Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, April 4, 2008

A mobile home was rolled over and a few trees were snapped. This damage occurred just a bit east of where Highway 465 meets the levee. This was also just a little before the tornado occurred in the Eagle Lake Community.

The tornado touched down along Highway 465, on the western edge of Eagle Lake, and tracked east-southeast for almost 4 miles through the heart of the Eagle Lake Community. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted with 30-40 homes, mostly mobile homes, damaged by downed trees. Several power lines were also taken down by trees. Several structures, about 10-15 homes, sustained shingle/roof damage or had carports/awnings torn off. Most of the trees were blown to the southeast and roof damage was on the west-northwest side of homes. However, several locations along the path had trees blown down to the north-northwest with some shingle damage on the east facing side. Maximum winds were near 105 mph.

A couple of homes sustained shingle damage, several trees were uprooted, and a camper was overturned around Valley Park.

A few trees were snapped along the levee, in the flooded timber, just north of Highway 465.

Significant wind damage occurred across the southern portion of Vicksburg as a line of intense storms moved through the river city. Areas along and south of I-20 were especially hard hit. Areas across Hwy 61 to Halls Ferry to Porters Chapel to Lee Roads had hundreds of trees uprooted or snapped. Numerous power lines were taken down with nearly 30 homes damaged by fallen trees. Several vehicles were also damaged by downed trees as well. The wind damage was extensive across central Warren County with several trained spotters estimating wind gusts between 80 and 100 mph. This was one of the worst and most widespread wind storms to impact the City of Vicksburg.

Several areas across Downtown Vicksburg had trees and power lines blown down with a handful of structures sustaining minor to moderate roof damage. Major roof damage occurred to the Enterprise Rent-a-Car building where a large portion was torn off.

Numerous trees were blown down across the eastern portions of Vicksburg with some across I-20. A few homes were damaged by downed trees along with several power lines. One mobile home was totally destroyed along Warriors Trail as a tree fell through it. An injury occurred at this location as the occupant was briefly trapped in the home.

Several trees were blown down. One mobile home was destroyed on Bell Road from a downed tree.

Numerous trees and a few power lines were blown down across central sections of Yazoo County. Trees were down across Witherspoon, Myrleville, and Cox Ferry Roads as well as Old Highway 16 and Highway 433.

This brief tornado touched down along Warriors Trail Road between Vicksburg and Bovina, just south of I-20 and Hwy 80, and tracked east for 2 miles. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Several power lines were taken down by trees. A couple structures were damaged by downed trees. Maximum winds were near 100 mph.

Numerous trees were blown down along the Natchez Trace in central Hinds County. A few of these trees were blocking the highway and had to be removed.

Numerous trees were blown down around Edwards.

A few trees and many large limbs were blown down.

This tornado started along Farr Road and tracked east-southeast across Highway 22 and then across Queens Hill Road. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted around Farr Road and Highway 22 with one shed destroyed. Tree damage became more extensive just north and across Queens Hill Road where dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted. Damage along this 3 mile path was concentrated with several trees laid to the northwest or even back to the west. The majority of the trees were down to the southeast or east-southeast. The tornado lifted between Queens Hill and Williams Lake Roads. Tree damage became much more widespread, indicative of straight line damage, across Williams Lake Road. Maximum winds were near 110 mph.

Extensive wind damage occurred across western Hinds County as a line of thunderstorms moved through the area. Widespread tree damage occurred from areas northwest and west of Bolton, in Bolton, and in areas between Raymond and Clinton. The worst damage occurred along I-20, Carol Johns Road, Williams Lake Road, and in the City of Bolton. Nearly a dozen structures were damaged by downed trees within this swath. In the city of Bolton, the Fire Department had most of the roof torn off and a building next to the Post Office was destroyed. This building was a small cinder-block structure, the roof was removed and some walls had collapsed. That area, in the City of Bolton, was the most intense and winds have been estimated between 105 and 115 mph. For the rest of the wind damage, winds are estimated between 80 and 100 mph.

