Tropical Depression 13 formed on the evening of September 1, 2011 about 225 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The depression moved very slowly, around 2 mph, across northern portions of the Gulf of Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 18 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.
Tropical Depression 13 formed on the evening of September 1, 2011 about 225 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. The depression moved very slowly, around 2 mph, across northern portions of the Gulf of Mexico. Through mid day on the 2nd, Tropical Depression 13 remained mostly stationary over the northern Gulf of Mexico, drenching Louisiana with several inches of rain. Around 1 pm on the 2nd, the depression was found to have strengthened to Tropical Storm strength by both Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft and local observations on oil rigs, becoming the 12th named storm of 2011. Tropical Storm Lee as it was named, had moved little and was located about 210 miles to the southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Maximum sustained winds of 40 mph were found with the newly named tropical storm and a minimum central pressure of 1003 mb.
Lee continued to move very slowly on the 2nd and 3rd, while heavy rain and strong winds continued to lash southern Louisiana. By mid day on the 3rd, Lee stalled south of the Louisiana coast with sustained winds around 60 mph. Lee continued to meander just along or south of the Louisiana coast through the remainder of the day on the 3rd. During the early morning hours of the 4th, Tropical Storm Lee finally made landfall near Vermillion Bay, LA, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 45 mph. However, Lee was still moving very slowly to the north northeast, dumping large quantities of rain and spawning tornadoes across portions of southern Louisiana, southeastern Mississippi and other portions of the Gulf Coast.
As the center of Lee continued to trek northward, heavy rain bands spiraled across much of central Mississippi producing significant flooding issues. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches were common across the NWS Jackson County Warning Area, with a few locations reporting amounts of 10 to 13 inches. Significant flash flooding was reported in the Jackson metro area, along with a few locations in southern Mississippi. Reports from emergency manager officials indicated that at least 50 homes, 60 apartment units and several other buildings were flooded by Monday morning. Numerous vehicles in the Jackson area were flooded, primarily in low-lying parking spots. Dozens of roads and bridges were washed out in central Mississippi. U.S. Highway 80 and Interstate 20 east of Jackson were both closed due to high water. Locations in the Mississippi Delta, northeast Louisiana and southeast Arkansas saw the least amount of rainfall, with amounts generally ranging from one half of an inch to 2 inches. Rivers responded to the large volume of rain, with many points on the Pearl River rising to minor to low-end moderate flooding. Other smaller creeks also came close to flood stage.
In addition to the significant rainfall and flooding, tornadoes also occurred with Tropical Storm Lee. Four confirmed tornadoes occurred in the Jackson County Warning Area. As is the case with most tropical systems, these tornadoes were very brief and fairly weak. Much of the damage was EF-0 type damage, with mostly trees and limbs coming down. The strongest tornado was rated EF-1 near Collins, MS. Some structural damage occurred along with tree damage. This tornado tracked for 3 miles with maximum estimated winds at 90 mph.
Around 10pm on September 4th, Lee was downgraded to a Tropical Depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph. However, these winds were occurring well to the south and southeast of the center out over the Gulf of Mexico. The weakened cyclone was located about 55 miles to the west southwest of McComb, MS. The remnants of Lee got caught up with an approaching cold front and moved quickly to the northeast, dumping rainfall on the Mid-Atlantic region that was doused by Hurricane Irene only a week prior.
Select rainfall totals(inches) from across central Mississippi include Florence, MS(13.55), Forest, MS(12.82), Walnut Grove(12.59), 8mi south Philadelphia, MS(12.03), 5mi east Philadelphia, MS(12.00), 8mi west southwest Hattiesburg, MS(11.64), Prentiss, MS(11.33), and at the Jackson International Airport(11.15).
