March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys.
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.
March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys. This event was driven by a powerful storm system which clashed with unusual instability and wind shear for this time of year.
Across the NWS Jackson, MS service area, quite a bit of severe weather occurred during the afternoon and evening of March 2nd. Most of the severe storms occurred across areas north of I-20. Large hail was the primary main severe weather culprit as several supercell storms produced golf ball sized hail. There were also a few instances of larger hail, up to the size of baseballs. Other instances of wind damage also occurred from these storms along with two tornadoes.
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 Mar 2, 1:26 PM CST, 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
126 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
...SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EXPECTED LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT...
.UPDATE...PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE TORNADO WATCH NUMBER
59 IN EFFECT UNTIL 03Z FOR NORTHERN AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA.
/DL/
&&
.DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 1031 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/
WE ARE OFF TO A RATHER WARM AND WINDY START THIS MORNING. TEMPS ARE
ALREADY INTO THE MIDDLE 70S AS OF 16Z. VISIBLE SATELLITE SHOWS THAT
MOST OF THE LOW CLOUDS FROM THIS MORNING HAVE ALREADY DISSIPATED
ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA...WHICH WILL ONLY AID IN SURFACE HEATING
THROUGH THE DAYTIME. ALSO APPARENT WAS A PREFRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT
PRESENTLY EXTENDS FROM AROUND EUPORA TO YAZOO CITY TO AROUND MONROE
LA. THIS EXTENDS FARTHER NORTHEAST INTO THE TN VALLEY AREA...WHERE
ACTIVE CONVECTION IS ALREADY ONGOING.
SOME RECENT HIGH-RES MODEL RUNS SHOW ACTIVITY DEVELOPING A BIT
EARLIER IN THE DAY THAN PREVIOUS ANTICIPATED...IN THE SAME AREA OF
THE AFOREMENTIONED BOUNDARY. IF THIS DOES TAKE PLACE...THIS IS
POTENTIALLY TROUBLING...AS INSTABILITY WILL LIKELY BE GREATER DUE TO
THE TIME OF DAY. AND MODELS ARE INDICATING BETTER HELICITY IN THIS
AREA THAN ALONG THE ACTUAL FRONT. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE IN
THE WAY OF A CAP DURING THIS TIME FRAME...AND MODIFIED 12Z KJAN
SOUNDING INDICATES THE SAME. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY...
THOUGH AS TO WHETHER THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL OCCUR. THE 12Z NAM STILL
DID NOT SHOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT UNTIL LATER ON IN THE AFTERNOON. THE
HRRR...WHICH IS SHOWING EARLIER DEVELOPMENT...WAS OVERLY AGGRESSIVE
WITH DEVELOPMENT EARLIER THIS MORNING. NEVERTHELESS BELIEVE IT WOULD
BE PRUDENT TO BUMP UP POPS EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY AFTER
19Z. WILL ALSO ADD SEVERE WORDING DURING THIS TIME FRAME. IF SEVERE
STORMS DO DEVELOP DURING THIS TIME PERIOD...TORNADOES WILL BE A
GREATER THREAT THAN THEY WOULD BE LATER IN THE DAY WITH ANY ACTIVITY
ALONG THE COLD FRONT.
STILL ALSO EXPECTING ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT LATER INTO THE EVENING
AND ALONG THE COLD FRONT TONIGHT...SO AREAS TO THE NW OF THE
PREFRONTAL BOUNDARY STILL HAVE A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER LATER ON.
WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ARKLAMISS DELTA. WINDS ARE
ALREADY GUSTING OVER 30 KNOTS IN THIS AREA...AND SEE NO REASON TO
MAKE CHANGES TO THIS. UPDATED HOURLY GRIDS TO ADJUST TO CURRENT OBS
TRENDS. UPDATED PRODUCTS WILL BE TRANSMITTED SHORTLY. /DL/
&&
.AVIATION...MVFR CIG PLAGUING THE REGION ARE XPCTD TO GO VFR 16-18Z
W/VFR CONDS PERSISTING THRU THE AFTN. SEVERE TSRA WILL BEGIN TO
DEVELOP GENERALLY ALONG A STF TO VKS LINE SOMETIME BETWEEN
19-21Z...WITH THE LINE ADVANCING TO THE SE THRU THE AFTN/EVENING AND
INTO TONIGHT. A FEW SEVERE TSRA MAY DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN
LINE THIS AFTN AS WELL/MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST. SFC WINDS WILL
BE QUITE GUSTY THRU THE AFTN TODAY...ESPECIALLY UP IN THE DELTA
WHERE GUSTS TO 35 OR 40KTS WILL BE PSBL. SFC WINDS WILL DROP OFF
THIS EVENING...BUT WILL BECOME NORTHERLY AND GUSTY LATER TONIGHT
AFTER THE COLD FRONT PASSES. /BK/
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 342 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/
TODAY AND TONIGHT...THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THE SHORT TERM WILL BE THE
SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL FOR LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.
