Mississippi, 2008

Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, February 21 to 22, 2008

February 21 to 22, 2008 · NWS JAN · 39 events in 18 counties and zones

The 20th and 21st of February brought a round of locally heavy rainfall to the Interstate 20 corridor during the mid morning, then activity shifted to severe weather by afternoon and evening. Numerous severe thunderstorms occurred across central and southern sections of the area which brought large hail and damaging winds to many locations.

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
0
Property damage
$6.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
39

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.

The 20th and 21st of February brought a round of locally heavy rainfall to the Interstate 20 corridor during the mid morning, then activity shifted to severe weather by afternoon and evening. Numerous severe thunderstorms occurred across central and southern sections of the area which brought large hail and damaging winds to many locations. The severe weather eventually evolved into heavy rain and flash flooding across central sections of the area as thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the same locations.

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 Feb 21, 10:00 AM CST, 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 10:00 AM CST, 35 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1000 AM CST THU FEB 21 2008

.UPDATE...LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A STORM SYSTEM AHEAD OF AN UPPER
TROUGH MOVING OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. IT ALSO SHOW GOOD GULF
MOISTURE SURGING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE REGION ON TOP OF THE STABLE
SURFACE...WHICH HAS PROVIDED EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCING SHOWERS
OVERNIGHT. THE COLD FRONT WAS WELL SOUTH OF THE I-20 CORRIDOR...WHILE
THE WARM FRONT WAS OVER SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. STILL LOOKING FOR THE
POTENTIAL OF SOME SEVERE WEATHER FOR THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.
SEE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION BELOW.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE AVERAGE 1 TO 2 INCHES ACROSS THE REGION
ALREADY. EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 3 INCHES BEFORE FRIDAY. SO
WITH COORDINATION OF THE SERVICE HYDROLOGIST HAVE ISSUED A FFA FOR
PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND WESTERN MISSISSIPPI UNTIL 12Z
FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...NOT A GOOD DAY FOR FLYING. WIDESPREAD IFR CEILINGS AND
SOME MVFR VISIBILITIES HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE REGION. ALSO MODERATE
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CAUSE VISBIES TO DROP INTO MVFR MOST
OF THE DAY INTO TONIGHT WITH IFR VISBIES POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIER ACTIVITY.
HAIL WILL BE A CONCERN THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY MAINLY AT SITES
JAN/GLH/HBG. BY LATE AFTN AND ESPECIALLY INTO THIS EVENING SFC BASED
STORMS ACROSS THE SOUTH COULD BRING THE RISK OF TORNADOES AND
DAMAGING WINDS. THIS WILL MAINLY BE HBG BUT JAN AND MEI COULD ALSO
GET INTO THIS RISK. /17/

&&

./PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...545 AM CST THU FEB 21 2008/

.DISCUSSION...HEAVY RAIN/SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE TODAY AND TONIGHT...

SHORT TERM(TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...THE COLD FRONT AT 9Z WAS MAINLY
ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF I 20. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS HAVE MOVED THROUGH
CENTRAL MS OVERNIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH INTO NRN MS
LATER THIS MORNING. ALSO ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEGUN TO PUSH IN
FROM NERN LA. ANOTHER AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
DEVELOPED ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE LA COAST.

TODAY AND TONIGHT...WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN EARLY BUT ALONG AND WEST OF THE MS RIVER
SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE STORMS WILL BE ELEVATED AND I
BELIEVE THE BEST RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER OVERALL WILL ACTUALLY BE
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING ACROSS THE SOUTH WHERE STORMS
WILL LIKELY BE SURFACE-BASED THUS BRINGING ABOUT A TORNADO AND
DAMAGING WIND RISK.

