A significant severe weather event and tornado outbreak affected portions of central Mississippi, southeastern Arkansas, and northeastern Louisiana on April 15th. This event evolved slowly and brought multiple rounds of severe storms to the region between 3 am and 9 pm.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 significant severe weather event and tornado outbreak affected portions of central Mississippi, southeastern Arkansas, and northeastern Louisiana on April 15th. This event evolved slowly and brought multiple rounds of severe storms to the region between 3 am and 9 pm. A total of 15 tornadoes occurred during this event with 3 being of the strong variety (EF2 or EF3). In addition, numerous reports of damaging straight-line winds occurred as well as instances of large hail. Some of the strongest storms produced hail from golf ball to baseball size. There were two reports of softball sized hail as well, one in Clarke County and the other in Kemper County. In addition to the severe storms, significant flash flooding occurred over northern portions of central Mississippi.
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 Apr 15, 3:42 AM CST, 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 442 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 ...SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED TODAY... .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...FOCUS WILL CENTER ON INCREASING CONCERN FOR A DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK TO UNFOLD TODAY. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR CYCLIC AND STRONG TORNADOES...HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS UP TO 80 MPH. A TORNADO WATCH IS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10AM ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN AREAS OF THE CWA. CERTAINLY ANTICIPATE AN ADDITIONAL WATCH FOR MUCH OF THE AREA LATER THIS MORNING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. AS OF 330AM...A SEVERE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS AND STRETCHING SW INTO NW LOUISIANA AND TRAILING BACK INTO SE TEXAS. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LINE AS IT PROGRESSES TOWARDS THE ARKLAMISS DELTA REGION BY 5 AM. LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS DEPICTS NEARLY 1000 J/KG SBCAPE AHEAD OF LINE WITH 50 TO 60 KT EFFECTIVE SHEAR SUPPORTING LARGE BOWING SEGMENTS AND TORNADOES ALONG THE LINE. A WEDGE OF MID TO UPPER 60 DEWPOINTS CURRENTLY LOCATED ACROSS CENTRAL AND WESTERN MISSISSIPPI AND ALL OF LOUISIANA WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE NORTHWARD ON AN ACCELERATING LLJ OF 50 TO 60 KT. WITH SFC WINDS BACKED TO SSE...SOUTHERLY 50KT H85 WINDS...AND CYCLONICALLY CURVED 70 KT H5 WINDS FROM THE SW... EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES OF 50 TO 60 WILL BE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT VIGOROUS CONVECTION AND STRONG ROTATING UPDRAFTS THIS MORNING AND ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS MUCH OF THE ARKLAMISS. AS FAR AS EVENT EVOLUTION IS CONCERNED...A DANGEROUS SEVERE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THAT ARKLAMISS DELTA REGION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS LINE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AS IT TRANSLATES EASTWARD. THE LINE COULD BECOME MORE BROKEN IN NATURE AND SLOW WHILE TRAILING BACK TO THE SW INTO SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA AS SUPPORTIVE VORTICITY LOBE MOVES NE AWAY FROM CONVECTIVE COMPLEX. DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES...AND HAIL WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS CONVECTION ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS DELTA AND ALONG HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR. BY THE MID MORNING HOURS...SBCAPE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE TO 1500-2000 J/KG AND 0-1 KM SRH OF 200-300 M2/S2 WILL SETUP ALONG AND SOUTH OF LOCATIONS NOT AFFECTED BY EARLIER CONVECTION. LOCATIONS ALONG AND SOUTH OF NATCHEZ TRACE...AND SOUTH OF A POSSIBLE COLD POOL BOUNDARY WITH HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF DISCRETE AND POTENTIALLY LONG-LIVED SUPERCELL DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINMENT IN AN UNSTABLE AND HIGHLY UPPER-LVL DIVERGENT ENVIRONMENT AS ANOTHER VORT LOBE AND UPPER JET STREAK ROTATE THROUGH THE BASE OF THE H5 TROUGH. PER LOCAL HI-RES WRF AND HRRR OUTPUT AND OVERALL ENVIRONMENT...SEVERAL ROUNDS OF SUPERCELLS AND BOWING SEGMENTS APPEAR POSSIBLE ACROSS THE REGION. SEVERE WEATHER RISKS WITH THESE SUPERCELLS INCLUDE TORNADOES...SOME POSSIBLY STRONG AND CYCLIC...LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS...AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 80 MPH. SEVERE WEATHER RISK WILL END WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE DRYLINE FROM WEST TO EAST. PLEASE SEE GRAPHICASTS FOR ESTIMATED SEVERE WEATHER TIMING AND ENDING. THE ENTIRE REGION WILL BE CLEAR OF SEVERE WEATHER RISK BY 10 PM THIS EVENING. PLEASE STAY ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DRYLINE AS CLEARING WILL TAKE PLACE. WIND GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH FROM THE WEST WILL BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE ARKLAMISS DELTA REGION AND AREA LAKES. MUCH QUIETER AND PLEASANT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MORNING LOWS FOR THE WEEKEND WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S WITH HIGHS TOPPING OUT NEAR 70 ON SATURDAY WITH SOME STRATOCUMULUS CLOUDS PIVOTING ACROSS HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR AND INTO THE UPPER 70S ON SUNDAY UNDER SUNNY SKIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION. CONCERNING OTHER FORECAST MATTERS...TEMPERATURES AND DEWPOINTS WERE MASSAGED UPWARDS IN THE SHORT TERM GIVEN CURRENT OBSERVATIONS AND TRENDS. MAX HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY AS MUCH OF THE REGION IS HOVERING AROUND THE 70 DEGREE MARK WITH ANTICIPATION OF PARTIAL EROSION OF STRATUS DECK AND DESPITE OVERSPREADING OF ANVIL CIRRUS. INCREASED HIGH TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES ON SUNDAY GIVEN SOLID WARM AIR ADVECTION AND CLEAR SKIES. POPS WERE INCREASED FOR THIS MORNING ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS DELTA AND UPPED FOR MUCH OF THE REGION...EXCLUDING THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST...FOR THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING PERIOD. POPS WERE REDUCED ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 AFTER 0Z TONIGHT BEHIND TO DRYLINE/FRONT./ALLEN/ && LONGER TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...A FLATTER ZONAL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE CONUS SHOULD KEEP STORM SYSTEM MOVING RIGHT ALONG FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. SURFACE HIGH(1020MB) OVER AL EARLY SUNDAY WILL MOVE OFF SRN GA COAST BY MONDAY ALLOWING ANOTHER QUICK RETURN FLOW PATTERN TO SET UP STARTING SUNDAY NIGHT FOR THE LOWER MS VALLEY. NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY WILL REVERT TO ABOVE NORMAL FOR MOST OF THE WEEK PER ENSEMBLE AND MEX GUIDANCE. SEVERAL MID LEVEL SHORTWAVES WILL BE RACING THROUGH THE FLOW IN THE CENTRAL AND ERN CONUS. IN RESPONSE...DEEP MOISTURE WILL INCREASE OVER OUR CWFA PROBABLY IN ABOUT 2 TO 3 DAY INTERVALS...THE FIRST BEING ON TUESDAY...THEN THURSDAY AND FINALLY SATURDAY. THE POSITION OF A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONTAL SYSTEM OVER THE MID SOUTH OR GULF STATES WILL BE KEY TO FOCUSING RAINFALL DURING THE WEEK. MODEL CONSENSUS MOVES A PLAINS LOW ACROSS THE OZARKS HEADING NEWD TUESDAY DRAGGING A COLD FRONT TOWARD OUR CWA TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS IT STALLS OUT. THE STALLING FRONT GETS STUCK UNDER PREVAILING SWLY FLOW ALOFT SO UNCERTAINTY IN THESE FEATURES WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL. ANY QPF SHOULD INITIALLY BE UNDER ONE INCH BEFORE MID WEEK HOWEVER PATTERN SUGGESTS A HEAVY RAINFALL EPISODE COULD BE SETTING UP FOR THE TN VALLEY/MID SOUTH OR GULF STATES BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. /40 && .AVIATION...VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING BUT THAT WILL QUICKLY CHANGE FOR KGLH AND KGWO THROUGH THE NEXT HALF HOUR AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AS A SEVERE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR. +TSRA WITH VISIBILITIES DOWN BELOW ONE MILE...1-2 KFT CEILINGS ACCOMPANIED BY POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 6AM FOR THESE TWO TAF SITES. FARTHER SOUTH...BKN 2 KFT STRATUS CEILINGS WILL AFFECT SITES THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BEFORE MIXING OUT TO SCT TO FEW AND BECOMING VFR FOR PORTIONS OF THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL FOR TORNADOES...HAIL...AND STRONG WINDS. IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS WILL CERTAINLY BE POSSIBLE INVOF AND IN THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL SHIFT OUT OF THE REGION BY THIS EVENING./ALLEN/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... JACKSON 80 47 71 45 / 81 17 8 0 MERIDIAN 82 49 71 42 / 79 50 10 0 VICKSBURG 81 48 72 42 / 52 13 8 0 HATTIESBURG 85 49 75 46 / 80 48 8 0 NATCHEZ 80 47 72 44 / 51 13 5 0 GREENVILLE 79 49 69 45 / 82 15 10 0 GREENWOOD 79 47 69 44 / 79 13 10 0 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...NONE. LA...NONE. AR...NONE. && ALLEN/40
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 421 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>028-034>036- 040>042-047-160930- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-BOLIVAR- SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS- HOLMES-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-WARREN- 421 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CROSSING LOCATIONS WEST OF A LINE FROM TALLULAH LOUISIANA TO WINONA MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING. INITIALLY... THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS OF 70 MPH AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF HALF DOLLARS. THIS LINE SHOULD GRADUALLY BREAK UP DURING THE MID MORNING HOURS WITH A RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER CONTINUING AND INCLUDING TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS OF 75 MPH...AND HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS POSSIBLE. THE MAIN RISK SHOULD SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST DURING THE MIDDAY HOURS AND END COMPLETELY BEFORE MID AFTERNOON AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS THROUGH THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE PROBABILITY OF 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...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING HOURS BUT SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED AFTER ABOUT 3 PM. MSZ029>033-037>039-043>046-048>066-072>074-160930- WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-ATTALA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE- MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON- LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON- ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON- JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 421 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND EAST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING IN FROM THE WEST THIS MORNING SHOULD BEGIN BREAKING UP ROUGHLY ALONG THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY CORRIDOR BEFORE NOONTIME. THEN...SCATTERED SEVERE SUPERCELLS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM DURING THE MIDDAY AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ESPECIALLY IMPACTING EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI. AT THIS POINT...THERE WILL BE AN ENHANCED RISK OF TORNADOES...WHICH COULD BE STRONG...DAMAGING WINDS TO 80 MPH... AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR THESE STORMS WILL BE FROM NOON TO 800 PM. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL END FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS EAST OF THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE PROBABILITY OF 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...WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH EARLY TONIGHT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. 40
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
331 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-MSZ018-034-150940-
ASHLEY AR-CHICOT AR-MOREHOUSE LA-WEST CARROLL LA-EAST CARROLL LA-
BOLIVAR MS-WASHINGTON MS-
331 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
...LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS APPROACHING
THE DELTA REGION...WARNINGS WILL BE LIKELY...