A swath of penny to quarter sized hail fell across most of central Hinds County and through the Downtown Jackson area.

A couple trees and power lines were blown down around Raymond.

Several trees were blown down around town.

A 75 foot farmers radio tower collapsed off West Northside Drive between Clinton and Bolton. Minor roof damage occurred in this area along with some damage to a silo.

Another short path of tornadic damage occurred just east-northeast of Bolton. This tornado started along the I-20 Frontage Road and tracked just south of east along I-20 to the Norrell Road Intersection. Two billboards were blown down and destroyed with another heavily damaged. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Within the path of tree damage, several areas indicated trees blown down to the north or northwest while the majority were blown down in the east-southeast direction.

Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along South Norrell Road and St. Thomas Road. A few homes sustained shingle damage and a trampoline was thrown and destroyed. The covered walk way at the St. Thomas Church was destroyed and thrown across the parking lot. One home had a tree through half of it causing major damage.

A dozen or so trees were blown down around Clinton, generally along or off Northside Drive.

Several trees were blown down across the northwest portion of the county.

An interstate road sign was blown over and some tin was torn off a storage building.

A couple trees were blown down off Highway 14.

Aside from the tornadic damage across Northeast Jackson, extensive and significant straight line wind damage occurred across a large portion of the City of Jackson, particularly just to the south of the tornado path. Hundreds of trees and numerous power lines were taken down by wind gusts between 80 and 100 mph. The very strong wind gusts alone damaged many homes and buildings. However, it was the large amount of trees that were blown down which caused the most significant damage. Hundreds of trees were blown down on homes which caused minor to major damage to many structures. Some 6 to 7 thousand homes sustained some kind of damage. Many signs were blow down or damaged along with many vehicles destroyed by fallen trees and limbs. This tornado and wind event was likely one of the most significant, widespread, and costly severe weather events the Jackson area has seen. Nearly everyone described this event as worse than Hurricane Katrina, for the Metro.

A couple large trees were were blown down along with many limbs. A garbage can was thrown across a pasture.

This was the starting point of the Metro Jackson tornado which started along Livingston Road, just north of West County Line Road. Several trees and power lines were taken down at this location as the tornado moved into extreme northern Hinds County.

The damage started with snapped trees, power lines and power poles across Livingston and County Line Roads and Watkins Drive. The tornado moved east-southeast, crossing Interstate 220 and downing numerous large trees, some on homes, as it moved through residential areas off Hanging Moss Road. Most of the damage in this area was EF-1 in nature with maximum winds between 90 and 105 mph. The damage became somewhat more intense as it moved through the Tougaloo area, with dozens of large trees snapped and uprooted, many on homes, causing serious damage. The tornado crossed State Street, and then crossed Interstate 55 where it caused roof damage to two hotels, and damaged a car dealership, snapping light poles, blowing the windows out of dozens of cars, and causing roof and awning damage. It also damaged the roof of a large medical building. As the tornado crossed Ridgewood Road, it blew out the back wall of a large restaurant building, and continued damaging roofs of buildings and knocking down numerous trees. The damage in the Interstate 55 area was rated as EF-1 with maximum winds between 95 and 105 mph.

Once the tornado crossed Ridgewood Road, it moved back into residential areas of northeast Jackson. The tornado reached its maximum intensity as it approached and crossed Old Canton Road. Hundreds of large trees were snapped and uprooted in these areas, causing major damage to numerous homes. On the east side of Old Canton, it caused extensive roof and facade damage to several commercial buildings, blew the walls out of the second story of a large warehouse type building, and caused extensive damage to the roofs of apartment complex buildings and a couple of residential homes. This area along the path from just west of Pear Orchard Road to the area on the east side of Old Canton Road was the maximum rated damage at EF-2 with maximum estimated winds of 115 mph.