ANOTHER IN A WAVE OF WEAK IMPULSES WILL BE MOVING TOWARDS THE CWA
THIS MORNING AND THIS CAN BE SEEN ON WV SATELLITE. THIS IS CAUSING
THE MID LEVELS TO COOL AND COMBINE THIS WITH THE INCREASING LOW
LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION...THE MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE GREATLY
INCREASING...ALREADY APPROACHING 7-7.5 C/KM. THIS ASCENT WILL HELP
TO GET MORE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP. WITH THESE TYPES OF
MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND MUCAPE VALUES ABV 500 J/KG A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING WILL BE POSSIBLE OF BECOMING STRONG TO
SEVERE...MAINLY ACROSS THE WRN 3RD OF THE CWA. EVEN THOUGH A
BOUNDARY IS DRAPED ACROSS CNTRL MS AND NRN LA THESE STORMS WILL BE
ELEVATED THUS MAINLY POSING A HAIL THREAT. THE MAIN CONCERN FOR SFC
BASED SEVERE STORMS WILL LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL LATE AFTN AS IT IS
PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE THE MARINE LAYER...WHICH AT 10Z WAS JUST
MAKING ITS WAY INTO SRN LA...TO GET INTO THE SRN FRINGES OF THE CWA.
BY THIS AFTERNOON A DEVELOPING SFC LOW OVER ERN TX WILL BEGIN TO GET
THAT WARM SECTOR/MARINE LAYER TO MOVE NORTH. THAT SAID A BAND OF
HEAVY CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP SOMEWHERE OVER CNTRL/SRN MS CAUSING
THIS WARM FRONT TO MOVE QUITE SLOWLY AND LIKELY MOVING IN SOMETIME
LATE THIS AFTN ACROSS THE SW AND THEN POSSIBLY THE SRN HALF OF THE
CWA BY EVENING TIME.

NOW FIRST THE HEAVY RAIN. MOISTURE WILL BE QUITE ABUNDANT WITH PWS
ATA 1.5 TODAY. THIS WILL MAKE SHOWERS QUITE EFFICIENT AND THIS IS
EVIDENT AS JAN HAD ALREADY SEEN OVER HALF AN INCH FROM JUST THESE
WEAK SHOWERS. ONCE THUNDERSTORMS BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD...RAINFALL
AMOUNTS WILL GO UP DRASTICALLY AND THIS HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IN CNTRL
LA WHERE KESF HAD REPORTED 1.59 IN ONE HOUR I EXPECT TO SEE A
HEAVY BAND OF CONVECTION DEVELOP OVER CNTRL/SRN MS AND THIS COULD
DROP WIDESPREAD 2-3 JUST TODAY WITH ANOTHER 1 OR SO POSSIBLE
TONIGHT. THAT SAID I DONT SEE FLASH FLOODING BEING ISSUE DUE TO HIGH
FFG VALUES.

BACK TO THE SEVERE ASPECT...MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEING 8 C/KM
THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ENHANCED RISK OF LARGE HAIL. ML CAPES WILL ALSO
RISE TO SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF 1000-1500J/KG ACROSS THE SOUTH
THUS PROVIDING MORE THAN SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY. THE LOCATION OF THE
WARM FRONT IS GOING TO BE KEY. STORMS NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE WARM
FRONT WILL BE SFC BASED AND ANY STORM IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONT
WILL HAVE AN ENHANCED RISK FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES AS THESE
STORMS WILL BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE LOW LEVEL HELICITY. GIVEN ALL OF
THIS I SEE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS BEING THE MAIN RISK ACROSS THE WEST
THROUGH THE MORNING WITH THIS RISK EXPANDING EAST THROUGH THE DAY. I
BELIEVE SFC BASED STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST...MAINLY THE PARISHES SOUTH OF I-20 AND EXTREME SWRN
MS...THIS AFTERNOON. AS WE MOVE INTO THE LATE AFTN HOURS AND
ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING THE RISK FOR THESE SFC BASED STORMS WILL
EXPAND TO INCLUDE THE SRN HALF OF THE CWA. AS THE NIGHT WEARS ON
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE(AS WELL AS THE SVR RISK) WILL
BEGIN TO DECREASE FROM NW TO SE AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE
AREA. SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRI MORNING
ACROSS THE SERN HALF OF THE CWA BUT BY EARLY AFTN MOST OF THE
ACTIVITY SHOULD BE CONTAINED TO THE EXTREME SE IF NOT OUT OF THE
AREA COMPLETELY. /CAB/