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 60 TO 70 MPH WINDS WAS
LOCATED FROM 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF ROSEDALE TO 25 MILES WEST OF
CROSSETT AT 330 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE
A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND SHOULD BE REACHING FROM
AROUND ROSEDALE TO LAKE VILLAGE INTO THE BASTROP AREAS BETWEEN 4 AND
5 AM WITH CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES AND VERY HEAVY RAINS.
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 WASHINGTON...BOLIVAR...CHICOT AND ASHLEY COUNTIES...AND
NORTHWESTERN EAST CARROLL...WEST CARROLL AND NORTHERN MOREHOUSE
PARISHES SHOULD MONITOR THESE STORMS CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3411 9065 3314 9091 3302 9116 3264 9148
3287 9208 3318 9214 3340 9198 3340 9146
3357 9144 3352 9126 3372 9121 3368 9104
3373 9115 3379 9099 3400 9110 3397 9097
3409 9088 3413 9094
TIME...MOT...LOC 0826Z 285DEG 41KT 3417 9159 3313 9246
40The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 173 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:14 UTC.
52 hail, 28 thunderstorm wind, 21 tornado, 10 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Minor damage was observed on a roof of a shop near the Washington/Bolivar County line.
Straight line winds estimated to be 80 mph caused a power pole to lean along county road 531. Additionally, a home had half of the shingles torn off and the roof lifted. Damage to a shed also occurred at this location with the shed debris thrown across a field.
An estimated 50 to 60 mph winds were observed along US Highway 61 between Hollandale and Arcola.
Straight line winds caused a swath of sporadic trees snapped and large limbs broken. Shingles were taken off of an old church on County Road 37, as well as off of a store on Highway 49. Three mobile homes lost skirting with one having the roof peeled off. Estimated winds were 75 mph with the swath being roughly 500 yards wide.
This tornado started just south of Hopewell Road, where it downed several trees and snapped large limbs in a treeline. As the tornado moved across Hopewell Road, it took a large amount of tin roofing off a mobile home, blew shingles off another home, and downed several trees. The tornado then snapped a few tree tops in a treeline just west of Grace Road as it dissipated. Maximum winds were 80 mph.
Several trees were blown down across the county.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds had blown down five trees in Grenada as well as in other portions of the county. This included some trees north of Gore Springs in the eastern portion of the county, where trees had blocked a road. In Grenada one tree was blown down on Koppers Drive and another on Jackson Avenue with a partially tilted light pole.
A few trees were blown down along Old Benton Road.
Half dollar sized hail was reported just east of West.
Several roads were under water across the southern portion of the county. Roughly four inches of rain fell across this area.
Several roads were under water as 3 to 4 inches of rain fell across the area.
Numerous roads were flooded along with large portions of farmland along Highway 19 south of West at Sharkey Creek.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected areas around Vicksburg. A showroom window in town was blown out at Atwood Car Lot. Several trees were blown down in and south of Vicksburg. One had blown down on an 18 wheeler on Highway 61 and another was downed on a house in Oak Park. Several other trees had blocked Highway 61 around the 7000 block. Several trees were also down along Lakewood Hill Road southeast of Vicksburg. A power pole was blown down near the Home Depot in Vicksburg. Estimated 65 mph winds caused this damage.
A tree was blown down across Champion Hill Road near Bolton.
Water was reported across several streets around Starkville and the Mississippi State campus.
This tornado began along Airport Road to the southwest of Clinton and moved northeast across Interstate 20, US Highway 80, Interstate 220, and Interstate 55 before lifting near the intersection of Old Canton Road and Pear Orchard Road in southeast Ridgeland.
The most intense damage occurred in Clinton and western Jackson. In these areas, numerous homes and businesses were damaged and destroyed both by the tornado wind and from falling trees, cars were flipped and smashed, thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted, and numerous power lines and power poles were downed or snapped. The basis for the EF-3 rating was houses that were destroyed in neighborhoods just southwest of US Highway 80 and just south of Clinton Blvd in Clinton. The tornado maintained EF-2 and EF-1 strength as it moved through western Jackson. However, once it crossed Interstate 55, the tornado weakened to EF-0 and low end EF-1. Maximum winds were around 140 mph.
Five inches of rain was measured. Numerous county roads were closed due to flash flooding.
Several streets were flooded. Water entered at least one home.
Shingles were blown off of a roof and a large tree was down on a car near the Wayne/Clark County line.
