSoto, Tunica3 hr
Mar 30, 7:56 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGDeSoto3 hr
Mar 30, 9:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Marshall45 min
Mar 30, 9:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGBenton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, Tunica3 hr
Mar 30, 11:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw50 min
Mar 31, 12:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Monroe, Pontotoc, Yalobusha3 hr
Mar 31, 12:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChickasaw, Lee, Monroe49 min
Mar 31, 12:52 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGChickasaw, Lee, Monroe10 min
Mar 31, 1:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMonroe14 min
Mar 31, 1:24 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGItawamba, Monroe51 min
Mar 31, 1:53 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGMonroe22 min
Mar 31, 2:24 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGMonroe3 hr
Mar 31, 3:16 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCoahoma29 min
Mar 31, 3:26 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPanola34 min
Mar 31, 3:46 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGChickasaw108 min
Mar 31, 3:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLafayette, Marshall, Panola41 min
Mar 31, 4:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGYalobusha33 min
Mar 31, 4:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGUnion45 min
Mar 31, 4:43 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCalhoun, Pontotoc32 min
Mar 31, 5:02 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTallahatchie13 min
Mar 31, 5:05 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLee25 min
Mar 31, 5:17 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChickasaw28 min
Mar 31, 5:19 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChickasaw26 min
Mar 31, 5:20 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Yalobusha3 hr
Mar 31, 5:26 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGChickasaw4 hr
Mar 31, 5:31 AM CDTFreeze WatchMEGAlcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto and 16 more9 hr
Mar 31, 5:31 AM CDTFreeze WarningMEGAlcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola and 7 more27 hr
Mar 31, 5:32 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGMonroe3 hr
Mar 31, 5:33 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGItawamba, Lee42 min
Mar 31, 5:44 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe31 min
Mar 31, 6:06 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe39 min
Mar 31, 8:28 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGAlcorn, Tishomingo3 hr
Mar 31, 8:54 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Yalobusha3 hr
Mar 31, 9:01 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe3 hr
Mar 31, 9:01 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGChickasaw14 min
Mar 31, 9:05 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMEGCalhoun23 hr
Mar 31, 9:19 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMEGLafayette, Marshall, Union22 hr
Mar 31, 9:19 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMEGTate, Tunica19 hr
Mar 31, 9:19 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMEGQuitman4 days
Mar 31, 9:20 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGChickasaw, Monroe3 hr
Mar 31, 2:34 PM CDTFrost AdvisoryMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe and 3 more18 hr
Mar 31, 2:34 PM CDTFreeze WarningMEGAlcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto and 16 more42 hr

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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.