LONG TERM(FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) WEAK TRANSIENT SURFACE RIDGE
ALONG THE MS RIVER VALLEY EARLY SATURDAY WILL MOVE E UNDER STILL
STRONG SRN BRANCH OF THE SPLIT-FLOW WLYS ALOFT. A FAST-MOVING UPPER
TROUGH AXIS CROSSES THE OZARKS SATURDAY EVENING BRINGING SMALL
CHANCES FOR ADDITIONAL SHRA SATURDAY NIGHT...MAINLY N OF I-20 WHERE
BEST MOISTURE AND ASCENT COINCIDE. EXPECT ANY RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH
THIS SYSTEM WILL BE LESS THAN 1/4 INCH FOR THE HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. ANOTHER WEAK SURFACE RIDGE(1026MB) MOVES INTO
THE REGION SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. GFS HAS UNDER ESTIMATED THE
WARMING BEHIND THESE HIGHS RECENTLY AND HAVE PUSHED TEMPS ON SUNDAY
TOWARD THE WARMER ENSEMBLE MEMBERS. THIS SHALLOW DRY RIDGE MOVES
INTO THE ERN GULF MONDAY ALLOWING RETURN SSW FLOW TRAJECTORIES FROM
THE WRN GULF TO BEGIN PUSHING BACK INTO OUR AREA BY MONDAY AFTERNOON.

AT THIS POINT...BOTH THE ECMWF/GFS AND GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT THE
TRANSITION FROM A SPLIT FLOW PATTERN OVER THE CONUS TO A DIGGING
UPPER TROUGH AXIS THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND ERN HALF OF THE
COUNTRY. A SWD SHIFT OF THE POLAR VORTEX INTO THE HUDSON BAY REGION
HELPS AMPLIFY THAT ERN U.S. TROUGH AXIS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
WEEK. MEANWHILE...A STRONG SURFACE LOW CROSSES THE GREAT LAKES EARLY
TUESDAY DRAGGING A SHARP COLD FRONT ACROSS THE LOWER MS VALLEY. THE
AMOUNT OF QUALITY MOISTURE/INSTABILITY RETURN AHEAD OF THIS FRONT
APPEARS SUFFICIENT FOR A LINE OF TSRA TO ERUPT EITHER LATE MONDAY
NIGHT OR TUESDAY MORNING. MODELS GENERALLY TRENDING SLIGHTLY SLOWER
WITH THIS FEATURE WHICH WOULD ALLOW BETTER RETURN FLOW INTO TUESDAY.
WILL HOLD OFF MENTIONING ANY RISK FOR SEVERE UNTIL TIMING ISSUES
BECOME A LITTLE BETTER RESOLVED.

IN ANY CASE...ONCE THE BOUNDARY PASSES ON TUESDAY...A RESUMPTION OF
WINTER COLD SETS IN FOR THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT WEEK. MEDIUM RANGE
SUITE OF MODELS ALL INDICATING VERY COLD ADVECTION ON WEDNESDAY WITH
SRN END OF THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS SWINGING THROUGH THE GULF STATES
ON TOP OF 850MB TEMPS OF MINUS 9C TO MINUS 11C AND ENOUGH MOISTURE
FOR FLURRIES. HAVE ADJUSTED MEX MOS A LITTLE BELOW THE LOWEST
ENSEMBLE MOS GUIDANCE AND WILL LIKELY HAVE TO GO EVEN COLDER FOR
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY TIME FRAME AS COLD AIR BECOMES EVEN MORE
CERTAIN. MAYBE THE GROUND HOG WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL WITH THIS END OF
THE MONTH COLD SNAP NOW SETTING UP. OTHERWISE...HAVE REMAINED CLOSE
TO THE LATEST MEX MOS POPS AND TEMPS./40/

