A potent storm system brought a prolonged outbreak of severe thunderstorms to the Lower Mississippi Valley region from the afternoon hours of New Years Eve lasting through the morning hours of New Years Day. This rare combination of high instability and wind shear is mainly what supported the large outbreak and multiple strong tornadoes.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.
A potent storm system brought a prolonged outbreak of severe thunderstorms to the Lower Mississippi Valley region from the afternoon hours of New Years Eve lasting through the morning hours of New Years Day. This rare combination of high instability and wind shear is mainly what supported the large outbreak and multiple strong tornadoes. National Weather Service storm survey teams found 11 total tornadoes which occurred during this event. Of the 11, two were EF-3 with two more EF-2. Six were EF-1 with one EF-0. Damaging straight line winds also brought numerous trees and large limbs down across the area. Large hail also occurred during the event with reports ranging from quarter to golf ball size. In addition, flash flooding was a significant issue across the area. Roads were flooded in several locations, some vehicles were submerged in flood waters, and a few evacuations took place as a result of rising flood waters.
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 Dec 31, 3:45 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
345 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010
...SEVERE WEATHER EVENT ONGOING THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO TONIGHT...
.DISCUSSION...
TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...
THE RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER IS RAMPING UP ACROSS THE
ARKLAMISS REGION. OVERALL...NWP GUIDANCE HAS BEEN UNDERCUTTING THE
DEGREE OF DESTABILIZATION FOR TODAY...BASED ON COMPARISON TO LATEST
OBSERVATIONS AND RUC ANALYSIS OUTPUT. THE SPECIAL 31/18Z KJAN RAOB
SOUNDING ALREADY SHOWS MUCH OF THE CAPPING INVERSION FROM THIS
MORNING HAVING BEEN ERODED IN RESPONSE TO COOLING IN THE 800-700-MB
LAYER AND SOME SURFACE HEATING. AROUND 600 J/KG OF SBCAPE WAS NOTED
IN THIS SOUNDING...WITH AROUND 30 J/KG OF CONVECTIVE INHIBITION. THIS
IS SHOWN IN THE LATEST RUC MESO-ANALYSIS...WHICH INDICATES A BROAD
ZONE OF POSITIVE BUOYANCY EXTENDING FROM EAST TEXAS ACROSS LOUISIANA
AND SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND FURTHER EAST TOWARD THE I-55 CORRIDOR. IN
THIS REGION...LITTLE CONVECTIVE INHIBITION IS NOTED...WITH SBCAPE
VALUES RANGING FROM 1000-2000 J/KG ACROSS SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST
ARKANSAS...AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. THIS BUOYANCY IS BEING SUPPORTED
BY UNSEASONABLY MOIST SURFACE DEWPOINTS ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE 60S
ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN HALF OF THE CWA...WITH READINGS INTO THE
LOWER 70S ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. THE NAM APPEARS TO BEST
INITIALIZE THIS MODERATE DEGREE OF INSTABILITY...AND IS ALSO THE MOST
UNSTABLE MODEL.
AS FOR THE KINEMATICS...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY MID-LEVEL FLOW ATOP OF
THE MOISTURE/INSTABILITY WEDGE BUILDING OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY REGION IS CHARACTERIZED BY H5 SPEEDS OF 50-60 KT. THIS IS
SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR MAGNITUDES OF 50-60 KT IN THIS
REGION...WHERE THE SIGNIFICANT SEVERE PARAMETER RANGES FROM 20-30
AND THE SUPERCELL COMPOSITE PARAMETER RANGES FROM 6-12...WITH THE
HIGHEST VALUES ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHWEST. THESE PARAMETERS CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT A MULTI-MODAL CONVECTION OVER NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...WHERE
CONVECTION HAS EXHIBITED BOTH SUPERCELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR
CHARACTERISTICS. THE LACK OF CONVECTIVE INHIBITION HAS MOSTLY KEPT
THE CONVECTION FROM REMAINING DISCRETE...THOUGH INDIVIDUAL UPDRAFTS
APPEAR TO BE SPATIALLY SEPARATED SUFFICIENTLY FOR LITTLE
OBSTRUCTION TO MOIST/UNSTABLE INFLOW. THUS...CONVECTION HAS MADE
SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT DEEPER ROTATION. UPON COORDINATION WITH THE
STORM PREDICTION CENTER...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 772 HAS BEEN
EXPANDED NORTHWARD ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND NORTHEASTWARD
INTO THE JACKSON METRO AREA BASED ON THE SPATIAL EXPANSION OF THE
GREATER INSTABILITY AND PERSISTENTLY STRONG LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR.
