Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Mobile, AL

March 17, 2021Wayne County, Mississippi; Choctaw County, Alabama

NWS Mobile, AL issued this tornado warning at Mar 17, 2021, 3:46 PM CDT for Wayne County, Mississippi; Choctaw County, Alabama. It was in force for 44 min. 3 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 17, 2021, 3:46 PM CDT (20:46 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 4:30 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Mobile, AL
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Choctaw County, AL, Wayne County, MS

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:50 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 17, 3:47 PM CDTTORNADO4 Sse Gretna, MSTHREE STRUCTURES DAMAGED. REPORT VIA EMA.
Mar 17, 3:56 PM CDTTORNADO4 W Silas, ALINCREASING DEBRIS SIGNATURE ON RADAR. CONFIRMED VIA DRONE FOOTAGE AND SEVERAL PHOTOS/VIDEOS OF A TORNADO MOVING THROUGH THE SILAS COMMUNITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
Mar 17, 4:00 PM CDTTSTM WND DMGSilas, ALFOUR HOMES DAMAGED AND TREES DOWN ON SILAS BRANCH RD IN THE SILAS COMMUNITY.

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
Mar 17, 11:36 AM CDTTornado Watch PDSSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 184 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2021-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 687 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2021-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 218 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
687 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-86 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
713 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
218 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
178 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.6
Supercell composite
4.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

791 
WFUS54 KMOB 172046
TORMOB
ALC023-MSC153-172130-
/O.NEW.KMOB.TO.W.0007.210317T2046Z-210317T2130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Mobile AL
346 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Mobile has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Choctaw County in southwestern Alabama...
  East central Wayne County in southeastern Mississippi...

* Until 430 PM CDT.
    
* At 346 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 8 miles southwest of Silas, or 10 miles east of
  Waynesboro, moving northeast at 45 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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Silas around 400 PM CDT.
  Gilbertown around 405 PM CDT.
  Toxey around 410 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement 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 3203 8811 3202 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809
      3198 8806 3195 8808 3197 8809 3195 8812
      3193 8809 3194 8807 3193 8805 3191 8813
      3181 8818 3170 8834 3170 8846 3163 8846
      3162 8848 3173 8855 3208 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 229DEG 38KT 3171 8847 

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

$$
2 follow-up statements
612 
WWUS54 KMOB 172059
SVSMOB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
359 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

MSC153-172108-
/O.CAN.KMOB.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-210317T2130Z/
Wayne MS-
359 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WAYNE 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 southwestern
Alabama...and southeastern Mississippi.

LAT...LON 3203 8811 3202 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809
      3198 8806 3195 8808 3197 8809 3195 8812
      3193 8809 3194 8807 3193 8805 3191 8813
      3181 8818 3172 8836 3171 8846 3180 8847
      3208 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 224DEG 34KT 3179 8840 

$$

ALC023-172130-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-210317T2130Z/
Choctaw AL-
359 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN CHOCTAW COUNTY...
        
At 358 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 4 miles northwest of
Silas, or 16 miles northeast of Waynesboro, moving northeast at 40
mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

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.

This tornado will be near...
  Gilbertown around 410 PM CDT.
  Toxey around 415 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement 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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3203 8811 3202 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809
      3198 8806 3195 8808 3197 8809 3195 8812
      3193 8809 3194 8807 3193 8805 3191 8813
      3181 8818 3172 8836 3171 8846 3180 8847
      3208 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2058Z 224DEG 34KT 3179 8840 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$
123 
WWUS54 KMOB 172112
SVSMOB

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
412 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

ALC023-172130-
/O.CON.KMOB.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-210317T2130Z/
Choctaw AL-
412 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN CHOCTAW COUNTY...
        
At 411 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located 4 miles southeast of Gilbertown, or 17 miles south of Butler,
moving northeast at 35 mph.

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.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Choctaw County.

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 basement 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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3203 8811 3202 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809
      3198 8806 3195 8808 3197 8809 3195 8812
      3193 8809 3194 8807 3193 8805 3191 8813
      3181 8818 3172 8836 3171 8846 3180 8847
      3208 8819
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 233DEG 32KT 3184 8827 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Mobile, AL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 9:23 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningMOBWayne16 hr
Mar 17, 4:27 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchMOBWayne18 hr
Mar 17, 10:28 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMOBGeorge, Greene, Wayne21 days
Mar 17, 10:32 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMOBGeorge, Greene, Perry18 days
Mar 17, 11:41 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBWayne49 min
Mar 17, 11:58 AM CDTTornado WarningMOBWayne47 min
Mar 17, 12:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWayne46 min
Mar 17, 1:30 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWayne45 min
Mar 17, 2:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWayne42 min
Mar 17, 2:19 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMOBWayne6 hr
Mar 17, 2:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWayne56 min
Mar 17, 3:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWayne47 min
Mar 17, 4:04 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWayne26 min
Mar 17, 6:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBGreene, Perry, Wayne56 min
Mar 16, 11:44 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMOBCovington46 min
Mar 17, 4:18 AM CDTHigh Surf AdvisoryMOBBaldwin, Mobile26 hr
Mar 17, 10:36 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke, Washington32 days
Mar 17, 10:39 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningMOBClarke, Washington32 days
Mar 17, 1:12 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw48 min
Mar 17, 1:38 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw37 min
Mar 17, 2:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw, Clarke40 min
Mar 17, 2:16 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBChoctaw44 min
Mar 17, 2:36 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke39 min
Mar 17, 2:38 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBChoctaw52 min
Mar 17, 3:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBWilcox20 min
Mar 17, 4:00 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWilcox14 min
Mar 17, 4:17 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMOBChoctaw, Clarke43 min
Mar 17, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke30 min
Mar 17, 5:20 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox40 min
Mar 17, 5:53 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWilcox37 min
Mar 17, 5:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox6 hr
Mar 17, 5:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMOBClarke, Wilcox46 min
Mar 17, 6:08 PM CDTTornado WarningMOBWilcox22 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 2021Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 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.