A powerful storm system took shape across the central United States and clashed with a warm and unstable airmass. An extensive and intense squall line resulted which quickly pushed eastward across the eastern half of the country.
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 powerful storm system took shape across the central United States and clashed with a warm and unstable airmass. An extensive and intense squall line resulted which quickly pushed eastward across the eastern half of the country. Overall, this system produced a large severe weather outbreak and brought widespread wind damage to multiple states across the south, mid south, and southeast United States. Nearly 1500 reports of severe weather were reported, across 15 states, with the vast majority being damaging winds. Wind damage was not the only severe weather event type, large hail and tornadoes were also part of the mix. In terms of total events (severe weather reports), this outbreak is one of the largest in the United States.
Across the National Weather Service Jackson forecast area, numerous reports of down trees and power lines were reported along with multiple reports of damaged structures. These structures were damaged by either fallen trees or intense winds. Survey teams found 5 tornadoes across the area, two of which were rated EF2. The first strong tornado moved into northwest Catahoula Parish from LaSalle Parish. The other strong tornado occurred across Tensas Parish and tracked to the MS River, crossed the river and dissipated in far northwest Claiborne County. The other three tornadoes were rated EF1. One of these occurred just north of Utica, in Hinds County, another tracked across northern Simpson County near Braxton, and the other across southeast Lincoln and southern Lawrence Counties.
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 4, 9:20 AM CST, 2 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1020 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011
...SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED LATER THIS MORNING INTO THIS
AFTERNOON...
.UPDATE...THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK FOR SEVERE STORMS LATER
THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON. THE MORNING SOUNDING INDICATES A
PRETTY STRONG CAP AROUND H750...BUT AFTER LOOKING AT SATELLITE
IMAGERY A GRAVITY WAVE IS CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS THE AREA AND THIS
MAY AID IN THE EROSION OF THE CAP. THERE IS ALSO SOME BREAKS IN THE
CLOUDS AND THIS MAY AID WITH SOME INCREASE IN SURFACE INSTABILITY.
THERE WILL BE AN 18Z RELEASE TO RESOLVE HOW MUCH OF THE CAP IS LEFT.
CONTINUES TO LOOK LIKE MOST OF THE CONVECTION WILL OCCUR ALONG THE
SQUALL LINE...BUT CANT RULE OUT A STORM OR TWO FORMING JUST AHEAD OF
THE LINE AS IT ROLLS ACROSS THE AREA. THE MAIN RISK CONTINUES TO
LOOK LIKE WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...BUT TORNADOES
WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE. MADE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TEMP/DEW
POINT GRIDS...BUT OTHER THAN THAT THE FORECAST LOOKS ON TRACK AND
THE UPDATES ARE ALREADY OUT./15/
SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...MOISTURE HAS BEEN SURGING
INTO THE REGION THIS MORNING THANKS TO A 40-50KT LOW LEVEL JET AND
VERY GUSTY SURFACE WINDS OF 10-20KTS AND GUSTS UP TO 30KTS AT TIMES.
DEWPOINTS HAVE RISEN ACROSS THE AREA AND RANGE FROM 69 DEGREES AT
MCCOMB TO 64-66 DEGREES ALONG THE HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR. SFC
TEMPERATURES ALSO REMAIN VERY WARM THIS MORNING WITH A READINGS
EITHER NEARLY STEADY OR ACTUALLY WARMING SLIGHTLY THROUGH THE NIGHT.
READINGS AS OF 8-9Z ARE MAINLY IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S AREAWIDE. ALL
IN ALL...CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA ARE BECOMING PRIMED FOR A
SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT THIS AFTERNOON.
