Tornado and Tropical Storm in Mississippi, June 30, 2003

Name: Tornado and Tropical Storm in Mississippi, June 30, 2003
Start: 2003-06-30T08:00
End: 2003-06-30T23:59
Location: Mississippi

June 30, 2003 · NWS LIX · 12 events in 6 counties and zones

4 tropical storm, 3 storm surge/tide, 2 flash flood, 2 strong wind, 1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 30, 2:05 AM CST, 5 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 2:05 AM CST, 5 hours 55 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS/BATON ROUGE LA
305 AM CDT MON JUN 30 2003

MUCH OF THE SHORT TERM FORECAST IS NOW GUIDED BY GUIDANCE FROM NHC
AND HPC AS TROPICAL STORM BILL CONTINUES TO TRACK TOWARD THE
LOUISIANA COAST. REFER TO THE LATEST ADVISORIES FROM NHC AS WELL AS
HURRICANE LOCAL ACTION STATEMENTS ISSUED FROM THIS OFFICE FOR THE
LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROGRESS OF BILL.

BY LATE TUE...MUCH OF THE ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH BILL SHOULD BE IN
THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. SOUTHERLY FLOW
THOUGH SHOULD CONTINUE OVER THE AREA FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WHICH
SHOULD ALLOW SOME GULF MOISTURE TO CONTINUE MOVING OVER THE REGION.
IN THE UPPER LEVELS...A FAIRLY WEAK TROUGH SHOULD EXPAND OVER THE
SOUTHEAST STATES WHILE A RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE SOUTHWEST. THIS
SHOULD ALLOW WEAK EMBEDDED UPPER DISTURBANCES TO TRAVERSE THROUGH
THE REGION AROUND THE BASE OF THE TROUGH. THIS COUPLED WITH SOME
PERSISTENT MOISTURE DEPTH SHOULD AMOUNT TO A CHANCE OF RAIN
CONTINUING THROUGH MUCH OF THE WORK WEEK.

PRELIM NUMBERS...

MCB 081/073/086/074 +973  BTR 083/074/086/074 +973
MSY 083/078/087/077 +973  GPT 080/077/085/076 +973

.NEW...TROPICAL STORM WARNING PQL TO ATCHAFALAYA RIVER INCLUDING
LAKES PONTCHARTRAIN AND MAUREPAS
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070.
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MSZ068>071-077-080>082.

09

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 30, 6:15 AM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-080>082-301630-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
715 AM CDT MON JUN 30 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
EXTREME SOUTHWEST AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT...
...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 400 PM...
...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT...

TROPICAL STORM BILL CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH TOWARD THE CENTRAL
LOUISIANA COAST. REFER TO THE LATEST ADVISORIES ISSUED BY THE
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AS WELL AS HURRICANE LOCAL ACTION
STATEMENTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION
REGARDING THIS STORM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM BILL ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI ON TUESDAY. HOWEVER...NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI THROUGH MUCH OF TUESDAY. THIS ACTIVITY IS
EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH TUESDAY NIGHT.

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE THEN EXPECTED
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...IS
REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 tropical storm, 3 storm surge/tide, 2 flash flood, 2 strong wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tropical Storm, Hancock

When: June 30, 8:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tropical Storm, Harrison

When: June 30, 8:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tropical Storm, Jackson

When: June 30, 8:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tropical Storm, Pearl River

When: June 30, 8:00 AM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Pearl River forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.769, -89.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tropical Storm Bill developed in the southern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, June 29, 2003 and moved steadily northward toward the Louisiana coast. Tropical Storm Bill moved into southeast Louisiana south of Houma around 2000 CST on Monday, June 30, 2003 then moved north northeast across southeast Louisiana and at midnight was entering south Mississippi. The affects of Tropical Storm Bill began in south Mississippi during the morning hours and continued into the early morning of July 1, 2003. The lowest pressure recorded from land stations in Mississippi was 1006.4 mb at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. The maximum recorded sustained wind was 37 knots (43 mph) at the Gulfport Airport. The highest recorded wind gust in Mississippi was 45 knots (52 mph) occurring at both Gulfport Airport and Keesler Air Force Base. The greatest storm surge along the Mississippi coast was 4.99 ft MLLW recorded at the NOAA tide gage in Waveland. The highest storm total rainfall (approximately 48 hours) was 9.49 inches at Van Cleave. River flooding which developed as a result of the heavy rainfall crested in early July and will be described in July Storm Data. The collective effect of Tropical Storm Bill in coastal Mississippi resulted in no injuries or fatalities and approximately $5 million dollars in property damage in south Mississippi. Specifically the one tornado resulted in $5 thousand dollars in damage, property damage from the strong winds was estimated at $1 million dollars, storm surge flooding resulted in 1 million dollars in damage, and heavy rainfall causing flash flooding and river flooding caused 2 million dollars in damage. Dollar damage of the storm effects are only rough estimates.

Flash Flood, Pearl River

When: June 30, 1:45 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Pearl River County, Countywide
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.769, -89.590 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hancock

When: June 30, 3:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hancock County, Countywide
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.394, -89.475 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Hancock

When: June 30, 3:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Tropical Storm Bill caused storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal across coastal Mississippi. The highest tide level reading was 4.99 feet above Mean Low Low Water at the NOAA Tide Gage at Waveland, MS. Damage was mainly confined to beach erosion, damage to piers, flooding of some roadways. Dollar damage figures are rough estimates.

Storm Surge/Tide, Harrison

When: June 30, 3:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: COASTAL OBSERVING STATION

Storm Surge/Tide, Jackson

When: June 30, 3:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: COASTAL OBSERVING STATION

Strong Wind, Pike

When: June 30, 4:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Pike forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.175, -90.404 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds associated with the Tropical Storm Bill combined saturated soil conditions caused trees to be blown down in several locations. Aprroximately 34 roads were blocked by fallen trees and two homes were damaged.

Strong Wind, Walthall

When: June 30, 4:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Walthall forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 31.148, -90.106 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Hancock

When: June 30, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Hancock County, Waveland
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.283, -89.383

A weak tornado in the outer rainbands of Tropical Storm Bill touched down briefly, blowing down several trees resulting in minor damage to house roofs.

What these are

Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Storm Surge/Tide: Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Mississippi, 2003 Warnings in Mississippi, June 2003 The 2003 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5366954, 5366955, 5366956, 5366957, 5366960, 5366959, 5367047, 5367048, 5367049, 5367045, 5367046, 5366958.