The tornado developed over the Ross Barnett Reservoir and traveled northeast, coming ashore in Rankin County to the west southwest of Goshen Springs. Trees and large limbs were downed, some of which fell on trailers in a hunting camp.
There was also several sources of video and photographic evidence for the path of the tornado over the Reservoir. It is likely that the winds were stronger than 90 mph, but since the rating is based on damage, the rating is limited to EF-1. The total path length was just over 7 miles.
The tornado developed over the Ross Barnett Reservoir and traveled northeast, coming ashore in Rankin County to the west southwest of Goshen Springs. Trees and large limbs were downed, some of which fell on trailers in a hunting camp.
There was also several sources of video and photographic evidence for the path of the tornado over the Reservoir. It is likely that the winds were stronger than 90 mph, but since the rating is based on damage, the rating is limited to EF-1. The total path length was just over 7 miles.
Significant flash flooding occurred across the northern half of the county. Many roads were under water with ten roads having sections washed out. Five to seven inches of rain had fallen across this area.
Water flooded a home along Kickapoo Road just west of Highway 49.
This tornado began along Highway 25 just southwest of Sand Hill and ended along the Rankin/Scott County line along Pat Holmes Road. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, the roof of a house was damaged, two outbuildings were heavily damaged, two 18 wheeler trailers were overturned and minor damage occurred to a mobile home. Maximum winds were around 95 mph.
The tornado first touched down in a wooded area west of Highway 483 south of Ludlow downing numerous trees in a convergent pattern. As it crossed Highway 483, it destroyed a barn and downed many more trees, at least two of which fell on homes damaging the roofs. The tornado continued northeast, downing trees and damaging a mobile home along Hillsboro-Ludlow Road. The tornado then crossed into Leake County and lifted as it crossed Highway 13 just northwest of Lena, where a few trees were knocked down. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length was 7 miles.
The tornado first touched down in a wooded area west of Highway 483 south of Ludlow downing numerous trees in a convergent pattern. As it crossed Highway 483, it destroyed a barn and downed many more trees, at least two of which fell on homes damaging the roofs. The tornado continued northeast, downing trees and damaging a mobile home along Hillsboro-Ludlow Road. The tornado then crossed into Leake County and lifted as it crossed Highway 13 just northwest of Lena, where a few trees were knocked down. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length was 7 miles.
A swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail fell across much of central Copiah County. Hail continued into southern Rankin County and northwest Simpson County.
Flash flooding was reported across the county with several roads under water.
Quarter sized hail was reported at Forestdale.
Trees were blown down in the central and northern parts of the county. One tree was down on an 18 wheeler on I-55 at mile marker 68.
The tornado started just west of County Road 450, downing some pine trees. As it crossed County Road 450, it began downing numerous trees, pushed a mobile home over, and damaged the roof of a house. The tornado intensified as it cross MS Highway 491, destroying a large portion of two chicken houses down to the ground, and causing extensive tree damage. The tornado then appeared to weaken slightly as it crossed County Road 729 and then crossed into Kemper County near White Store Road. Numerous trees were snapped, and a home suffered some minor to moderate damage along County Road 729.
The tornado intensified as it approached Little Rock Road and MS Highway 495. The tornado reached an EF-3 intensity at this location, causing extensive structural damage to two frame homes, completely destroying two mobile homes and carrying the remains some distance, snapping several power poles, and causing intense tree damage with some denuded trees. The tornado weakened a bit from here, but continued to cause extensive tree damage and downed power poles and lines as it moved east-northeast. As the tornado crossed Highway 16 for the first time west of De Kalb, it continued to cause EF-2 type damage, destroying several mobile homes, heavily damaging the second story of a frame home, and causing roof damage to other frame homes. Extensive tree and power line damage also occurred in this area.
