Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 43, NWS Memphis, TN

May 2, 2021Calhoun County, Chickasaw County, Pontotoc County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 2, 2021, 8:29 PM CDT for Calhoun County, Chickasaw County, Pontotoc County, Mississippi. It was in force for 46 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
May 2, 2021, 8:29 PM CDT (01:29 UTC)
Expired
May 2, 2021, 9:15 PM CDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Calhoun County, MS, Chickasaw County, MS, Pontotoc County, MS

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:34 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
May 2, 8:33 PM CDTTORNADOSw Calhoun City, MSTREES DOWN AND POWER LINES DOWN JUST OUTSIDE OF CALHOUN CITY. ROTATION NOTED AND SURFACE WINDS APPROX.60 MPH.
May 2, 9:13 PM CDTTORNADO1 Ne Houlka, MSA TORNADO DEBRIS SIGNATURE (TDS) WAS OBSERVED NEAR THE CHICKASAW AND PONTOTOC COUNTY LINE NEAR HOULKA.

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
May 2, 4:46 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 125 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 2021-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 36 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 2021-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
36 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
777 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

574 
WFUS54 KMEG 030129
TORMEG
MSC013-017-115-030215-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0043.210503T0129Z-210503T0215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
829 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Western Chickasaw County in northeastern Mississippi...
  Southern Calhoun County in northeastern Mississippi...
  South central Pontotoc County in northeastern Mississippi...

* Until 915 PM CDT.
    
* At 829 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
  producing a tornado was located over Calhoun City, or 18 miles west
  of Houston, moving northeast at 25 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, Pittsboro, Slate Springs,
  Pyland, Houlka, New Houlka, Big Creek, Thorn, Van Vleet,
  Parkersburg, Reid, Loyd, Thelma, Tabbville, Atlanta, Slate Spring
  and Wallfield.

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 3387 8946 3414 8901 3391 8884 3372 8932
      3372 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 0129Z 239DEG 23KT 3384 8932 

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

$$
2 follow-up statements
179 
WWUS54 KMEG 030135
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
835 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021

MSC013-017-115-030215-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-210503T0215Z/
Chickasaw MS-Calhoun MS-Pontotoc MS-
835 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR WESTERN
CHICKASAW...SOUTHERN CALHOUN AND SOUTH CENTRAL PONTOTOC COUNTIES...
        
At 834 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Derma, or 16 miles west of Houston, moving northeast at
25 mph. A trained spotter reported damage in Calhoun City.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

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.

Locations impacted include...
Houston, Calhoun City, Vardaman, Derma, Pittsboro, Slate Springs,
Pyland, Houlka, New Houlka, Big Creek, Thorn, Van Vleet, Parkersburg,
Reid, Loyd, Thelma, Tabbville, Atlanta, Slate Spring and Wallfield.

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 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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3387 8946 3414 8901 3391 8884 3372 8932
      3372 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 0134Z 239DEG 23KT 3386 8928 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...0.00IN

$$
024 
WWUS54 KMEG 030155
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
855 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021

MSC013-017-115-030215-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0043.000000T0000Z-210503T0215Z/
Chickasaw MS-Calhoun MS-Pontotoc MS-
855 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN CHICKASAW...EAST CENTRAL CALHOUN AND SOUTH CENTRAL
PONTOTOC COUNTIES...
    
At 855 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
producing a tornado was located near Vardaman, or 9 miles west of
Houston, moving northeast at 25 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, Vardaman, Pyland, Houlka, New Houlka, Thorn, Van Vleet,
Parkersburg, Reid, Loyd, Wallfield 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.

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3399 8924 3414 8901 3397 8888 3384 8923
TIME...MOT...LOC 0155Z 232DEG 23KT 3394 8915 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 2, 7:42 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw48 min
May 2, 9:13 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGChickasaw, Lee, Pontotoc47 min
May 2, 9:53 PM CDTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatMEGItawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Tishomingo52 min
May 2, 10:37 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGItawamba, Prentiss, Tishomingo38 min
May 3, 12:12 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLafayette33 min
May 3, 12:38 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTippah37 min
May 3, 12:48 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTunica27 min
May 3, 12:49 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPontotoc26 min
May 3, 1:31 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDeSoto29 min
May 3, 1:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDeSoto, Marshall, Tate45 min
May 3, 2:30 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGBenton30 min
May 3, 2:36 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMarshall24 min
May 3, 5:57 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGDeSoto110 min
May 3, 12:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGClay25 min
May 3, 12:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe37 min
May 3, 12:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe29 min
May 3, 1:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe29 min
May 3, 1:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMonroe30 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.