WARM FRONT IS LOCATED WELL NORTH OF THE AREA...LEAVING THE REGION
VERY MUCH ENTRENCHED IN THE WARM...MOIST SECTOR. OVERNIGHT
TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN RUNNING IN THE UPPER 60S AND LOWER 70S WITH
DEWPOINTS IN THE MID 60S. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WARM ADVECTION
SHOWERS OVERNIGHT SCOOTING ACROSS THE AREA. THE DEEPENING SFC LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY LOCATED ACROSS WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND
WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH OFF THE NORTH AND EAST THROUGH THE MORNING AND
EARLY AFTERNOON.
AS THIS SFC LOW TRACKS OFF NORTHEAST...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
ASSOCIATED WITH IT WILL BE TIGHTENED MAINLY ACROSS NORTHERN
LOCATIONS. THIS WILL GENERATE SOUTH TO SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS CLOSE TO
OR EXCEEDING WIND ADVISORY CRITIERA. WILL GO AHEAD AND ISSUE ONE FOR
THE DELTA REGION AS THIS WILL BE THE LOCATION TO SEE THE STRONGER
WINDS. GIVEN WE WERE ABLE TO MIX TO ABOVE 800MB YESTERDAY...THINK
THIS WILL BE SIMILAR TODAY AND WINDS AT THIS LEVEL ARE AROUND 45KTS.
THEREFORE GUSTS TO AT LEAST 40MPH LOOK POSSIBLE. LOOKS LIKE WINDS
WILL PEAK AROUND 15-19Z AND TAIL OFF FROM THERE. WILL ISSUE THE
ADVISORY FOR THE START OF THE PERIOD TIL 4PM BUT THINK THAT WINDS
WILL LIKELY BE BELOW ADV CRITERIA BY THIS TIME.
NOW...AS FOR SVR AND CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL FOR TODAY...MOST ALL MODEL
GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
SEVERE EVENT FOR THE REGION. WHILE SOME OF THE BETTER DYNAMICS AND
LIFT ARE GOING TO BE CLOSER TO THE DEPARTING LOW UP IN
KENTUCKY/TENNESSEE AREA...WE SHOULD STILL SEE A GOOD AMOUNT OF
SEVERE STORMS TODAY ACROSS THE AREA. DAY 1 SPC OUTLOOK CONTINUES TO
HIGHLIGHT OUR ENTIRE REGION IN A SLIGHT RISK WITH THE FAR
NORTHEAST/GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION BEING IN A MODERATE RISK. THIS
SEEMS TO FIT WELL WITH OUR CURRENT THINKING.
MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT MOST OF THE AREA WILL REMAIN FAIRLY DRY
TODAY. I CANNOT RULE OUT SOME SHOWERS OR A THUNDERSTORM IN THE
WARM...SOUPY AIRMASS IN PLACE. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE AS
WE WARM ONCE AGAIN INTO THE LOWER TO MID 80S ACROSS THE ENTIRE
REGION. FORECAST HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO BREAK MOST RECORD HIGHS FOR
TODAY. THE ONLY SITE FORECAST NOT TO IS JACKSON...WHICH WILL COME
PRETTY CLOSE. THE BULK OF THE ACTIVITY LOOKS TO HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER
IN THE AFTERNOON. HI-RES WRF GUIDANCE ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER
MODELS DO SHOW POTENTIAL FOR SOME DISCRETE CELLS TO DEVELOP IN THE
WARM SECTOR ACROSS SOUTH AND EAST MISSISSIPPI AROUND 2-3PM. ANY OF
THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE AS SOME OF THE
BETTER INSTABILITY...SHEAR AND HELICITY WILL BE PRESENT DURING THIS
TIME. THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BRING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES. IT IS DURING THIS TIME WHERE
THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONGER TORNADOES MAY BE THE BEST AS WINDS LOOK
TO VEER MORE AFTER 00-03Z AND 0-3KM HELICITIES DIMINISH TO LESS THAN
200M2/S2 AND 0-1KM TO LESS THAN 150M2/S2. IN ADDITION...0-1KM EHI
VALUES SEEM MAXIMIZED BEFORE 03Z IN THE EAST AND THEN TRAIL DURING
THE EVENING. HOWEVER...ANOTHER CAVEAT TO THIS MAY BE THAT SINCE WE
WILL BE SO WARM TODAY...THERE WILL BE A LARGE DEWPOINT DEPRESSION
WHICH CAN HINDER LOWER LCLS. GIVEN IT IS A NON-ZERO THREAT OF A
STRONG TORNADO...WILL CONTINUE WITH THE MENTION OF A FEW STRONG
TORNADOES POSSIBLE BUT AGAIN BELIEVE THE BETTER POTENTIAL FOR THIS
WILL BE BEFORE THE MAIN SQUALL LINE.
