Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Mississippi, September 19 to 20, 1998

A tropical depression that formed in the central Gulf of Mexico on September 17th strengthened to a minimal tropical storm named Hermine on the morning of the 18th. Tropical Storm Hermine meandered in the Gulf of Mexico for a period of time before beginning a slow north northeast motion that brought it ashore in the early morning hours of the 20th near Cocodrie, LA in Terrebonne Parish. Tropical Storm Hermine then drifted north over southeast Louisiana and was downgraded to a tropical depression 50 miles northwest of New Orleans during the evening of the 20th. Winds associated with Hermine were of minimal tropical storm force and were mainly contained in squalls. A peak wind gust of 46 mph in a squall was measured just off the southeast coast of Louisiana at the Burrwood NOAA C-MAN station near the mouth of the Mississippi River at 1139 CST on September 19th.Two tornadoes developed in rainbands associated with Tropical Storm Hermine on September 20th. The first tornado occurred around 0730 CST 10 miles south of Poplarville, MS and destroyed two mobile homes, damaged seven cars, and caused one injury. A second weak tornado briefly touched down near Bay St. Louis, MS around 0850 CST resulting in only minor damage.Isolated flash flooding also occurred with Tropical Storm Hermine on September 20th when 4 to 5 inches of rain fell on areas of Walthall county. Sections of a few roadways in southern Walthall county were briefly under water including Mississippi Highway 27 which was covered by up to a foot of water in places.