HOWEVER...AS WE HEAD LATER INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...DEEP-LAYER Q-VECTOR CONVERGENCE WILL INCREASE FROM WEST TO
EAST AHEAD OF A LARGE AND POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM OVER THE
MID-SECTION OF THE CONUS. MEANWHILE...A SURFACE COLD FRONT EXTENDS
FROM CENTRAL ARKANSAS ACROSS NORTHWEST LOUISIANA INTO SOUTHEAST
TEXAS...AND IS FORECAST TO PROGRESS EASTWARD THIS AFTERNOON AND REACH
THE NORTHWEST CWA AROUND 6 PM. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE
REGION...IT WILL DECELERATE AS IT APPROACHES DEEP-LAYER RIDGING
ENTRENCHED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST CONUS. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...CONTINUED
MOISTURE ADVECTION AND DESTABILIZATION WILL MAINTAIN A ZONE OF
MODERATE INSTABILITY...WHERE STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR WILL PERSIST.
0-1 KM STORM-RELATIVE HELICITY VALUES THROUGH TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO
RANGE FROM 150-300 M2/S2...WHICH WILL SUPPORT STRONG LOW-LEVEL
ROTATION WITH ANY PREFRONTAL DISCRETE CONVECTION OR ANY QUASI-LINEAR
CONVECTIVE SYSTEM THAT EVOLVES NEAR THE COLD FRONT. AS
SUCH...TORNADOES...SOME STRONG...WILL REMAIN A DEFINITE CONCERN
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT...ALONG WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS OF
60-80 MPH AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS. LOCAL HIGH-RES WRF
GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THE POTENTIAL FOR SUPERCELLS...BOWING LINE
SEGMENTS...AND MULTICELLULAR CONVECTION ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH
THE ATTENDANT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
AS THE BOUNDARY SLOWS DOWN...AND MOISTURE POOLS NORTHWARD AHEAD OF
IT...THE POTENTIAL FOR TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL INCREASE AS
CONVECTIVE TRAINING EVOLVES THROUGH THE NIGHT. MODELS INDICATE QPF
AMOUNTS ANYWHERE FROM 2-4 INCHES ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE NATCHEZ
TRACE PARKWAY...WHERE THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES TONIGHT.
RAINFALL TOTALS COULD REACH 6 INCHES...AS PWAT VALUES REACH THE
90-95 PERCENTILE RANGE...WITH A DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE CONNECTION.
SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF FROM NORTHWEST TO
SOUTHEAST ON NEW YEARS DAY...AS DRIER AND COLDER AIR FILTER INTO THE
REGION. AS FOR OTHER FORECAST MATTERS...POPS TODAY AND TONIGHT WERE
RAISED WELL ABOVE MAV GUIDANCE BASED ON LATEST SREF AND HIGH-RES WRF
RUNS. TEMPS TONIGHT WERE INCREASED ABOVE MAV GUIDANCE GIVEN THAT
SLOWER FRONTAL MOTION IS EXPECTED COMPARED TO THAT DEPICTED BY THE
GFS.
EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON TODAY INTO TONIGHT...AS THIS
SYSTEM WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD...SIGNIFICANT
SEVERE WEATHER DURING THIS NEW YEARS EVE. /COHEN/ALLEN/
SUNDAY THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY...MODELS HAVE COME IN DRIER
FOR THE LONG TERM BUT AGREE THAT RAIN CHANCES WILL RETURN TO THE
SOUTHERN PORTIONS BY TUESDAY. COME SUNDAY MORNING MODELS AGREE THAT
COLD FRONT AND ASSOCIATED PRECIPITATION WILL BE WELL SOUTH OF OUR
AREA. THE AXIS OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL STILL BE WEST OF OUR
CWA AND A 1030MB+ SURFACE HIGH IS PROGGED TO BE CENTERED NEAR THE
RED RIVER VALLEY. THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL SHIFT EAST OF OUR
CWA DURING THE DAY AND THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT EAST AND BECOME
CENTERED OVER THE ARKLAMISS BY SUNDAY EVENING. THIS WILL SETUP WHAT
IS EXPECTED TO BE THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE PERIOD. UNDER NEAR FULL
RADIATIONAL COOLING OF OUR COOL DRY AIRMASS MONDAY MORNING LOWS WILL
BOTTOM OUT IN THE MID 20S AT MOST LOCATIONS. NEAR ZONAL FLOW ALOFT
IS EXPECTED OVER OUR REGION MONDAY AND THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT
EAST OF OUR CWA AND TO THE CAROLINAS BY TUESDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN
THE BEGINNING OF A SLOW MODERATION OF TEMPERATURES FOR US. BY
TUESDAY THOUGH ANOTHER CLOSED LOW WILL HAVE DEVELOPED OVER JUST OFF
THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS WILL RESULT IN OUR FLOW ALOFT
BACKING TO THE SOUTHWEST AND BRING A SERIES OF SUBTLE DISTURBANCES
ACROSS OUR REGION. ONE SUCH DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO HELP DEVELOP
A WAVE ALONG THE OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEAR THE GULF COAST. BOTH THE
GFS AND ECMWF SHOW LIGHT RAIN TRYING TO SPREAD NORTH INTO OUR
SOUTHERN ZONES BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAV GUIDANCE CAME IN A
LITTLE TOO HIGH OVER OUR NORTHERN ZONES SO HAVE CUT POPS ACROSS THE
NORTHERN HALF TUESDAY. AS THE DISTURBANCE PASSES ALL PRECIPITATION
IS EXPECTED TO END BY TUESDAY EVENING. THE SURFACE HIGH TO OUR EAST
WILL DRIFT SOUTH OVER FLORIDA WEDNESDAY RESULTING IN A LIGHT RETURN
FLOW OVER OUR CWA. THE OLD STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG THE GULF
COAST WILL BEGIN DRIFTING NORTH. THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
LIGHT RAIN IN THE SOUTHERN MOST ZONES WEDNESDAY BUT MOST OF THE AREA
WILL BE DRY AND SEE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES BACK IN THE 60S. BOTH
THE GFS AND ECMWF SHOW ANOTHER MORE POTENT SOUTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE AND
RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE BACK OVER MUCH OF THE AREA THURSDAY. THE
CLOSED LOW OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE DESERT
SOUTHWEST THURSDAY AS WELL. THE CLOSED LOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
MOVING EAST THROUGH FRIDAY AND OPEN UP OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. AT
THE SAME TIME A COUPLE OF NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVES WILL COME INTO
PHASE OVER THE PLAINS THURSDAY NIGHT AND HELP DEEPEN A TROUGH THAT
WILL SEND COOL DRY AIR OUR WAY FROM THE NORTH ON FRIDAY. THE GFS
SHIFTS THE BULK OF THE PCPN SOUTH OF OUR CWA FRIDAY WHILE THE ECMWF
SHOWS SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
OUR CWA. HAVE LEANED TOWARD THE WETTER SCENARIO FOR NOW. /22/
&&
.AVIATION...
BROKEN CEILINGS MOSTLY 1-3K FEET ALONG WITH GUSTY SSE
FLOW UP TO 24KTS WILL KEEP MVFR CONDITIONS AND LOWER GOING AHEAD OF
FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHING FROM THE W. SCATTERED SHRA/ISOLATED TSRA
WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE 20-06Z WITH A FEW SEVERE TSRA GETTING MORE
LIKELY(INCL WIND GUSTS OF 60-70KTS). OTHERWISE...IFR CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED CONTROL TONIGHT WITH FRONT ITSELF CROSSING MS RIVER
00-03Z...I-55 AXIS 03-06Z...THEN I-59 AXIS 07-11Z. CONDITIONS SHOULD
STEADILY IMPROVE TO MVFR CEILINGS ABOUT 2-3HRS BEHIND THE FRONT AND
THEN VFR BY ABOUT 15-18Z SATURDAY./40/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON 56 60 34 54 / 100 58 14 3
MERIDIAN 62 65 34 55 / 100 83 23 4
VICKSBURG 50 61 31 54 / 94 43 13 3
HATTIESBURG 62 67 40 59 / 100 77 24 8
NATCHEZ 54 59 35 54 / 100 43 14 5
GREENVILLE 48 58 30 49 / 76 36 13 2
GREENWOOD 50 59 30 51 / 100 49 13 2
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR MSZ031-038-039-
043>046-048>066-072>074.
LA...NONE.
AR...NONE.