BY 00Z SATURDAY...ALL MODELS SEEM PRETTY CONSISTENT IN CONVECTION
BEGINNING TO INITIATE SOMEWHERE IN THE DELTA REGION ALONG AND AHEAD
OF THE MAIN FRONTAL BOUNDARY. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE MORE OF A BROKEN
LINE AT FIRST BEFORE CONGEALING INTO MORE OF A CONSOLIDATED SQUALL
LINE AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE CWA. IT APPEARS THAT THE LOCATIONS WITH
THE LEAST LIKELIHOOD TO SEE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE IN THE DELTA...BUT
HARD TO PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE STORMS WILL INITIATE. BY ABOUT
06Z...THE LINE SHOULD BE AROUND THE METRO AREA AND AROUND THE PINE
BELT BY ABOUT 09Z. THE FRONT WILL BE OUT OF THE CWA BY 12Z. AS FOR
SEVERE WITH THE FRONT...THINK THIS WILL BE MOSTLY WIND AS BULK SHEAR
MAGNITUDES STAY AROUND 60-65KTS FOR DEEP LAYER SHEAR. LAPSE RATES
REMAIN GOOD FOR QUARTER TO GOLFBALL HAIL. TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE
POSSIBLE WITH THE SQUALL LINE...ESPECIALLY IN ANY BREAKS IN THE
LINE. HOWEVER...AS MENTIONED...WINDS WILL BE VEERED BY THIS POINT
AND THE HIGHER HELICITY VALUES WILL BE OFF TO THE EAST OUT OF THE
AREA...SO STRONG TORNADOES DONT LOOK AS LIKELY AS THEY DID IN
PREVIOUS RUNS. AS THE FRONT PUSHES THROUGH...SOME POST FRONTAL RAINS
WILL LINGER INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE CLEARING OUT.
WITH REGARDS TO FORECAST NUMBERS...CONTINUED TO RAISE HIGHS TODAY
JUST A FEW DEGREES...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW WARM LOCATIONS GOT
YESTERDAY. HOWEVER...IF CONVECTION BREAKS OUT A LITTLE
EARLIER...HIGHS MAY NOT ACHIEVE QUITE AS HIGH. GUI POPS FOR TONIGHT
WERE ON THE LOWER SIDE AND RAISED QUITE A BIT GIVEN HIGH CONFIDENCE
OF MEASUREABLE RAIN IN ALMOST ALL LOCATIONS. /28/
MEDIUM RANGE/LONG TERM CONTINUES TO LOOK QUIET WITH THE MAIN
FORECAST CONCERNS BEING TEMPS.
FOR SATURDAY...THE COLD FRONT WILL HAVE PUSHED E/SE OF THE CWA WITH
JUST SOME LINGERING POST FRONTAL PRECIP CHANCES POSSIBLE. GUID
VALUES CONTINUE TO LINGER POPS...WITH THE NAM/EURO HAVING MUCH
HIGHER POTENTIAL THAN THE GFS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE HOURS OF THE SAT
PERIOD. FOR NOW...WILL FOLLOW THE GFS POPS...WITH A SMALL UPWARD
INCREASE FOR THE FAR SE.
THE LARGE UPPER TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO SWING THROUGH THE AREA ON
SAT AND HELP PUSH SOUTHWARD COOLER/DRIER AIR UNDER NW FLOW ALOFT.