&&

.AVIATION...NOT A PRETTY DAY FOR FLYING. WIDESPREAD MVFR AND IFR
CEILINGS WILL DEVELOP WITH THUNDERSTORMS LOWERING CEILINGS INTO LIFR
STATUS AT TIMES. ALSO MODERATE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CAUSE
VISBIES TO DROP INTO MVFR MOST OF THE DAY WITH IFR POSSIBLE IN THE
HEAVIER ACTIVITY. HAIL WILL BE A CONCERN THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY
MAINLY AT SITES JAN/GLH/HBG. BY LATE AFTN AND ESPECIALLY INTO THIS
EVENING SFC BASED STORMS ACROSS THE SOUTH COULD BRING THE RISK OF
TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS. THIS WILL MAINLY BE HBG BUT JAN AND
MEI COULD ALSO GET INTO THIS RISK. /CAB/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON       61  56  68  42 / 100 100  24  15
MERIDIAN      59  60  73  45 / 100 100  40  31
VICKSBURG     61  53  63  40 / 100 100  19   7
HATTIESBURG   67  63  76  49 / 100 100  46  33
NATCHEZ       66  59  68  43 / 100  99  24   8
GREENVILLE    53  49  57  39 / 100  89  16   6
GREENWOOD     55  52  62  38 / 100  98  18  10

&&

.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR MSZ043-047>049-
     053>055-059-060.

LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR LAZ015-016-023>026.

AR...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 21, 10:20 AM CST, 15 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1020 AM CST THU FEB 21 2008

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-
221230-
ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-
MADISON-FRANKLIN-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-
LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-
OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE-
ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER-WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-
SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-
CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-
JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST-
1020 AM CST THU FEB 21 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAINFALL FOR THE
ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA TODAY AND LASTING INTO TONIGHT. THE GREATEST RISK FOR
SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND ESPECIALLY INTO THIS
EVENING ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR.

AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE APPROACHES...IT WILL HELP DEVELOP
A SURFACE LOW ACROSS EASTERN TEXAS. AS THIS LOW BEGINS TO MOVE
NORTHEAST THROUGH NORTHERN LOUISIANA IT WILL CAUSE A WARM FRONT
TO SLOWLY MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE DAY APPROACHING THE I 20 CORRIDOR
SOMETIME LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SOUTH OF THIS FRONT...AFTERNOON HEATING
WILL INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING
DAMAGING WINDS...POSSIBLE TORNADOES...AND LARGE HAIL. THIS AFTERNOON
THE MAIN AREA WILL BE NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. THIS
RISK WILL EXPAND EAST AND NORTH TOWARDS I 20 LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
MORE SO THIS EVENING. FARTHER NORTH...LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE UP
TO THE HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR... BUT COOLER AIR NEAR THE GROUND WILL
GREATLY LIMIT THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS.

AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES BACK THROUGH THE AREA SEVERE STORMS WILL
BEGIN TO COME TO AN END FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST BEGINNING AROUND
MIDNIGHT AND FINISHING OFF TOMORROW MORNING.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE POTENTIAL...HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING COULD
ALSO BE A CONCERN. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO TWO AND A HALF INCHES HAS
FALLEN ACROSS THE REGION AS OF 10 AM THIS MORNING. AN ADDITIONAL TWO
TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED...WHICH WILL GIVE A SUM
TOTAL OF THREE TO FIVE INCHES WITH ISOLATED SIX INCH AMOUNTS
POSSIBLE. PROLONGED PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. SOME OF THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WILL BE AROUND
THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY. SUCH HEAVY RAIN COULD LEAD TO MINOR
FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER
OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOK.

The radar

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 flash flood, 14 hail, 9 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Hinds

When
February 21, 10:35 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Hinds County, 1.5 mi SSE of West Jackson to 0.73 mi SSE of West Jackson
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
32.300, -90.190

Locally heavy rain, between 2 and 3 inches, flooded several roads in Downtown Jackson.