MODELS CONTINUE TO AGREE ON THE GENERAL EVOLUTION OF A STRONG
SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND STRONG COLD FRONT...CURRENTLY SEEN ON WATER
VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO/WESTERN
NEBRASKA...AND ITS APPROACH TOWARD THE ARKLAMISS LATER THIS
AFTERNOON. MODELS HAVE HAD A TOUGH TIME WITH BOTH TIMING AND PHASE
OF THIS SYSTEM BUT WITH IT KNOCKING ON OUR DOORSTEP...THIS ISSUE HAS
COME INTO BETTER CONSENSUS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DELTA AREA WILL
REMAIN CAPPED THROUGH ABOUT 15Z...THE JACKSON AREA THROUGH MAYBE 18Z
AND THE PINE BELT REGION THROUGH ABOUT 18Z-21Z. THIS SHOULD LIMIT
CONVECTION UNTIL THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH AND STRONG COLD FRONT TRACK
CLOSER TO THE REGION. AS THIS OCCURS...THE CAPPING INVERSION SHOULD
BE FAIRLY EASY TO OVERCOME AND THERE STILL REMAINS THE POSSIBILITY
FOR SOME ISOLATED STORMS TO BREAK OUT AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT AS
DEEP LAYER FLOW WILL BE MORE ORTHOGONAL TO FRONTAL FORCING.
HOWEVER...MOST RECENT MODEL RUNS OF HI-RES WRF SIMULATED
REFLECTIVITY INDICATE THAT THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE AS MOST ALL
DEPICT THE AREA REMAINING CAPPED AND STORM-FREE PRIOR TO THE SQUALL
LINE.
IN ANY CASE...ALL INGREDIENTS WILL BE PRESENT FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE
WEATHER. DEWPOINTS...AS ALREADY NOTED...WILL BE WELL INTO THE UPPER
60S AND POTENTIALLY LOWER 70S BY LATE MORNING. MLCAPES OF
1700-2500J/KG...STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AROUND
7.5C/KM...40-50KTS OF 0-6KM SHEAR...25-30KTS OF 0-1KM SHEAR...AND
0-1KM HELICITIES OF 200-300M2/S2 SUPPORT ALL MODES OF SEVERE
WEATHER. WHAT I CAN ENVISION IS THAT AS THE SQUALL LINE IS
DEVELOPING...THERE COULD BE BROKEN LINES WHERE THE TORNADO THREAT
MIGHT BE ENHANCED EARLIER AND LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS
WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE DELTA REGION(AND IN ANY PRE-SQUALL LINE
STORMS THAT MAY BE PRESENT). HOWEVER AS THE SQUALL LINE BECOMES MORE
SOLIDIFIED AND CONGEALED...AND THE DEEP LAYER FLOW BECOMES MORE
PARALLEL WITH THE FRONT...THE THREAT FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS
WILL POSE A GREATER RISK...THOUGH THERE WILL REMAIN THE RISK FOR
TORNADOES IN ANY BREAKS IN THE LINE AND LARGE HAIL THREAT WILL
CONTINUE THANKS TO SUCH STEEP LAPSE RATES AND VIGOROUS UPDRAFTS.
WITH ALL OF THIS...SPC HAS UPGRADED NORTHERN PORTIONS OF MY CWA TO A
MODERATE RISK. IT IS THIS AREA THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE FORCING AND
BETTER HEIGHT FALLS AS WELL.
ONCE THIS SQUALL LINE SOLIDIFIES...IT SHOULD FLY THROUGH THE CWA.
LOOKS LIKE THE BEST TIMING WOULD BE AROUND NOON TIL 2PM OR 3PM
ACROSS THE DELTA...3PM TO 6PM ACROSS THE I-55 CORRIDOR AND THEN 5PM
TO 8PM ACROSS THE FAR EASTERN ZONES. I COULD EASILY SEE ALL
CONVECTION THROUGH MY CWA BY 00Z(7PM) BUT SOME HI-RES WRF MODELS DO
INDICATE SOME LAG UNTIL JUST AFTER 7PM.
WITH REGARDS TO HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL...GIVEN THE AMPLE MOISTURE
ACROSS THE CWA AND MODELS INDICATE POOLING AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY(WITH PW VALUES OF 1.5-1.8 INCHES)...IT WILL NOT BE OUT OF
THE QUESTION TO SEE 1-2 INCHES OF RAIN..ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY
DOWNPOURS. HOWEVER...GIVEN THAT THIS LINE IS EXPECTED TO RACE
THROUGH THE CWA AND SOME HI-RES MODELS INDICATE IT MIGHT BE A
THINNER LINE OF STORMS RATHER THAN THICKER...FLASH FLOODING IS NOT
OF GREAT CONCERN WITH THIS SYSTEM AS WAS THE CASE WITH SOME PREVIOUS
ONES. THAT BEING SAID...THERE COULD DEFINITELY BE SOME PONDING OF
WATER.