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 Sep 3, 9:37 AM CST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1035 AM SAT SEP 3 2011
.UPDATE...TROPICAL STORM LEE WAS JUST OFF THE SOUTH CENTRAL
LOUISIANA COAST LINE LATE THIS MORNING. SPIRALING RAINS HAVE REACH
GENERALLY SOUTH OF A EUDORA AR TO JACKSON METRO TO MERIDIAN LINE.
THE HEAVIER RAINS REMAIN SOUTH OF THE ARKLAMISS REGION AT THIS TIME.
SO WITH THE RAINS AROUND HAVE REDUCED AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE SOUTH
BY A FEW DEGRESS. SO AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL BE FROM THE NEAR 90 NORTH
TO THE UPPER 70S SOUTHEAST. SO UTILIZED THE SREF MODEL FOR AFTERNOON
HIGHS. AS FAR AS POPS ARE CONCERN UPPED THE POPS TO 100 PERCENT IN
THE SOUTHERN THIRD FOR THIS AFTERNOON...WHILE LOWER POPS SOME IN THE
FAR NORTH. BASED ON THE CURRENT TRACK OF LEE WILL PROBABLY ISSUE
TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS FOR PORTIONS OF THE SOUTH FOR SUNDAY AND
SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON FORECAST PACKAGE. THE QUESTION WILL BE
IF WE NEED TO START IT FOR TONIGHT. WILL INVESTIGATE FURTHER ON THAT
POSSIBLE SCENERIO. OTHERWISE THE REST OF THE FORECAST APPEARS TO BE
ON TRACK./17/
./PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...429 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011
...TROPICAL STORM LEE TO BRING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL TO THE ARKLAMISS
SPREADING SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH LABOR DAY HOLIDAY...
.DISCUSSION...(TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)...
STILL HOLDING DRY FOR HIGHWAY 82 CORRIDOR MOST OF TODAY AS PWATS OF 2
INCHES SPREADING INTO I-20 AXIS WITH STEADY RAIN SHIELD NOT FAR
BEHIND. LATEST SATELLITE TPW SHOW 2.5-2.7 INCH AIR CREEPING INLAND
THROUGH I-10 ON THE ERN SIDE OF TS LEE POSITIONED OFFSHORE DUE S OF
KLFT. SO FAR RAINS IN OUR SRN TIER OF COUNTIES GENERALLY ONE QUARTER
INCH OR LESS BUT THESE VALUES WILL BE RAMPING UP AND FFA IN EFFECT
LOOKS GOOD FOR TODAY. WILL EXTEND/EXPAND FFA TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL MS AND NERN LA...WITH EVENTUAL EXPANSION TO MOST
OF THE CWFA EXPECTED IN FUTURE FORECASTS.
WILL GO WITH OVERALL GFS TIMING OF THE RAIN SHIELD ACROSS THE
AREA...WHILE MORE OF THE NAM12 BACKGROUND WIND FIELDS IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE REQUIRED TCM WIND TOOL. WE MAY END UP NEEDING A TS WARNING
OVER OUR SRN COUNTIES SUNDAY OR SUNDAY NIGHT HOWEVER CURRENT WIND
GRIDS HAVE SUSTAINED 30KTS WITH GUSTS TO 40KTS THROUGH THE HIGHWAY
84 CORRIDOR. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A CALL ON THIS LATER TODAY
HOPEFULLY. EITHER WAY ALL OF THE MODELS HAVE BANDS OF GUSTY RAIN
MOVING ACROSS THE AREA BY TONIGHT LASTING RIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
AS THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF LEE WILL PRODUCE SOME IMPRESSIVE 10 TO 15
INCH RAINS FOR PORTIONS OF SERN MS AND... WIDESPREAD 5-10 INCHES
MOST OTHER LOCATIONS. ANOTHER CONCERN OVER THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY WILL BE THE PRESENCE OF INCREASING BANDS
OF LOW LEVEL SHEAR WITH ANY STRONG CONVECTION AND THE FORMATION OF
BRIEF TORNADOES IN ANY DISCRETE CELLS. AN AXIS OF 200M*M/S*S 0-1KM
HELICITIES AND 300 0-3KM VALUES LIFTS ACROSS THESE AREAS AS A DRY
SLOT ATTEMPTS TO WRAP INTO THE LEE CIRCULATION. WILL KEEP MENTION OF
TORNADOES IN THE HWOJAN AS IS.