Flash Flood, Madison

When
February 21, 10:35 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Madison County, 0.44 mi WSW of Gluckstadt to 0.83 mi SW of Gluckstadt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.518, -90.087

Locally heavy rain, between 2 and 3 inches, flooded a few roads around Highway 51 and Yandell Road.

Flash Flood, Rankin

When
February 21, 10:55 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Rankin County, 0.9 mi SE of Flowood to 0.88 mi NNW of Pearson
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
32.270, -90.110

Locally heavy rain, between 2 and 3 inches, caused several streets to flood across Pearl.

Thunderstorm Wind, Leake

When
February 21, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Leake County, 0.41 mi WSW of Hopoca to 0.45 mi NE of Freeny
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.829, -89.507

A few trees were blown down in the Singelton and Freeny Communities.

Thunderstorm Wind, Neshoba

When
February 21, 2:30 PM CST to 2:31 PM CST
Where
Neshoba County, 2.22 mi SW of Ocobla to 1.63 mi W of Sandtown
Measured
68 kt (78 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$66,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.730, -89.060

A couple pine trees were snapped and two vehicles were damaged along with some power lines downed. A church had the steeple torn off and shingles removed from the roof. Additionally minor damage occurred to two chicken houses.

Hail, Scott

When
February 21, 4:53 PM CST to 5:01 PM CST
Where
Scott County, 4.57 mi SW of Independence to 0.58 mi E of Independence
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.230, -89.721

Dime to penny sized hail fell across southwest Scott County.

Hail, Hinds

When
February 21, 5:31 PM CST to 5:37 PM CST
Where
Hinds County, 1.56 mi ENE of Hubbard to 1.88 mi N of Morning Star
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.227, -90.644

Flash Flood, Hinds

When
February 21, 6:43 PM CST to 7:43 PM CST
Where
Hinds County, 1.87 mi NNE of Jackson Hawkins Fld to 1.6 mi N of Jackson
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
32.356, -90.212

Two quick rounds of thunderstorms moved over Jackson and brought a quick 2 inches of rain. This heavy rain flooded portions of Northside Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
February 21, 7:32 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 2.24 mi N of Bude
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.502, -90.857

A couple of trees were blown down off Barlow Road, one tree was very large.

Hail, Franklin

When
February 21, 7:35 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 2.56 mi NNE of Quentin to 3.86 mi N of Lucien
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.536, -90.759

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When
February 21, 9:34 PM CST to 9:35 PM CST
Where
Lawrence County, 2.08 mi N of Hooker to 1.19 mi SSE of Grange
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
31.660, -90.055

A few trees were blown down across Highway 43, Crooked Creek Road, and JI Davis Road.

Hail, Jefferson Davis

When
February 21, 9:38 PM CST to 9:58 PM CST
Where
Jefferson Davis County, 3.12 mi SSW of Hebron to 7.42 mi E of Gwinville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.687, -89.966

A swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail fell across the northern portion of Jefferson Davis County. Communities just south of Hebron to the Whitesands area to just north of Clem were impacted. This hail storm continued into far southeast Simpson County as it tracked northeast.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson Davis

When
February 21, 9:46 PM CST
Where
Jefferson Davis County, 4.02 mi S of Gwinville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.692, -89.874

A few trees were blown down in the Whitesands Community.

Hail, Simpson

When
February 21, 9:56 PM CST to 10:07 PM CST
Where
Simpson County, 1.41 mi E of Jaynesville to 0.97 mi ENE of Saratoga
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.770, -89.756

Quarter to golf ball sized hail moved out of north eastern Jefferson Davis County and across far south eastern Simpson County.

Flash Flood, Franklin

When
February 21, 10:00 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, 2.08 mi E of Lucien to 6.47 mi SE of Meadville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$300,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.518, -90.645

Numerous roads were under water around Meadville heading toward the northeast corner of the county, generally north of Highway 84. This was round one of the heavy rain where 2 to 3 inches fell in about an hour and a half.

