Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, October 17 to 18, 2007

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, October 17 to 18, 2007
Start: 2007-10-17T18:30
End: 2007-10-18T20:58
Location: Mississippi

October 17 to 18, 2007 · NWS JAN · 25 events in 20 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 1
Property damage: $562,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 25

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 happened

The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.

A potent storm system developed across the central sections of the country and brought two rounds of severe weather to the region. The first occurred during the evening of the 17th and the second during most of the day on the 18th. Wind damage and several tornadoes occurred during this event. This mid October severe weather event was one of the top five largest across the United States.

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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 17, 6:30 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 17, 6:30 PM CST, 0 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 17, 5:24 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 17, 1:52 PM CST, 4 hours 38 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Oct 17, 2:25 PM CST, 4 hours 5 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Oct 17, 3:04 PM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Oct 17, 3:38 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Oct 17, 4:01 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

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Local storm report, Oct 17, 5:15 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

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The radar

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Jefferson Davis

When: October 17, 6:30 PM CST to 6:31 PM CST
Where: Jefferson Davis County, 5.15 mi SSW of Carson to 4.64 mi SSW of Carson
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.35 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.460, -89.830

Several trees were blown down along the short path and a storage building had its roof blown off. An addition to a house had a portion of the roof blown off and another storage building was destroyed. The tornado was rated EF1 with a path length of 1/3 mile and a width of 100 yards.

Tornado, Forrest

When: October 17, 7:10 PM CST to 7:12 PM CST
Where: Forrest County, 1.24 mi ENE of Mammoth Spgs to 1.93 mi NNW of Glendale
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.59 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.376, -89.330

This tornado briefly touched down along Interstate 59. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along the Interstate and one car was blown off the Interstate causing 1 injury. A roof was blown off a garage and minor roof damage occurred to a home. Additionally, two metal doors were blown off metal buildings.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: October 17, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Jones County, Ellisville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.600, -89.200

A few trees were blown down around town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Warren

When: October 17, 7:51 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Warren County, 1.5 mi SSE of Vicksburg to 0.65 mi E of Villanova
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.330, -90.870

Several trees and a few power lines were blown down around the city and across a portion of the county.

Tornado, Holmes

When: October 17, 9:03 PM CST to 9:05 PM CST
Where: Holmes County, 0.58 mi W of Tolarsville to 1.97 mi NE of Tolarsville
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.37 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.050, -90.230

A brief tornado touched down in the Tolarville Community and caused damage along a narrow path with some trees downed and large limbs snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yazoo

When: October 17, 9:16 PM CST
Where: Yazoo County, Benton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.830, -90.270

A few trees were blown down.

Tornado, Oktibbeha

When: October 18, 11:41 AM CST to 11:43 AM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 2.43 mi WSW of State College to 2.13 mi WSW of State College
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.32 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.411, -88.805

A tornado briefly touched down near the Starkville Country Club and tore some tin off a metal building along with some minor wall damage. Two trees were also snapped along the path.

Tornado, Oktibbeha

When: October 18, 12:02 PM CST to 12:03 PM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 2.87 mi WSW of Starkvl Oktibbeha Ar to 2.6 mi WSW of Starkvl Oktibbeha Ar
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.36 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 33.468, -88.728

A brief tornado touched down just east of Starkville and snapped a few trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lamar

When: October 18, 1:05 PM CST to 1:07 PM CST
Where: Lamar County, 1.49 mi SW of Talowah to 0.91 mi SE of Purvis
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.058, -89.451

Several trees were blown down between Purvis and Lumberton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: October 18, 1:10 PM CST
Where: Newton County, 2.4 mi SW of Duffee
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.455, -88.958

A few trees were blown down.

Tornado, Kemper

When: October 18, 1:13 PM CST to 1:18 PM CST
Where: Kemper County, 7.02 mi ENE of Kellis Store to 6.91 mi WNW of Wahalak
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.78 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Noxubee, Ms (JAN)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.915, -88.662

This tornado touched down along Highway 39 just s of the Kemper/Noxubee county line. Here several branches and tree debris was blown across the road. Just to the northeast, several large pine trees were snapped and uprooted and blown across a road. The tornado continued to the northeast, just into Noxubee county where several more trees were blown down. Total path length was 3 miles across both counties.

Tornado, Noxubee

When: October 18, 1:19 PM CST to 1:21 PM CST
Where: Noxubee County, 4.33 mi SW of Shuqualak to 3.71 mi SW of Shuqualak
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.63 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Kemper, Ms (JAN)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.927, -88.634

This tornado touched down along Highway 39 just south of the Kemper/Noxubee county line. Here several branches and tree debris was blown across the road. Just to the northeast, several large pine trees were snapped and uprooted and blown across a road. The tornado continued to the northeast, just into Noxubee county where several more trees were blown down. Total path length was 3 miles across both counties.

Thunderstorm Wind, Noxubee

When: October 18, 1:27 PM CST
Where: Noxubee County, 3 mi N of Shuqualak
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.013, -88.580

Several trees were blown down just north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lowndes

When: October 18, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Lowndes County, 0.58 mi E of Columbus/Lowndes Co
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.470, -88.370

A couple of trees were blown down on Nash Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Leake

When: October 18, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Leake County, 2.08 mi WSW of Carthage
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.724, -89.565

A couple of trees were blown down off hwy 16 just west-southwest of Carthage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Forrest

When: October 18, 6:28 PM CST
Where: Forrest County, 1.82 mi SW of (Hbg)hattiesburg Arp
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 31.250, -89.270

A few trees and large limbs were blown down on power lines on south side of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Neshoba

When: October 18, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Neshoba County, 2 mi W of Philadelphia
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 32.770, -89.154

A few power lines were blown down just west of Philadelphia.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bolivar

When: October 18, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Bolivar County, Cleveland
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.750, -90.730

Several trees were blown down, a few downed area fences.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: October 18, 7:48 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.16 mi E of Hollandale
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 33.170, -90.850

Several power lines were blown down in town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sunflower

When: October 18, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Sunflower County, Indianola
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.450, -90.650

Several transformers and power lines were blown down in town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Leflore

When: October 18, 7:58 PM CST to 8:17 PM CST
Where: Leflore County, 1.52 mi NNE of Berclair to 0.74 mi NW of Greenwood
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $130,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.490, -90.369

Numerous trees and several power lines were blown down across the central portion of the county. A few sheds were also damaged or demolished.

Thunderstorm Wind, Leflore

When: October 18, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Leflore County, 4 mi SSW of Greenwood
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.467, -90.207

A few large sheds had a portion of the tin roof torn off at Bo Prestidge Farms. The roof debris was thrown about and damaged a few tractors.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: October 18, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 2.76 mi N of North Carrollton
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.560, -89.920

Several trees were blown down just north of town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: October 18, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Duck Hill
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.630, -89.720

A few trees were blown down along with a few limbs taking down power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yazoo

When: October 18, 8:58 PM CST
Where: Yazoo County, 3.54 mi ENE of Free Run
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.960, -90.210

A few trees were blown down near the Yazoo county line.

What these are

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Mississippi, 2007 Warnings in Mississippi, October 2007

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 63579, 63580, 64024, 64028, 64031, 64032, 64050, 64057, 64061, 64072, 64068, 64069, 64073, 64074, 64075, 64078, 64089, 64083, 64099, 64098, 64101, 64033, 64102, 64103, 64104.