ALL PRECIP LOOKS TO EXIT THE CWA BY 00Z-03Z TUESDAY WITH FRONTAL
PASSAGE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION IN ITS WAKE AND
SKIES WILL CLEAR. DRY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR TUESDAY AND
TUESDAY NIGHT. COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL FILTER IN WITH HIGHS ON
TUESDAY FORECAST TO ONLY REACH INTO THE MID 60S. FOLLOWING
FROPA...LOWS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY NIGHT WILL BE CHILLY WITH
READINGS IN THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S.
ONE FINAL ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR TODAY...GIVEN A TIGHTENED PRESSURE
GRADIENT OVER THE AREA AHEAD OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM...WINDS WILL
BE RATHER GUSTY TODAY. WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
AROUND 20-30MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 40-45MPH OUTSIDE OF STORMS.
GIVEN THIS...A WIND ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE
CWA THROUGH 4PM. WINDS WILL REMAIN GUSTY BEYOND THIS TIME BUT GIVEN
ONGOING STORMS...WILL LET DAY SHIFT DECIDE ABOUT EXTENDING INTO THE
EARLY EVENING OR JUST LET IT EXPIRE BEING THAT WINDS WILL BE STRONG
WITH STORMS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. LIGHTER WINDS WILL PREVAIL
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT MONDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE
AREA.
WITH RESPECT TO GUIDANCE POPS AND TEMPS...RAISED HIGHS IN THE DELTA
FOR TODAY SINCE MAV GUI WAS ALREADY TOO LOW COMPARED TO CURRENT WARM
OVERNIGHT TEMPS. THESE LOCATIONS COULD SEE UPPER 70S BEFORE THE RAIN
AND STORMS BEGIN. OTHER LOCATIONS LOOKED REASONABLE AND HIGHS WILL
PUSH INTO THE 80S...AND EVEN INTO THE UPPER 80S ACROSS THE PINE BELT
WHERE STORMS WILL BE KEPT AT BAY UNTIL MUCH LATER INTO THE
AFTERNOON. RAISED POPS FOR TODAY MOST AREAS EXCEPT THE EAST WHERE
STORMS MAY BE LATER. LOWERED POPS IN THE DELTA TONIGHT FOLLOWING
FROPA. /28/
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...MED RANGE/LONG TERM LOOKS
TO BE RATHER QUIET WITH THE FOCUS BEING WARM TEMPS AND ABV AVG
CONDITIONS FOR EARLY APRIL.
FOR WED...THE COOL SFC HIGH WILL STILL BE IN PLACE AND SHIFTING EAST
OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY. THIS WILL START THE RETURN FLOW AND THE
WARM UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WED WILL PEAK BETWEEN
75-80 DEGREES.
UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL BUILD OVER THE GULF FOR LATE WEEK AND
FURTHER INCREASE OVER THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. THIS RESULTING RIDGE
AND ASSOCIATED CAPPING...WILL KEEP PRECIP ACTIVITY AT BAY THROUGH AT
LEAST SUNDAY. AS THE UPPER RIDGE AXIS BUILDS OVER THE REGION...THE
CENTER OF THE SFC HIGH WILL BE OFF THE SE US COAST. THIS WILL PUT
OUR AREA ON THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE HIGH AND ENTRENCHED IN DEEP
SOUTHERLY FLOW. THE RESULT WILL BE VERY WARM LOW LEVEL TEMPS AND 60S
DEWPTS. HOT/HUMID WILL BE THE NAME OF THE GAME AND THE SAVING GRACE
LOOKS TO BE A STEADY PRESSURE GRADIENT WHICH WILL KEEP THE WINDS
BLOWING FOR RELIEF. STARTING WITH THU AND HIGHS AROUND 80S...TEMPS
WILL BUILD EACH DAY INTO THE WEEKEND. LOOK FOR MID 80S FRI AND UPPER
80S SAT. FOR NOW...FORECAST HIGHS FOR SUN ARE IN THE MID 80S...BUT
COULD EASILY BE WARMER. ACTUALLY DURING THE ENTIRE WEEKEND THE AREA
COULD SEE TEMPS PUSH 90 DEGREES. ALL THIS WOULD BE NEAR RECORD HIGH
TEMPS AS 87-90 DEGREES IS THE RANGE OF RECORDS FOR SAT-SUN.