&&
COHEN/ALLEN/22/40HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 315 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074- 012200- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-BOLIVAR- SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES- CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON- NOXUBEE-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER- WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH- SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN- LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 315 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT IN THE UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST...AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. ONE OR MORE LINES OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO ORGANIZE NEAR THE FRONT AND MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER WILL BECOME POSSIBLE TONIGHT IF THESE LINES OF STORMS DEVELOP. TORNADOES...INCLUDING A FEW STRONG TORNADOES...DAMAGING STRAIGHT- LINE WINDS OF 60 TO 80 MPH...QUARTER-SIZE HAIL...ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING WILL INCREASE TONIGHT ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY...WHERE SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 6 INCHES...WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THIS REGION. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ANY TIME FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT AND INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS REGION THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MONRING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 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 IS NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. COHEN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 1251 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 MSZ073-074-311950- FORREST MS-LAMAR MS- 1251 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 40 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTH OF LUMBERTON AT 1251 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. PEOPLE IN EASTERN LAMAR AND FORREST COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 120 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 LAZ024-026-312005- CATAHOULA LA-CONCORDIA LA- 120 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTH OF WALTERS AT 121 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN CONCORDIA AND CATAHOULA PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BYB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 252 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 LAZ007>009-015-312135- MOREHOUSE LA-WEST CARROLL LA-EAST CARROLL LA-RICHLAND LA- 252 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 ...RAPIDLY DEVELOPING STRONG STORM HEADING TOWARD OAK GROVE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF HOLLY RIDGE AT 250 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STORM COULD BECOME SEVERE SHORTLY. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS IT REACHES OAK GROVE AREA BY 330 PM. HIGH WINDS CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...AND BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF OLDER TREES. PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN RICHLAND...NORTHWESTERN EAST CARROLL...WEST CARROLL AND CENTRAL MOREHOUSE PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. 40
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 311 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 MSZ059-061-062-312155- JEFFERSON MS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN MS- 311 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KIRBY AT 311 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN EXTREME NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN...WESTERN FRANKLIN AND EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BYB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
326 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM TSTM WND GST 2 S SOMERSET 32.15N 91.24W
12/31/2010 E60.00 MPH TENSAS LA STORM CHASER
STORM CHASERS ENCOUNTERED RFD WINDS ESTIMATED AT 60-65
MPH NORTH OF NEWELLTON ALONG US HIGHWAY 65.
&&
DLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 332 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 LAZ008-009-015-016-312215- WEST CARROLL LA-EAST CARROLL LA-RICHLAND LA-MADISON LA- 332 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 ...BUILDING STRONG STORM EAST OF RAYVILLE MOVING NORTHEAST... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3 MILES EAST OF RAYVILLE AT 331 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM MAY BECOME SEVERE. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM CROSSING INTERSTATE 20. HIGH WINDS CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...AND BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF OLDER TREES. PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN MADISON...NORTHEASTERN RICHLAND...SOUTHWESTERN EAST CARROLL AND SOUTHERN WEST CARROLL PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. ERA
The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:57 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 7 flash flood, 5 tornado, 2 heavy rain, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter sized hail was observed southeast of Carpenter.
Some trees were blown down southwest of Hazelhurst.
This tornado touched down near the intersection of Fisher Ferry and Halls Ferry Roads and tracked northeast across the Army Corps of Engineers Engineer and Research Development Center property. Shingles were blown off several roofs, part of the roof was blown off a hanger, a mobile home was damaged and a power pole was snapped. Further along the track, scattered trees were sporadically blown down with many large limbs down as well along the path. Toward the end of the track, one of the trees fell across power lines, taking three power poles down with it. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
Power lines were blown down with power out in the Walmart area. A tree was blown down across Interstate 20 near exit 5.
Several trees were snapped just north of Harriston Road.
A couple of trees were blown down on Jack Road.
Limbs and small trees were snapped along Violet Road.
Locally heavy rainfall, near 2 inches per hour, caused some streets to flood in Vicksburg.
Several trees were blown down across roads between Pattison and Peyton. A few trees were also blown down across Highway 547.
A few trees and power lines were blown down southeast of Hermanville.
This tornado first touched down in Midway Estates just to the west of Midway Road. Initially the tornado knocked down a few trees and caused minor shingle damage to roofs. The tornado tracked northeast crossing Tank Road, Green Gable Road, and Lebanon-Pinegrove Road. The damage was predominantly downed trees and minor structural damage. The tornado then moved nearly parallel to Interstate 55 and passed through Byram. Numerous structures were damaged, dozens of billboards were blown out, a tanker truck was overturned, numerous power poles were snapped and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado was the most intense at this point with winds estimated to be around 120 mph. In addition, the maximum path width of 1/2 mile occurred in Byram. The tornado then crossed the Pearl River into Rankin County. The tornado was on the ground for almost 14 miles in Hinds County with a total path length of 26 miles through both Hinds and Rankin Counties.