As the tornado crossed Neely Town Road north of DeKalb it again caused EF-3 type damage, completely destroying a double-wide mobile home and wrapping the frame around trees several hundred yards away and carrying the remnants across a road a considerable distance away, along with intense tree damage including denuded trees, and snapped power poles. It also destroyed another mobile home and caused roof damage to nearby frame homes. It continued east, causing extensive tree damage across MS Highway 39, and then caused EF-3 damage again as it crossed Old DeKalb-Scooba Road. Tree damage was the most impressive of anywhere along the track in this area, with large swaths of area where nearly every tree was snapped and many trees were denuded. Additionally, a frame home suffered heavy damage with the roof mainly gone and some walls heavily damaged, another home had heavy roof damage, and some outbuildings were destroyed. This was also where the tornado reached its maximum width of three-quarters of a mile.
The tornado then weakened somewhat and narrowed as it crossed MS Highway 16 west of Scooba. Numerous trees and a couple of power poles were snapped in this area. The tornado then crossed US Highway 45 south of Scooba where it was relatively narrow but intense with damage on the border of EF-2/EF-3. A large warehouse building was totally destroyed, a pickup truck was moved a considerable distance, intense tree damage occurred with some denuding, and three homes suffered roof damage.
After crossing US Highway 45, the tornado widened again, and caused heavy damage in the area east of Scooba, particularly along MS Highway 16 near Giles Road. The tornado caused heavy roof damage to several homes and intense tree damage, with some denuding of trees occurring again. A number of power poles were snapped in the area as well. The tornado crossed into Alabama along and north of MS Highway 16. Maximum winds were around 140 mph. Path length in Mississippi was 38 miles. Total path length for both MS/AL was 48.5 miles.
Extensive flash flooding was reported in the city of West Point. Numerous roads were flooded. Ten apartments took on water and one home was damaged.
Quarter to golf ball sized hail fell in northwest Simpson County.
The tornado started just west of County Road 450, downing some pine trees. As it crossed County Road 450, it began downing numerous trees, pushed a mobile home over, and damaged the roof of a house. The tornado intensified as it cross MS Highway 491, destroying a large portion of two chicken houses down to the ground, and causing extensive tree damage. The tornado then appeared to weaken slightly as it crossed County Road 729 and then crossed into Kemper County near White Store Road. Numerous trees were snapped, and a home suffered some minor to moderate damage along County Road 729.
The tornado intensified as it approached Little Rock Road and MS Highway 495. The tornado reached an EF-3 intensity at this location, causing extensive structural damage to two frame homes, completely destroying two mobile homes and carrying the remains some distance, snapping several power poles, and causing intense tree damage with some denuded trees. The tornado weakened a bit from here, but continued to cause extensive tree damage and downed power poles and lines as it moved east-northeast. As the tornado crossed Highway 16 for the first time west of De Kalb, it continued to cause EF-2 type damage, destroying several mobile homes, heavily damaging the second story of a frame home, and causing roof damage to other frame homes. Extensive tree and power line damage also occurred in this area.
As the tornado crossed Neely Town Road north of DeKalb it again caused EF-3 type damage, completely destroying a double-wide mobile home and wrapping the frame around trees several hundred yards away and carrying the remnants across a road a considerable distance away, along with intense tree damage including denuded trees, and snapped power poles. It also destroyed another mobile home and caused roof damage to nearby frame homes. It continued east, causing extensive tree damage across MS Highway 39, and then caused EF-3 damage again as it crossed Old DeKalb-Scooba Road. Tree damage was the most impressive of anywhere along the track in this area, with large swaths of area where nearly every tree was snapped and many trees were denuded. Additionally, a frame home suffered heavy damage with the roof mainly gone and some walls heavily damaged, another home had heavy roof damage, and some outbuildings were destroyed. This was also where the tornado reached its maximum width of three-quarters of a mile.
The tornado then weakened somewhat and narrowed as it crossed MS Highway 16 west of Scooba. Numerous trees and a couple of power poles were snapped in this area. The tornado then crossed US Highway 45 south of Scooba where it was relatively narrow but intense with damage on the border of EF-2/EF-3. A large warehouse building was totally destroyed, a pickup truck was moved a considerable distance, intense tree damage occurred with some denuding, and three homes suffered roof damage.