FOR NOW...HAVE LEFT THE GUID POPS OF 20-30% GOING FOR SUN-MON DUE TO
UNCERTAINTY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME SYSTEM BREAKING DOWN THE
RIDGE. /CME/
&&
.AVIATION...CEILINGS ABOVE 3KFT WERE BEING OBSERVED ACROSS THE
NORTHERN TAF SITES WHILE CEILINGS BELOW 3KFT CONTINUED OVER THE
SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF THE AREA. EXPECT CEILINGS TO RISE JUST ABOVE
3KFT THROUGH 17Z BEFORE A SEVERE SQUALL LINE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA
AHEAD OF A COLD FROPA. THE SQUALL LINE WILL LIKELY AFFECT GLH BY
AROUND 18-19Z...GWO BY 19-20Z...GTR BY AROUND 21-22Z..JAN AROUND
21-22Z...MEI AND HBG BY 22-00Z. WINDS WILL BE STRONG TODAY OUT OF
THE SW. SPEEDS OF 20KTS WITH GUSTS TO 35KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE EVEN
AWAY FROM STORMS. FOLLOWING FROPA...WINDS WILL TURN OUT OF THE NORTH
AND EVENTUALLY DIMINISH OVERNIGHT WITH CLEARING SKIES. /22/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON 81 40 63 41 / 88 21 0 0
MERIDIAN 86 40 64 35 / 70 64 0 0
VICKSBURG 78 41 65 40 / 91 13 0 0
HATTIESBURG 88 45 67 38 / 41 64 0 0
NATCHEZ 78 40 64 42 / 89 13 0 0
GREENVILLE 77 41 65 43 / 99 9 0 0
GREENWOOD 78 38 64 41 / 97 13 0 0
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR MSZ026>033-
036>039-042>066-072>074.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR MSZ018-019-025-
034-035-040-041.
LA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LAZ024>026.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR LAZ007>009-015-
016-023.
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR ARZ074-075.
&&
28/CMEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 555 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025-034-035-040- 041-060-051100- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-BOLIVAR- SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-ADAMS- 555 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND WESTERN MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS. THERE WILL BE A RISK FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH... TORNADOES...AND LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR THESE STORMS TO OCCUR WILL BE FROM NOON TO 3PM. VERY STRONG WIND SHEAR AND A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL BE IN PLACE OVER THE ARKLAMISS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...A BROKEN LINE OF STORMS WILL DEVELOP AND FORM INTO A SQUALL LINE. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN AND JUST AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA...POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A MORE ENHANCED RISK FOR TORNADOES DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH OVER NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE ARKLAMISS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON. IN ADDITION...INTENSE RAINFALL RATES COULD BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A QUICK ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL. THIS MAY RESULT IN SOME PONDING OF WATER. OUTSIDE OF STORMS...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE ARE CAPABLE OF BRINGING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 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...WILL BE NEEDED LATE THIS MORNING AND THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. MSZ026>033-036>039-042>045-047>050-053>056-059-061>063-051100- GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA- HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE-YAZOO-MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA- WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON-SMITH- JEFFERSON-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE- 555 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS. THERE WILL BE A RISK FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH... TORNADOES...AND LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR THESE STORMS TO OCCUR WILL BE FROM 3PM TO 6PM. VERY STRONG WIND SHEAR AND A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL BE IN PLACE OVER THE ARKLAMISS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...A BROKEN LINE OF STORMS WILL DEVELOP AND FORM INTO A SQUALL LINE. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN AND JUST AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA...POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A MORE ENHANCED RISK FOR TORNADOES DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH DURING THE EVENING HOURS. IN ADDITION...INTENSE RAINFALL RATES COULD BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A QUICK ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL. THIS MAY RESULT IN SOME PONDING OF WATER. OUTSIDE OF STORMS...