Hail, Smith

When
February 21, 10:06 PM CST to 10:34 PM CST
Where
Smith County, 6.88 mi WSW of Mize to 5.8 mi SE of Sylvarena
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
31.825, -89.655

A swath of nickel to golf ball sized hail feel across a large portion southern and central Smith County. The storm moved into the southwest portion of the county and tracked northeast toward Bay Springs. Mize was the largest Community impacted by the storm, golf ball sized hail occurred there.

Hail, Simpson

When
February 21, 10:19 PM CST to 10:52 PM CST
Where
Simpson County, 1.04 mi WSW of Shivers to 3.5 mi NNE of Saratoga
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.797, -90.017

A swath of dime to quarter sized hail fell across southern Simpson County. This storm intensified as it moved into southwest Smith County and produced golf ball sized hail in Mize.

Hail, Copiah

When
February 21, 10:27 PM CST to 10:36 PM CST
Where
Copiah County, 3.78 mi ENE of Martinsville to 3.51 mi NE of Ashley
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
31.800, -90.360

Flash Flood, Lincoln

When
February 21, 10:30 PM CST to 11:40 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 5.47 mi WNW of New Sight to 2.92 mi ENE of Caseyville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.670, -90.540

Locally heavy rains, between 2 and 3 inches, quickly fell across northwest Lincoln and caused a few county roads to flood. This was the first round of heavy rain and localized flooding.

Hail, Smith

When
February 21, 10:50 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
Where
Smith County, 4.76 mi SW of Cohay to 4.13 mi SE of Sylvarena
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.869, -89.655

A second supercell thunderstorm tracked northeast across the southern and east central portions of Smith County. This storm produced a swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail, nearly along the same swath as the earlier storm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When
February 21, 10:57 PM CST
Where
Smith County, 1.18 mi ESE of Mize
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.862, -89.532

Two trees were blown down near the intersection of Highway 28 and 35.

Hail, Rankin

When
February 21, 11:11 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
Where
Rankin County, 3.14 mi W of Cleary to 2.17 mi NE of Cleary
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
32.162, -90.233

Hail, Jasper

When
February 21, 11:13 PM CST to 11:25 PM CST
Where
Jasper County, 1.7 mi NW of Bay Spgs to 1.65 mi SE of Gridley
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
31.986, -89.322

A swath of nickel sized hail occurred across west central Jasper County as a supercell thunderstorm moved out of Smith County.

Flash Flood, Claiborne

When
February 21, 11:30 PM CST to February 22, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Claiborne County, 2.38 mi NNW of Pattison to 0.37 mi SSE of Carlisle
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.910, -90.940

Several roads were flooded across the south and southeast portion of the county. A portion of Highway 547 was under water just outside Port Gibson. Rainfall totals across this area ranged from 4 to 6 inches.

Flash Flood, Jefferson

When
February 21, 11:30 PM CST to February 22, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Jefferson County, Red Lick to 2.96 mi N of Melton
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$200,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.780, -91.000

Several roads were flooded across the north central portion of the county as locally heavy rainfall fell. Rainfall totals across this area ranged from 4 to 6 inches.

Hail, Copiah

When
February 21, 11:53 PM CST to February 22, 12:02 AM CST
Where
Copiah County, 2.28 mi S of Jack to 5.92 mi NW of Crystal Spgs
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.987, -90.579

Flash Flood, Hinds

When
February 22, 12:00 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where
Hinds County, 0.58 mi E of Byram to 0.84 mi S of Fairchilds Xrds
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$700,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.180, -90.240

With ground conditions saturated from earlier rains, additional amounts of 2 to 4 inches caused more flooding across portions of Hinds County. Many county roads from Byram to Terry to Utica were flooded, some by several feet of water. Many streams and small creeks across southern Hinds County were at or above bankfull.

Flash Flood, Copiah

When
February 22, 12:10 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Copiah County, 1.15 mi NNW of Barlow to 1.89 mi NNW of Carpenter
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
31.834, -90.680

Several county roads were flooded across the north portion of the county. Rainfall totals across this area ranged from 4 to 6 inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Simpson

When
February 22, 12:38 AM CST to 12:40 AM CST
Where
Simpson County, 2.01 mi NNW of Harrisville to 2.53 mi SW of Braxton
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.998, -90.089

Several trees were blown down from Harrisville to Braxton. One home near Braxton had shingles blown off the roof.