After crossing US Highway 45, the tornado widened again, and caused heavy damage in the area east of Scooba, particularly along MS Highway 16 near Giles Road. The tornado caused heavy roof damage to several homes and intense tree damage, with some denuding of trees occurring again. A number of power poles were snapped in the area as well. The tornado crossed into Alabama along and north of MS Highway 16. Additionally, this tornado caused extensive timber damage across Kemper County. Roughly 3200 acres of pines and hardwood trees were damaged. Maximum winds were around 140 mph. Path length in Mississippi was 38 miles. Total path length for both MS/AL was 48.5 miles.
Nickel to quarter sized hail fell across southern Rankin County.
A swath of golf ball sized hail fell across central portions of Copiah County.
A swath of baseball to softball sized hail fell across northeast Kemper County. This very large hail damaged some vehicles at a catfish farm along Binnsville Road.
This tornado downed a number of trees and large limbs in a convergent pattern along James Road and Tillmantown Lane. Maximum winds were around 80 mph.
Straight line winds estimated at 80 mph, associated with the parent tornadic thunderstorm, uprooted and snapped a number of trees on Monticello Road, including downing trees which landed on two vehicles.
This tornado touched down just south of Highway 18 near the Rankin/Smith county line. Several trees were snapped on the south side of the highway. On the north side, a large barn had part of the roof blown off. Sporadic damage continued along Highway 18 for a mile before more substantial tree damage occurred just to the west of the White Oak Community. Here several large hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped along Highway 18. The tornado then dissipated just to the east of the Highway 18 and 541 intersection. Maximum winds were around 90 mph. Total path length in Rankin/Smith Counties was 3.7 miles.
This tornado touched down just south of Highway 18 near the Rankin/Smith county line. Several trees were snapped on the south side of the highway. On the north side, a large barn had part of the roof blown off. Sporadic damage continued along Highway 18 for a mile before more substantial tree damage occurred just to the west of the White Oak Community. Here several large hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped along Highway 18. The tornado then dissipated just to the east of the Highway 18 and 541 intersection. Maximum winds were around 90 mph. Total path length in Rankin/Smith Counties was 3.7 miles.
This tornado began by downing some trees and snapping large limbs along Yates and Springhill Roads. It began to intensify as it crossed State Highway 17, snapping numerous pines along the highway. As it reached the intersection of Castalian Springs and Owens Cutoff Roads it reached its most intense state, snapping and uprooting numerous hardwood and softwood trees into the road. The tornado continued northeast along Castalian Springs Road, downing numerous trees, before gradually weakening and dissipating before reaching Teal Road. Maximum winds were around 105 mph.
Trees were blown down on power lines around Georgetown.
A long lived supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of golf ball to tennis ball sized hail across all of central Simpson County.
Spotter reported 50 to 70 mph wind gust as well as some small hail.
A swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail fell across southern Scott County.
A large tree was uprooted and down across Highway 12. Several large limbs were also down in the same area.
A swath of straight-line wind damage estimated at 85 mph affected the south and east sides of the city of Mendenhall. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along a path that started near Hwy 43 southwest of town, and continued through the south side of Mendenhall to along Hayes Gray and Poplar Springs Road on the east side of town. A number of the trees fell on powerlines and homes. The path of the damage was 2 to 2.5 miles in width, and showed a clear divergent pattern indicative of straight line winds. Hail up to the size of tennis balls also fell in the same general area.
This strong tornado touched down along County Road 4101 in the Possumneck community and immediately produced significant damage. Along County Road 3011, a mobile home was completely obliterated with the remains of the structure scattered for 150 yards. Two men were seriously injured at this location with each thrown 75 yards. The tornado continued to the northeast and crossed MS Highway 19 before lifting a bit further to the northeast. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. Maximum winds were around 120 mph. As a side note, this tornado occurred within the damage path of the long track tornado from April 24, 2010.
Trees were blown down on Highway 39.