STUCK PRETTY CLOSE TO GUIDANCE POPS AND TEMPS THROUGH THE SHORT TERM
BUT DID RAISE POPS ABOVE GUIDANCE SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT IN SOME
LOCATIONS. /40/
.LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY)...
FOCUS IN THE EXTENDED PORTION OF THE FORECAST REMAINS ON TROPICAL
STORM LEE AND ITS EVOLUTION THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEK.
LATEST FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HAS LEE CENTERED
IN VICINITY OF MCCOMB, MS EARLY LABOR DAY MORNING. DEEP MOISTURE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CYCLONE WILL ALLOW WIDESPREAD RAINS TO CONTINUE
ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS...ALONG WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEW ISOLATED
RUMBLES OF THUNDER. BY FAR THE BIGGEST RISK FOR LABOR DAY WILL
CONTINUE TO BE THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL...WITH ALL THE MODELS
INDICATING AN AXIS OF VERY HEAVY RAIN SETTING UP EITHER ALONG OR JUST
SOUTHEAST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE PKWY DURING THE DAY. JUST WHERE THE
HEAVIEST BAND OF PRECIP SETS UP WILL BE INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF A
COLD FRONT SWINGING INTO THE REGION FROM THE NW...THAT EVENTUALLY
BECOMES WRAPPED UP IN LEE EITHER LATE MONDAY OR EARLY TUESDAY.
REGARDLESS...DEEP MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CYCLONE WILL STILL BE
IN PLACE ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL LIKELY
NEED TO BE EXTENDED INTO MONDAY AS A RESULT...AND MAY VERY WELL NEED
TO BE EXPANDED NORTHWARD DEPENDING UPON WHERE THE FOCUS FOR THE
HEAVY RAIN SETS UP.
IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAIN...THE RISK OF TORNADOES WILL NEED TO
BE MONITORED ON MONDAY...PRIMARILY OVER SOUTHEASTERN/EASTERN MS IN
VICINITY OF THE SURFACE LOW WHERE 0-1KM SHEAR VALUES MAY EXCEED 25KTS
AS THE SURFACE LOW TRACKS NE. THIS POTENTIAL WILL CONTINUE TO BE
MENTIONED IN THE HWO. SURFACE WIND SPEEDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG
MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT...AND CONSIDERING HOW MOIST THE SOILS WILL
BE THE RISK OF SHALLOW ROOTED TREES SUCCUMBING TO THE WIND WILL BE
ENHANCED.
MONDAY NIGHT THE BEST CHANCE FOR ANY LINGERING HEAVY RAIN SHOULD BE
CONFINED EAST OF I-55...GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST
THROUGH THE NIGHT. JUST HOW QUICKLY THE RAIN COMES TO AN END LATE
MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE SPEED THE
REMNANTS OF LEE MOVE OFF TO THE NE...AND HOW QUICKLY THE DRIER AIR
BEHIND THE FRONT SWEEPS ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS. THIS IS STILL A BIT
UNCERTAIN GIVEN THE OVERALL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE CONUS HEADING
INTO MIDWEEK...STAY TUNED.
COOLER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL FILTER ACROSS THE REGION WED-FRI.
HIGHS FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK WILL ONLY CLIMB INTO THE UPPER
70S TO LOW 80S OFFERING A WELCOME BREAK FROM THE HEAT THIS SUMMER.
RELATIVELY FEW CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE GFS MOS TEMPS NEXT WEEK. I
DID DECREASE HIGHS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN ZONES ON MONDAY TO ACCOUNT
FOR THE WIDESPREAD RAIN AND CLOUD COVER EXPECTED. NO OTHER
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE. /BK/
&&
.AVIATION...