This tornado crossed the Pearl River into Rankin County, into portions of Richland as an EF-1. The tornado was much weaker at this point with mainly tree damage occurring. As the tornado moved into Pearl it strengthened again. Roof damage occurred to a movie theater and a Kroger. The roof was completely torn off a car wash. In the Pearl neighborhoods, numerous trees were knocked down and several fell on houses. Several of the houses were total losses.
The tornado then crossed Airport Road and onto the Jackson-Evers International Airport grounds, passing just south of the airport terminal. A roof was heavily damaged to a warehouse and numerous trees were knocked down. The tornado then tracked along Cooper Road, mainly downing trees. The tornado then lifted as it moved across Luckney Road, just a few miles south of Lakeland Drive. The highest estimated winds in Rankin County were 110 mph which occurred in Pearl. The tornado was on the ground for just over 12 miles in Rankin County with a total path length of 26 miles across Hinds and Rankin Counties.
A CoCoRaHS observer in Florence reported 2.54 inches of rain.
Over two inches of rain were observed at Star.
A large tree fell on a house which caused a total loss. This damage was associated with straight line winds several miles northwest of the tornadic circulation which moved across the Pearl and Flowood areas.
Winds gusted to 58 mph at the Jackson Airport.
Trees were blown down along Old Brandon Road. Large limbs were blown down along Airport Road.
This weak tornado briefly touched down near Star and downed multiple limbs along with a few trees. This minor tree damage was noted along Shady Hill Drive and near Highway 49. Maximum winds were around 75 mph.
Winds were estimated at 60-65 mph. Numerous limbs were blown down.
Water was reported across Crossgates Boulevard in West Brandon. Flash flooding was reported at the intersection of Luckney Road and Caine Circle and along River Bend Drive north of Brandon.
Several streets were flooded in the city of Jackson. There were multiple reports of people trapped in vehicles.
Golf ball sized hail was reported north of Forest.
A tree was reported down on Highway 21 at Steele.
Several trees were blown down along County Road 210 west of Union.
Dime to golf ball sized hail fell over Neshoba.
Quarter sized hail was observed south of Mccall Creek.
The tornado started along Ellzey Drive, where it snapped some large limbs and took a few shingles off a house. The tornado moved north-northeast, destroying a small outbuilding along Tanpa Trail and downing a couple of trees. The tornado then did its most substantial damage along Jackson Liberty Drive NW, where it pushed a frame house off of its blocks, along with busting windows and causing some shingle damage. A couple of outbuildings were also heavily damaged, and a few trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado continued north-northeast, sporadically snapping a few pine trees before dissipating near Pleasant Ridge Road NW. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
Power line was blown down along Highway 397 northwest of Kemper Lake Road.
A few trees were blown down along Highway 35 north.
A few trees were blown down in Tchula.
Locally heavy rain cause several streets to flood in Belzoni.
A few trees were blown down north of Lexington.
A few trees were blown down off Highway 17.
Dime to quarter sized hail was reported around Eagle Lake.
Scattered trees were blown down around Lexington.
Several roads were flooded around the Seven Pines Community.
A couple of trees were blown down at Winona.
A couple of trees were blown down in Kilmichael.
Golf ball sized hail was observed east of Black Hawk.
Locally heavy rain, between 4 and 6 inches, caused several streets to flood in the city of Winona. Many cars were flooded in town due to the high water. Additionally, several roads were closed, with some washed out, near and around Winona.
A couple trees were down off Rebecca Road.
Locally heavy rain caused flooding on Calhoun, Ace, 19th, and 6th Streets, as well as Jasper Avenue.
Strong winds associated with a rear flank downdraft snapped or uprooted several trees near Highway 17 and Highway 14 west of Goodman. A highway sign was snapped at the Goodman exit along Interstate 55.
A couple of tree were blown down northwest of Shivers.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2010Warnings in Mississippi, December 2010
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: 268051, 268052, 268056, 268073, 268083, 268057, 268080, 268085, 268089, 268091, 268670, 268110, 269431, 268121, 268147, 268149, 268135, 268136, 268137, 268139, 268145, 268153, 268257, 268258, 268260, 268263, 268269, 268273, 268276, 268291, 268294, 268639, 268640, 268644, 268648, 268649, 268650, 269432, 268651, 268652, and more.