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE ARE CAPABLE OF BRINGING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 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...WILL BE NEEDED LATE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. MSZ046-051-052-057-058-064>066-072>074-051100- KEMPER-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON- JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 555 AM CDT MON APR 4 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS. THERE WILL BE A RISK FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 70 MPH... TORNADOES...AND LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR THESE STORMS TO OCCUR WILL BE FROM 5PM TO 8PM. VERY STRONG WIND SHEAR AND A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS WILL BE IN PLACE OVER THE ARKLAMISS AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA...A BROKEN LINE OF STORMS WILL DEVELOP AND FORM INTO A SQUALL LINE. SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHIN AND JUST AHEAD OF THE SQUALL LINE AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA...POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A MORE ENHANCED RISK FOR TORNADOES DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. THE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD DIMINISH THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS. IN ADDITION...INTENSE RAINFALL RATES COULD BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A QUICK ONE TO TWO INCHES OF RAINFALL. THIS MAY RESULT IN SOME PONDING OF WATER. OUTSIDE OF STORMS...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 45 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE ARE CAPABLE OF BRINGING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 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...WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. 28
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1218 PM CDT MON APR 04 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM TSTM WND DMG WINTERVILLE 33.50N 91.06W
04/04/2011 WASHINGTON MS EMERGENCY MNGR
DAMAGE REPORTED IN THE WINTERVILLE COMMUNITY. ADDITIONAL
DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
&&The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:19 UTC.
51 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail, 5 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter sized hail was reported along US Highway 82 on the east side of Greenville.
A steeple was blown off a church on Bishop Road.
A swath of thunderstorm damaging winds occurred around Indianola. Several trees were blown down across roads with one tree down on a car. Shingles were blown off a home and several large limbs were blown down around town.
Trees and power lines were blown down on Carrollton Road.
Quarter sized hail was reported southeast of Eagle Bend.
Several trees were blown down along Beasley-Bayou Road west of Isola.
A tree was uprooted with power lines blown down at Wisteria Street and Laurel Street. A school bus was also trapped by power lines.
A few trees were blown down.
A swath of damaging thunderstorms winds affected the Vicksburg area. Trees were blown down on power lines at Tucker Road and Oak Ridge Road. Many other trees were also blown down across the county. Three power poles were snapped just east of Vicksburg and a tree fell on a house just north of Vicksburg. Multiple trees were snapped or uprooted along I-20 near mile marker 7.
This tornado first touched down along Highway 573 just south of Cooter Point. It tracked northeast across Highway 892 and 126 and then crossed Highway 65 a few miles northwest of St. Joseph. The tornado then crossed Lake Bruin and traveled north of that lake before crossing the southern end of Lake St. Joseph. The tornado ended as it touched the eastern bank of the river in Claiborne County. Numerous homes...farms and outbuildings were significantly damaged by the tornado. Much of the damage to the homes was to the roofs with many being blown off. A water treatment plant received major damage and an antebellum home also received significant damage. A grain silo received a huge dent from the tornado and an 18 wheeler was flipped over. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted along the path and numerous power poles were snapped. One injury was noted northwest of St. Joseph. Maximum winds were around 125 mph.
Roof damage occurred to structures on Fletchers Chapel and Myrleville Roads.
A swath of thunderstorm damaging winds affected areas from Grand Gulf to Port Gibson. Multiple trees were blown down with some that had blocked roads near Grand Gulf. More trees were blown down around Port Gibson with three of them across roads. Additionally, a few trees were reported down on Highway 18.
A swath of thunderstorm damaging winds was observed from north of Natchez to just west of Cranfield. Trees were down in the Roseland Forest area with minor damage to one residence. A small tree was observed on a house along Mullins Road.
Power lines were blown down on Dunbarton Road and a tree was down on North Palestine Road.