While not accessible via ground survey, it is assumed based on radar data that the tornado continued on the ground across the Pearl River. Damage was again observed in northwest Rankin County in the subdivisions off of Old Fannin Road. Numerous trees were downed, a number on houses, and many homes had shingle damage. The most intense damage was where the tornado crossed Old Fannin Road in the Avalon and Barnett Bend subdivisions. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted, several causing major damage to some homes, and power poles were snapped off. Maximum winds here were estimated to be up to 105 mph, which is at the high end of EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Damage was somewhat less as it moved through the subdivisions east of Hugh Ward Parkway, but intensified again as it moved along Manship Road and into Mill Creek subdivision. A number of large trees were snapped and uprooted in these areas. The tornado crossed Lakeland Drive, continuing to down trees, and moved across the Northwest Rankin Attendance Center complex, blowing down trees, a fence at the baseball field, and blowing out an awning. The tornado crossed Vine Drive and caused extensive shingle and roof damage to a number of apartment buildings. The tornado dissipated shortly after this damage, causing sporadic tree damage at the edge of Castlewoods subdivision. Maximum winds in the area from Hugh Ward Parkway to prior to dissipation were estimated to generally be between 90 and 100 mph, which is EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Total path length was 14 miles.

A swath of penny to golf ball sized hail fell across southern Madison County.

Significant straight line winds moved across southern Madison County. Numerous trees and several power lines were blown down with some trees down on vehicles. Ten to fifteen homes suffered minor to major damage in the Densmore Subdivision. Wind gusts were estimated between 80 and 90 mph.

The Southern Tractor Company building sustained heavy damage with a portion of the roof blown off. A large road sign was blown down and a truck was blown off Highway 49.

Several trees were blown down along Highway 43 in the Sharon Community.

The damage started with snapped trees, power lines and power poles across Livingston and County Line Roads and Watkins Drive. The tornado moved east-southeast, crossing Interstate 220 and downing numerous large trees, some on homes, as it moved through residential areas off Hanging Moss Road. Most of the damage in this area was EF-1 in nature with maximum winds between 90 and 105 mph. The damage became somewhat more intense as it moved through the Tougaloo area, with dozens of large trees snapped and uprooted, many on homes, causing serious damage. The tornado crossed State Street, and then crossed Interstate 55 where it caused roof damage to two hotels, and damaged a car dealership, snapping light poles, blowing the windows out of dozens of cars, and causing roof and awning damage. It also damaged the roof of a large medical building. As the tornado crossed Ridgewood Road, it blew out the back wall of a large restaurant building, and continued damaging roofs of buildings and knocking down numerous trees. The damage in the Interstate 55 area was rated as EF-1 with maximum winds between 95 and 105 mph.

Once the tornado crossed Ridgewood Road, it moved back into residential areas of northeast Jackson. The tornado reached its maximum intensity as it approached and crossed Old Canton Road. Hundreds of large trees were snapped and uprooted in these areas, causing major damage to numerous homes. On the east side of Old Canton, it caused extensive roof and facade damage to several commercial buildings, blew the walls out of the second story of a large warehouse type building, and caused extensive damage to the roofs of apartment complex buildings and a couple of residential homes. This area along the path from just west of Pear Orchard Road to the area on the east side of Old Canton Road was the maximum rated damage at EF-2 with maximum estimated winds of 115 mph.

While not accessible via ground survey, it is assumed based on radar data that the tornado continued on the ground across the Pearl River. Damage was again observed in northwest Rankin County in the subdivisions off of Old Fannin Road. Numerous trees were downed, a number on houses, and many homes had shingle damage. The most intense damage was where the tornado crossed Old Fannin Road in the Avalon and Barnett Bend subdivisions. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted, several causing major damage to some homes, and power poles were snapped off. Maximum winds here were estimated to be up to 105 mph, which is at the high end of EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Damage was somewhat less as it moved through the subdivisions east of Hugh Ward Parkway, but intensified again as it moved along Manship Road and into Mill Creek subdivision. A number of large trees were snapped and uprooted in these areas. The tornado crossed Lakeland Drive, continuing to down trees, and moved across the Northwest Rankin Attendance Center complex, blowing down trees, a fence at the baseball field, and blowing out an awning. The tornado crossed Vine Drive and caused extensive shingle and roof damage to a number of apartment buildings. The tornado dissipated shortly after this damage, causing sporadic tree damage at the edge of Castlewoods subdivision. Maximum winds in the area from Hugh Ward Parkway to prior to dissipation were estimated to generally be between 90 and 100 mph, which is EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Total path length was 14 miles.