This tornado touched down along Sun Road just south of the Scott/Smith county line, where it downed some limbs and snapped a tree. The tornado then tracked into extreme southeastern Scott County, where it uprooted and snapped numerous trees across Cox Camp Road. This was the most intense damage. The tornado continued into southwestern Newton County, downing some trees along Logan and Gordy Roads, before dissipating as it reached State Highway 505. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length across all three counties was 6.8 miles.
This tornado touched down along Sun Road just south of the Scott/Smith county line, where it downed some limbs and snapped a tree. The tornado then tracked into extreme southeastern Scott County, where it uprooted and snapped numerous trees across Cox Camp Road. This was the most intense damage. The tornado continued into southwestern Newton County, downing some trees along Logan and Gordy Roads, before dissipating as it reached State Highway 505. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length across all three counties was 6.8 miles.
This tornado touched down along Sun Road just south of the Scott/Smith county line, where it downed some limbs and snapped a tree. The tornado then tracked into extreme southeastern Scott County, where it uprooted and snapped numerous trees across Cox Camp Road. This was the most intense damage. The tornado continued into southwestern Newton County, downing some trees along Logan and Gordy Roads, before dissipating as it reached State Highway 505. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length across all three counties was 6.8 miles.
A swath of golf ball to just larger than hen egg sized hail fell across portions of east central Kemper County.
This tornado touched down along County Road 3232 and uprooted a few trees. As the tornado moved northeast, it crossed MS Highway 43 and uprooted 8 pine trees. Maximum winds were around 75 mph.
A swath of golf ball to hen egg sized hail fell across northern Attala County.
Several trees were reported down.
A swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail fell across central Newton County.
A long lived supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of golf ball to baseball sized hail across central Lauderdale County.
A long lived supercell thunderstorm produced a swath of golf ball sized hail across Jasper County.
This tornado moved along Jasper County Highway 1519 downing trees along its path. A second tornado moved just north of this location around two hours later causing overlapping damage. One home had a tree downed with this tornado and another with the second storm. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
Trees and power lines were blown down. One tree was on a house and another on a car.
An estimated 64 mph wind gust was observed at Marion.
A swath of golf ball sized hail fell across portions of central Copiah County.
A swath of golf ball to baseball sized hail occurred across Clarke County. Some vehicles had windows broken from the large hail.
A few trees were blown down along county road 121 in the Elwood community.
The tornado first touched down just south of Highway 18 and tracked east northeast to County Road 421, then into Alabama. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted. A roof to a house was damaged, two outbuildings were heavily damaged and a deer stand was destroyed. Maximum winds were around 110 mph. Total path length across MS/AL was 15.6 miles.
Several trees were blown down around Mendenhall. Three homes were damaged by fallen trees. Power lines were blown down across Highway 49.
This tornado moved just northwest of another tornado track almost two hours later, moving from Jasper County Highway 1519 to Jasper County Highway 1537. A roof was blown off a barn and numerous trees were blown down in a convergent pattern. One of the trees fell on a house and a well house. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
A swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail fell across central Jasper County.
A couple of trees were blown down along with many large limbs.
A roof was blown off a barn along Suqualena-Meehan Road. Debris from the barn damaged a nearby home.
A swath of golf ball to softball sized hail fell across west central Clarke County.
A few trees were blown down on County Road 292.
A swath of golf ball to baseball sized hail fell across central Clarke County.
An estimated 60 mph gust was observed along with some pea sized hail near Moselle.
Trees were blown down with one on a mobile home.
A few trees were blown down along with numerous large limbs. Pea sized hail also occurred.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2011Warnings in Mississippi, April 2011
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: 292978, 304692, 292987, 305554, 302454, 304637, 293097, 293103, 302980, 293121, 305728, 305731, 293142, 293126, 293127, 302982, 293129, 303218, 303219, 293130, 302467, 293133, 303216, 303217, 293135, 293141, 303220, 302471, 302473, 293143, 294186, 302485, 302492, 302494, 294189, 303221, 303224, 294190, 303225, 294191, and more.