An estimated 70 mph winds was reported south of Vicksburg.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected portions of western Hinds county including the towns of Edwards, Utica, and Bolton as well as some damage around Clinton. Numerous trees were blown down in the western portion of the county. Power lines were blown down at Northside Elementary school east northeast of Clinton. A large tree was blown down along Lakeview Road just east of Clinton.
Numerous trees were blown down across the northern and central portions of the county.
Several trees were blown down along Stampley Road towards Highway 61.
The tornado started near Highway 27 north of Utica, where it downed trees along the road. Along Ernie Martin Road, the tornado uprooted or snapped a number of pine trees. The tornado then moved nearly parallel to Tom Collins Road, uprooting a number of large hardwood trees and snapping many pine trees with damage in a convergent pattern. The tornado also destroyed two outbuildings. The tornado dissipated near Berry Road. Maximum winds were around 95 mph.
Several trees were blown down across Harriston Road just southwest of Redlick.
Numerous trees were blown down on roads across the county, especially around Meadville. One tree was down on a car.
Several trees were blown down at the intersection of Highway 18 and 27.
Several trees were uprooted and snapped.
Several trees were blown down across Madison and Ridgeland in southern Madison County.
Six trees were blown down in the southeast portion of the county.
Couple of trees were blown down across Highway 35 north of Carthage.
Damaging thunderstorm winds affected areas of Downtown Jackson as well as portions of North Jackson. A tree was blown down along Robinhood Road between State Street and Manhattan Road. Power lines were blown down near Interstate 55 and Fortification Street. A downed tree was reported on a home near the intersection of Hartfield Street and Oxford Avenue in the Fondren District.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected areas from Crystal Springs to around Hopewell. Numerous trees were blown down with one on a house at Crystal Springs. Several trees were also blown down around Hopewell with a few across area roads. One person was killed when he crashed into a tree which was across the road.
Some trees were blown down around Louisville and just northwest of town on Highway 15.
Scattered trees were blown down from around Pearl to near Florence.
Walnut sized hail was reported southwest of the Arlington community.
NWS Storm Survey team determined that straight line winds caused a roof to be blown off of a house. Several trees were blown down near Old Pearl in far northwestern Simpson county.
Several trees were blown down around Wesson.
Significant flash flooding was reported. Many roads and streets around Columbus were flooded or closed. A shopping center had water in all of its stores. Evacuations had occurred across the center. Several roads in the county were closed due to flash flooding.
A tree was blown down in the Sunchase subdivision.
This tornado developed west of Braxton, near Barney Smith Road, and moved east northeast through northern Simpson County, through the town of Braxton, and then lifted near St. John Road, east of Braxton. Many trees were snapped and uprooted along the path with some down on houses in a convergent pattern along its path. Some trees fell on vehicles and many power lines were blown down across roads. The tornado was a half to three quarters of a mile wide for most of its path. Maximum winds were around 100 mph.
Numerous trees were blown down in the Moaks Creek area.
The tornado started by downing trees along Cole Drive west of the Ruth community. The tornado quickly intensified and produced its first area of damage with winds estimated near 100 mph in Ruth. The awning of a gas station was destroyed, the volunteer fire department building had the back wall blown out, a church had the steeple blown off along with extensive shingle damage, and a number of homes suffered roof damage due to trees falling on them or due to direct minor roof damage. The tornado continued to move east across southeast Lincoln county and into southwest Lawrence county to the northwest and north of Jayess, causing tree damage. A few trees here fell on homes, and one fell on an RV vehicle, completely destroying it. After appearing to weaken northeast of Jayess, the tornado restrengthened after moving east of Mississippi Highway 27. The tornado again caused damaging indicative of winds of 100 mph along Tom Sistrunk Road. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted, and several homes had minor to moderate roof damage. The tornado then weakened as it moved east, dissipating just before reaching the border between Lawrence and Marion counties. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length across Lincoln and Lawrence Counties was 17 miles.
While the damage pattern associated with this tornado had clear tornadic indications with a convergent damage pattern, there was also damage indicative of straight line winds to the west and north of the tornado, primarily from west to north of Ruth. A number of trees were downed in this area, some on power lines.