Flash Flood, Rankin

When
February 22, 12:45 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Rankin County, 2.51 mi WNW of Pelahatchie to 2.67 mi NNW of Shiloh
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$400,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.338, -89.837

Several roads were under water, a few with several feet of water crossing them across central portions of Rankin County. A few homes were being threatened just northeast of Brandon off Trickhambridge Road. The flooding rains were a combination of 2 to 3 inches during the morning hours and an additional 2 to 3 inches shortly after midnight. Rainfall totals across Rankin County ranged from 4 to 5 inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When
February 22, 1:10 AM CST
Where
Smith County, 1.81 mi SE of Daniel
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.110, -89.700

A few trees were blown down across Highway 541, just north of White Oak.

Hail, Scott

When
February 22, 1:20 AM CST to 1:22 AM CST
Where
Scott County, 3.83 mi SSW of Forest Muni Arpt to 2.34 mi W of Norris
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.298, -89.501

Dime to penny size hail fell.

Thunderstorm Wind, Scott

When
February 22, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Scott County, 4.16 mi S of Piketown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.420, -89.361

A couple of trees were blown down off Oliver Dr and Lewis Road.

Flash Flood, Newton

When
February 22, 1:40 AM CST to 4:15 AM CST
Where
Newton County, 5.97 mi S of Chunky to 1.5 mi W of Roberts
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.234, -88.934

Several roads across Newton County were flooded by 4 to 6 inches of rain. Areas from Hickory to Chunky to just north of the Interstate were hardest hit.

Hail, Newton

When
February 22, 1:44 AM CST to 1:57 AM CST
Where
Newton County, 3.07 mi NNE of Newton Okeefe Arpt to 4.71 mi N of Chunky
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.361, -89.109

Penny size hail fell across portions of central Newton County.

Flash Flood, Smith

When
February 22, 1:45 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where
Smith County, 1.38 mi N of Trenton to 3.06 mi NE of Lorena
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
32.190, -89.620

Locally heavy rain, between 3 and 5 inches, flooded a few roads across the north portion of Smith County.

Flash Flood, Lauderdale

When
February 22, 2:40 AM CST to 4:20 AM CST
Where
Lauderdale County, 1.59 mi S of Lauderdale to 1.59 mi SSW of Schamberville
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$700,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
32.497, -88.522

Numerous roads were flooded across Lauderdale County as several waves of thunderstorms brought 4 to 6 inches to the area. Several creeks were flooded out of their banks covering a few roads and bridges.

Flash Flood, Franklin

When
February 22, 3:10 AM CST to 5:10 AM CST
Where
Franklin County, Bude to 6.85 mi S of Lucien
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.470, -90.850

Another round of thunderstorms and heavy rain caused additional flooding across northeast and eastern portions of Franklin County. A few creeks were out of their banks and water was over a couple roads. Total rainfall from the event ranged between 4 and 6 inches.

Flash Flood, Lincoln

When
February 22, 3:10 AM CST to 5:10 AM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 4.21 mi NW of Thayer to 3.69 mi WSW of Williams
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
31.526, -90.497

Another round of thunderstorms and heavy rain caused additional flooding across west and northwest portions of Lincoln County. A few creeks were out of their banks, especially McCall Creek, and water was over several roads as well as the bridge across McCall Creek Road. Total rainfall from the event ranged between 4 and 6 inches.

What these are

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.
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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Mississippi in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, February 2008

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: 86850, 86851, 86852, 86857, 86854, 86855, 86856, 86858, 86859, 86860, 86861, 87086, 86862, 87088, 87202, 87090, 87114, 87093, 87211, 87126, 87122, 87151, 87147, 87217, 87218, 87164, 87221, 87220, 87173, 87222, 87190, 87191, 87193, 87223, 87195, 87224, 87260, 87265, 87266.