IFR CEILINGS WILL BE SLOWLY LOWERING FROM S TO N THROUGH NEXT 24
HOURS. RAINBANDS STARTING TO SPREAD NWWD AROUND LEE CIRCULATION WILL
PRODUCE MVFR VSBYS FOR THE MOST PART AT OUR TAF LOCATIONS BY 21Z-03Z
WITH CEILINGS LOWERING TO MVFR OVERNIGHT. WINDS WILL REMAIN ELY
8-15KTS WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH THIS MORNING BEFORE RAMPING
UPWARD 15-25KTS AROUND MIDDAY. LOOK FOR IFR CONDITIONS FOR OUR
SRN/CENTRAL TAF SITES TO BE PREVALENT SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
WITH LEE EDGING INLAND OVER SERN LA. LLWS AND GREATER TURBULENCE WILL
ALSO BE INCREASING DURING THIS TIME FRAME. /17/
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
WIDESPREAD 5 TO 10 INCH RAINS LIKELY INTO TUESDAY BEFORE COMPLETELY
TAPERING OFF. EXPECT 10-15 INCHES OF TOTAL RAINFALL WILL BE COMMON
OVER SERN MS BY TUESDAY MORNING...WITH THE GREATEST RISK FOR ANY
LOCATION EXCEEDING 15 ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE
CORRIDOR...HPC BELIEVES AN ISOLATED 20 INCH AMOUNT IS POSSIBLE. MINOR
TO MODERATE RIVER FLOODING COULD DEVELOP WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL
OCCURS AND A FLOOD POTENTIAL OUTLOOK WILL BE UPDATED LATER TODAY.
/40/
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON 83 71 83 73 / 81 92 97 90
MERIDIAN 85 71 84 73 / 77 97 97 90
VICKSBURG 83 74 83 71 / 86 91 96 90
HATTIESBURG 81 74 86 76 / 100 98 99 90
NATCHEZ 82 73 83 71 / 100 98 99 90
GREENVILLE 88 72 84 65 / 38 68 90 79
GREENWOOD 87 72 83 69 / 36 73 90 89
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR MSZ053>055-059>066-
072>074.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING FOR MSZ040>052-056>058.
LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MONDAY MORNING FOR LAZ023>026.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FROM 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
MORNING FOR LAZ007>009-015-016.
AR...NONE.
&&
17/40/BKHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 637 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 LAZ023>026-MSZ053>055-059>066-072>074-041145- FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON- JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS- COVINGTON-JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 637 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT PERSISTENT HEAVY RAINS WILL BE INCREASING THROUGH AT LEAST LABOR DAY ON MONDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT BUT WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED FURTHER. RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING MAY REACH 2 TO 4 INCHES IN A FEW AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 84. IN ADDITION...SUSTAINED WINDS WILL INCREASE AS THE HEAVIER RAIN BANDS ROTATE IN FROM THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST. WHILE SUSTAINED WINDS WILL INCREASE TO BETWEEN 15 AND 30 MPH...SOME HIGHER GUSTS UPWARDS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORM RAIN BANDS LATE TONIGHT. THE POSSIBILITY OF BRIEF TORNADOES WITH THE STRONGER RAIN BANDS CAN NOT BE ENTIRELY RULED OUT AS HIGH AMOUNTS OF LOW LEVEL SHEAR WILL BE PRESENT ACROSS THIS REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HEAVY RAIN BANDING WILL BE LIKELY AS TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES VERY SLOWLY NORTHWARD INTO THE REGION SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIGH RAINFALL RATES TO OCCUR OVER A LONG DURATION OF TIME AND ALLOW FOR TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS TO REACH UPWARDS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS BEFORE TUESDAY. RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY TAPER OFF BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS ACROSS SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NE LOUISIANA SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS THE STRONGER WIND FIELD PUSHES FARTHER NORTH. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE AS TROPICAL STORM LEE PUSHES EAST OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT. BRIEF TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE IN ANY ORGANIZED RAIN BAND THAT SETS UP ACROSS THE REGION SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...BUT ESPECIALLY SUNDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN AND EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED AT TIMES THROUGH LABOR DAY. ARZ074-075-MSZ018-019-025>039-041145- ASHLEY-CHICOT-BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL- MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON- HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE- 637 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS AND PORTIONS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HEAVY RAIN BANDING WILL BE LIKELY AS TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES VERY SLOWLY NORTHWARD TOWARD THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIGH RAINFALL RATES TO OCCUR OVER A LONG DURATION OF TIME AND ALLOW FOR TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS TO REACH UPWARDS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS BEFORE TUESDAY. RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY TAPER OFF BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 15 TO 25 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS THE STRONGER WIND FIELD PUSHES FARTHER NORTH. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE AS TROPICAL STORM LEE PUSHES EAST OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED AT TIMES SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT. LAZ007>009-015-016-MSZ040>052-056>058-041145- MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-MADISON LA-ISSAQUENA- SHARKEY-YAZOO-MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER-WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN- SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE- 637 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT TORRENTIAL RAINFALL FROM THE OUTER RAIN BANDS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE WILL INFILTRATE NORTHWARD ACROSS THE I-20 CORRIDOR THIS AFTERNOON AND REALLY PICK UP TONIGHT. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN POSTED STARTING TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AND WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED FURTHER. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY WILL REACH 1 TO 3 INCHES AND BE ADDING UP QUICKLY THEREAFTER. EASTERLY WINDS WILL BE PICKING UP THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FROM 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 MPH IN THE RAIN BANDS LIFTING NORTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HEAVY RAIN BANDING WILL BE LIKELY AS TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES VERY SLOWLY NORTHWARD INTO THE REGION SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIGH RAINFALL RATES TO OCCUR OVER A LONG DURATION OF TIME AND ALLOW FOR TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS TO REACH UPWARDS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS BEFORE TUESDAY. RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY TAPER OFF BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS ACROSS SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS THE STRONGER WIND FIELD PUSHES FARTHER NORTH. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE AS TROPICAL STORM LEE PUSHES EAST OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT. BRIEF TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE IN ANY ORGANIZED RAIN BAND THAT SETS UP ACROSS THE REGION SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...BUT ESPECIALLY SUNDAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN AND EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED AT TIMES THROUGH LABOR DAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. 40
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 1223 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 ...TROPICAL STORM LEE TO BRING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL TO THE ARKLAMISS THROUGH THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY... LAZ023>026-MSZ053>055-059>066-072>074-040100- FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON- JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS- COVINGTON-JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WINNSBORO...JONESVILLE...HARRISONBURG... NEWELLTON...ST. JOSEPH...WATERPROOF...VIDALIA...FERRIDAY... WEST FERRIDAY...PORT GIBSON...CRYSTAL SPRINGS...HAZLEHURST... WESSON...MAGEE...MENDENHALL...FAYETTE...NATCHEZ...BUDE...ROXIE... MEADVILLE...BROOKHAVEN...MONTICELLO...NEW HEBRON...PRENTISS... BASSFIELD...COLLINS...MOUNT OLIVE...LAUREL...COLUMBIA... WEST HATTIESBURG...LUMBERTON...PURVIS...HATTIESBURG 1223 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011 ...TROPICAL STORM LEE TO BRING TORRENTIAL RAINFALL TO PORTIONS OF THE ARKLAMISS THROUGH THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY... PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE TODAY AS TROPICAL STORM LEE MOVES INLAND ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST. BANDING OF HEAVY RAIN WILL INCREASE AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LABOR DAY ON MONDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT BUT WILL LIKELY BE EXTENDED FURTHER. RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS MAY REACH 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE BY TUESDAY. RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY TAPER OFF BY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. BRIEF TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER RAIN BANDS ACROSS SOME SOUTH AND EAST LOCATIONS AS HIGH AMOUNTS OF SHEAR WILL BE PRESENT ACROSS THIS REGION TODAY THROUGH MONDAY. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI FOR TODAY AND THIS EVENING. TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE POSTED FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF SOUTH AND EAST MISSISSIPPI LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY...AND POSSIBLY INTO MONDAY...AS TROPICAL STORM LEE EDGES NORTHWARD. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS ACROSS SOUTH MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NE LOUISIANA SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS THE STRONGER WIND FIELD PUSHES FARTHER NORTH. WINDS WILL SUBSIDE AS TROPICAL STORM LEE PUSHES EAST OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT. ALTHOUGH DRY SOIL CONDITIONS WILL SOAK UP SOME OF THE INITIAL RAINFALL RUNOFF...RIVERS ACROSS SOUTH MISSISSIPPI WILL APPROACH FLOOD STAGE IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS. EXPECTED RAINFALL BEYOND THE 48 HOUR PERIOD COULD PRODUCE MODERATE FLOODING OF RIVERS AND SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS. THOSE LIVING ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS NEED TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST INFORMATION ON RAINFALL AND RIVER FORECASTS. 17/03
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
37 flash flood, 18 strong wind, 4 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 heavy rain, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down around the county due to a combination of saturated soils and high wind gusts.
A tree was blown down onto a house on Opal Drive in Laurel.
Several trees were blown down overnight and into the morning hours. Power outages occurred overnight.
A tornado briefly touched down damaging a few trees. The tornado was viewed by fire personnel who observed the minor tree damage and debris. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.
Several streets were flooded in Columbia.
Tree limbs were blown down in Carnes. A tree was blown down near Rawl Springs.
Bishop Road and College Street were flooded. A few other roads were flooded as well.
The public observed a brief tornado touchdown off Highway 49 near Camp Shelby. Maximum winds were estimated at 70 mph.
Two barns were heavily damaged along the tornado path. One home suffered minor roof and structural damage. A number of trees were snapped and uprooted. A wooden light pole was snapped and a couple of power lines downed. Maximum winds were estimated at 90 mph.
Numerous large limbs were blown down.
Numerous large limbs were blown down.
Several trees were blown down and several large limbs were snapped along the path. Maximum winds were estimated at 70 mph.
Flooding occurred on Interstate 55 just south of the Natchez Trace Parkway exit. A few accidents occurred due to the water on the Interstate.
Several roads were flooded in the southern part of Lincoln County.
Trees were blown down on Leaf Road, Dickson Dice Road, Progress Road and several other roads all across the southeastern portion of the county.
Several trees were blown down around the county. Four homes were damaged due to downed trees. A few trees were down across roads.
Several trees were blown down county-wide.
Rainfall total of 8.87 inches recorded at the Emergency Operations Center in Brookhaven due to Lee.
Major flooding was reported on Carol Avenue in Florence with water almost inside of a mobile home.
Numerous trees were blown down around the county.
Water was approaching mobile homes in the Highlands Mobile Home Park off Greenfield Road. Residents were moving cars to higher ground. An NWS employee saw water surrounding or beginning to enter multiple homes in the city of Florence. Steen Creek was rising out of its banks making roadways in the vicinity impassable.
Three homes and five mobile homes were flooded in Harrisville.
An apartment complex along Robinson Road in Jackson was evacuated due to flooding. Several roads around the city of Jackson were impassable due to flooded roadways. Water entered a few homes in the city. Water also entered two to three homes in Clinton. Three to four homes in the Meghan Road and Highland Cove area in Byram had water in them.
A total of 9.81 inches of rain was measured during the early morning hours due to Lee.
A few trees were blown down around Crystal Springs.
A few trees were blown down around the county. A few power outages occurred. A car struck a fallen tree on Highway 27 south of I-20 injuring one occupant.