Several trees and power lines were blown down across Madison.

Significant and extensive straight line wind damage occurred across portions of west central and central Rankin County as a line of intense storms move through the Metro area. An extensive swath of wind damage occurred on the southern side of the Metro tornado. Wind gusts ranged between 80 and 100 mph which caused hundreds of trees to get knocked down along with numerous power lines and several billboard and road signs. Many trees fell on homes as well as vehicles. The hardest hit areas were across portions of Flowood, generally from the Dogwood Festival Mall, Old Fannin Road and along Highway 25 to Grants Ferry Road.

Four trees were blown down off Airport Road.

Penny to quarter sized hail fell across portions of Flowood to the Jackson International Airport.

Several large oak trees were uprooted along Whitfield Road and around Whitfield.

Numerous trees were blown down across the northern portion of the county. A few trees were across a couple roads, one on a house and another on a mobile home. One outbuilding had the roof blown off.

Measured wind gust at the Ross Barnett Spillway tower.

Numerous trees were blown down across Brandon, especially the southern half of town.

Several trees and a few power lines were blown down along Highway 80 between Brandon and Pelahatchie.

A couple of large trees were blown down.

Numerous trees were blown down across Morton along with a few billboard signs blown down. Several homes suffered roof damage as well along with several businesses with minor to major roof damage.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across northwest Smith County. A mobile home had the roof blown off along county road 150.

A couple of trees were blown down in the Mars Hill Community.

Numerous trees and a few power lines were blown down across the southern portion of the county.

Intense straight line winds occurred across central portions of Scott County and caused numerous trees to get blown down. Areas from Clifton, Hillsboro and Harperville were hardest hit by the damaging wind gusts which ranged from 90 to 100 mph. Eight homes were destroyed by downed trees with another 40 having some kind of roof damage from trees or just the wind gusts.

A couple sheds were destroyed along with a few trees blown down.

Near 80 trees were snapped or uprooted along Lake Pushmataha in Choctaw. The lake was temporarily closed to allow for debris clean up around the lake.

Several trees were blown down across roads along with several power lines down. Additionally, a shed was destroyed.

Numerous trees were blown down all around Forest. A few power lines were blown down as well.

Numerous trees were blown down across northeast Scott County. Several trees were down on a few homes causing major damage.

Numerous trees were blown down around Conehatta.

Substantial wind damage occurred across portions of Philadelphia as wind gusts between 70 and 90 mph moved through town. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Nearly 30 homes were damaged by the wind gusts or by downed trees. The majority of the damaged homes were on the southeast side of town along Highway 486. Several vehicles were damaged or destroyed by trees as well as a school bus.

A swath of widespread and significant straight line winds moved across a large portion of central Newton county. Hundreds of trees were blown down along with many power lines. Areas in and around Decatur were hard hit and numerous homes sustained minor to major roof damage, some roofs were even blown off a couple homes.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down around Pineville.

A few trees were blown down.

Numerous trees were blown down across the southern portion of the county, generally along the Interstate 20 corridor.

Numerous trees were blown down along with some minor damage to a few homes.

An intense straight line wind event occurred across the northern portion of Lauderdale County. Hundreds of trees were blown down. Some trees damaged homes and downed many power lines. Wind gusts were between 90 and 100 mph.

Hundreds of trees and numerous power lines were blown down across the southern portion of Kemper County.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the city. A parking shed was blown down and onto a few vehicles.

Several trees and power lines were blown down across the Naval Air Station.

Two homes had singles blown off in Porterville.

Measured by the Naval Meridian ASOS, 87 mph wind gust.