Several trees were blown down around Nanih Waiya.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds had blown down numerous trees in the Cato and Puckett areas.
The tornado started by downing trees along Cole Drive west of the Ruth community. The tornado quickly intensified and produced its first area of damage with winds estimated near 100 mph in Ruth. The awning of a gas station was destroyed, the volunteer fire department building had the back wall blown out, a church had the steeple blown off along with extensive shingle damage, and a number of homes suffered roof damage due to trees falling on them or due to direct minor roof damage. The tornado continued to move east across southeast Lincoln county and into southwest Lawrence county to the northwest and north of Jayess, causing tree damage. A few trees here fell on homes, and one fell on an RV vehicle, completely destroying it. After appearing to weaken northeast of Jayess, the tornado restrengthened after moving east of Mississippi Highway 27. The tornado again caused damaging indicative of winds of 100 mph along Tom Sistrunk Road. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted, and several homes had minor to moderate roof damage. The tornado then weakened as it moved east, dissipating just before reaching the border between Lawrence and Marion counties. Maximum winds were around 100 mph. Total path length across Lincoln and Lawrence Counties was 17 miles.
While the damage pattern associated with this tornado had clear tornadic indications with a convergent damage pattern, there was also damage indicative of straight line winds to the west and north of the tornado, primarily from west to north of Ruth. A number of trees were downed in this area, some on power lines.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds had blown trees down across the county.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected the southern portion of the county. Some trees and limbs were down around Society Hill. A tree had blown down on a mobile home on River Road south of Prentiss. Otherwise numerous trees had blown down in the southern portion of the county.
Five trees were blown down around Forest on Highways 35 and 21.
Some trees were blown down across Highway 489 south of Union.
Two trees were blown down in Mize.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected portions of central Newton County from Newton to one mile west of Experiment Station Road east northeast of Newton. Some trees were blown down on Highway 15 around Newton. Trees were also blown down on a car and a house in Newton. Some additional trees were down across several streets and roads east northeast of town.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds was reported from Oloh to Sumrall. The roof was blown off of a shed along Oloh Road in the Oloh community. Multiple large trees were also blown down around Sumrall.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected the southern portion of county from Seminary to near Pickering. Numerous trees were down across the southern portion of the county. A large tree was blown down across Highway 49, which had blocked both southbound lanes along with several other trees down across Highway 49 just a mile or so south of that location.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected areas from Enterprise to Stonewall to Quitman. Power outages were reported all across the county from wind damage. Trees were blown down in some areas.
A large tree limb had blown down through the roof of a home along Ray Boone Road.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds was observed over the northern and central portions of the county. Trees were blown down near Monroe Road and Interstate 59. Two cars were blown off the road north of Petal.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds affected the central and southern portions of Lamar County. One home was severely damaged on Sailfish Circle with part of the roof torn off. Five other homes in the area sustain minor damage. Four businesses sustained minor damage in the area. A power pole was blown down and the eaves of an office building were damaged along U.S. Highway 98.
Large tree limbs were reported down across County Road 16.
One house was destroyed and roof blown off another southwest of Ellisville.
Several trees were blown down with one tree down on a house southwest of Columbia.
A swath of damaging thunderstorm winds was reported from just west to southeast of Ellisville. Significant damage was reported to several structures in the Highway 590 area just west of Ellisville. A roof was blown off of a structure southeast of Ellisville.
Some trees were blown down in Sandy Hook. Power outages were reported for a short time.
A tree fell on a mobile home and caused some severe damage to the home.
Trees and power lines were blown down in southeast Lauderdale County.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Copiah | 2011-04-04 | 21 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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: 282546, 282547, 282552, 282554, 282564, 295632, 282572, 282583, 295672, 282987, 282972, 282593, 282974, 282982, 282983, 282984, 284562, 283010, 283022, 282988, 282985, 283006, 282986, 283012, 295918, 295919, 295920, 295923, 295921, 283013, 295922, 283014, 283016, 283021, 283024, 283224, 283227, 283229, 283023, 283254, and more.