Several homes near Rice Road took on about a foot of water. Thirty people had to be evacuated.
Extensive flash flooding occurred across Copiah County. Five roads were washed out. Multiple other roads were under water at some point Monday morning. Five homes were flooded in Georgetown. One person had to be rescued due to the high water.
Highway 488 near Jolly Road was flooded.
Water was covering a portion of Highway 15 North near Louisville.
Extensive flooding occurred along small creeks flowing into Tuscolameta Creek in northeast Scott County. Water lines indicated that water was many feet out of its banks, and was across numerous roads and affected several structures.
Several roads were flooded across the county.
Numerous vehicles were flooded at the Laurel Park Apartments.
Several roads south of Brookhaven were flooded.
Route 488 near the intersection with Highway 19 was flooded. Several roads in Philadelphia flooded, as well as portions of Highway 19 south of Philadelphia.
Five buildings on the Bellhaven University campus were flooded. Two of the buildings received extensive damage due to the flood waters.
A tree was blown down across Route 2642.
Numerous vehicles were flooded at the Laurel Park Apartments.
Several structures were flooded.
Numerous roads were underwater and numerous culverts were washed out across the county. A cemetery was damaged by flood waters. A creek bank collapsed near Dixon causing a mudslide on County Road 127.
Brashears Creek was well out of its banks. Rice Road was closed due to water across it.
The creek running under Flowood Drive near the Air National Guard base was well out of its banks. Water was partially over Flowood Drive, and completely covering the access road to the base off of Flowood Drive. Eight cars at the Barnett Body Shop on the corner of Lakeland Drive and Airport Road had water half way up the doors.
A tree was blown down across Highway 15 North between Ackerman and Mathiston. A tree was also blown down along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
A tree was blown onto a power line on Livingston Road.
Several roads were flooded in town including Bell Avenue, and College and 15th Street.
Several county roads were under water.
Water covered portions of West Walnut Road.
Numerous roads were flooded in Scott County. Water was across Interstate 20 between mile markers 77 and 80. Structures were flooded in Forest on South Main Street. Homes and structures were flooded in the Ludlow community, with a few people trapped due to the high water.
A few roads around Ofahoma were completely washed out. Highway 487 was closed due to water across it. Several other roads in eastern Leake County were completely washed out as well.
A tree was blown down on Highway 50 in Walthall. Another tree was blown down on Crowell Road.
Trees were blown down on Carson Road, Dogwood Boulevard, Golding Road and West Plymouth Road.
Radio station WQST was flooded.
Several roads in southern Rankin County were flooded with several feet of water. At least a couple of water rescues had to be made by boat. Highway 469 was closed to due to flooding. White Road was also flooded.
A few trees were blown down across the southern portion of the county.
A bridge was washed out on Brown Road east of Way Road.
Several streets were flooded in Columbia, as well as across southwestern portions of the county.
Several roads were under water.
A few roads were covered with water in Bigbee Valley.
Several trees were blown down around the county.
Numerous roads were flooded around the city, as well as a few just outside the city. Two homes were flooded in Hattiesburg.
Three houses took on water in West Hattiesburg. Two roads were washed out, with 22 other roads flooded.
Trees were blown down across several roads around the county.
Highway 80 at the Rankin County and Scott County line was closed due to flooding from Pelahatchie Creek.
Water rising out of the banks of Squirrel Branch and Richland Creeks flooded several homes, and crossed Old Highway 49 near Richland.
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, September 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: 348234, 348233, 348235, 340141, 340142, 348237, 340148, 340143, 340144, 340145, 340146, 340147, 340149, 340173, 348247, 348250, 348253, 349596, 340174, 348249, 340175, 340176, 340178, 341158, 348957, 348958, 340182, 340187, 340184, 340185, 340189, 340901, 348976, 349595, 340183, 348978, 348256, 340899, 340900, 340903, and more.