THIS COOLER AIR WILL HANG AROUND UNTIL TUE...BEFORE SOME MODERATION
OCCURS BY MID WEEK. FOR THE MOST PART...GFS GUID TEMPS WERE DECENT
AND WERE FOLLOWED. HOWEVER...SOME ADJUSTMENTS WERE NEEDED AT A FEW
SITES BASED OFF ENSEMBLE GUID AND SUPPORT FROM THE EURO. MOST OF
THESE LOW END MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO HIGHS SUN/MON/TUE.
OVERALL...NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIP LOOKS TO WAIT UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK.
/CME/
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR MSZ018-019-
025>027-034>036-040>042.
LA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR LAZ007>009.
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR ARZ074-075.
&&
DL/BK/28/CMEHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 1150 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ026>033-036>061-031800- MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-MADISON LA- FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY- WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW-OKTIBBEHA-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON- NOXUBEE-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-MADISON MS-LEAKE-NESHOBA-KEMPER- WARREN-HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH- SIMPSON-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS- 1150 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR . .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...WITH THE MOST INTENSE STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL TO GOLF BALL SIZE...DAMAGING WINDS TO 75 MPH...AND TORNADOES. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY DEVELOP BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON...PARTICUARLY ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY. THESE STORMS WILL SHIFT EAST ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA THIS EVENING IN A FEW WAVES OF ACTIVITY...POTENTIALLY PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES. AN ENHANCED RISK OF TORNADOES...INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRONG TORNADO...WILL EXIST GENERALLY EAST OF INTERSTATE 55. THE GREATEST TORNADO RISK WILL LIKELY OCCUR BETWEEN 4 AND 9 PM. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WHERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREA. ALSO...WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT 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 THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ARZ074-075-MSZ018-019-025-034-035-031800- ASHLEY-CHICOT-BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS- 1150 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR . .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...PRIMARILY BETWEEN 3 PM AND 7 PM. LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS...DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH WITH ANY SEVERE STORMS THAT DEVELOP. A TORNADO IS POSSIBLE WITH THE MOST INTENSE OF ANY STORMS. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL END BY EARLY EVENING AS A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH THE AREA. IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...STRONG WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY .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 THIS AFTERNOON. MSZ062>066-072>074-031800- LINCOLN-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-JONES-MARION-LAMAR- FORREST- 1150 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR . .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. LARGE HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE MOST INTENSE STORMS. SCATTERED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DEVELOPING BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS EVENING...AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. THE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH THE AREA LATE TONIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL...LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL WHICH COULD PRODUCE ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WHERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE REPEATEDLY OVER THE SAME AREA. ALSO...WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT 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 LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. 08
MSZ028-032-037-021920-
ATTALA MS-MONTGOMERY MS-CHOCTAW MS-
1252 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1252 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
...INTENSIFYING STORM GETTING READY TO MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST
MONTGOMERY COUNTY...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND
40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF POPLAR CREEK AT
1252 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.
HIGH WINDS CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS
DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...AND BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF OLDER TREES.
PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN CHOCTAW...SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND NORTH
CENTRAL ATTALA COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3345 8915 3315 8959 3326 8972 3329 8970
3329 8965 3336 8965 3347 8951 3346 8950
3346 8938 3352 8927 3352 8923
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 228DEG 33KT 3328 8958
BYBARZ074-022000-
ASHLEY AR-
117 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
117 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND
40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 17 MILES WEST OF OLD MILO AT 117 PM
CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN ASHLEY COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM
CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3321 9214 3322 9209 3323 9210 3328 9204
3331 9198 3334 9200 3337 9197 3339 9199
3341 9195 3339 9172 3326 9165 3311 9213
3315 9211 3317 9214
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 246DEG 26KT 3321 9216
JAMSZ029-030-022000-
WEBSTER MS-CLAY MS-
127 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
127 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND
40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 4 MILES EAST OF EUPORA AT 128 PM
CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND EASTERN WEBSTER COUNTIES SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3378 8871 3375 8871 3356 8900 3356 8909
3353 8909 3353 8919 3351 8929 3356 8934
3375 8910 3374 8904 3376 8903 3376 8894
3382 8893 3382 8874
TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 229DEG 41KT 3355 8918
BYBMSZ026-027-022000-
GRENADA MS-CARROLL MS-
130 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
130 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND
40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER TEOC AT 131 PM CST...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.
HIGH WINDS CAN BRING DOWN TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS
DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...AND BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF OLDER TREES.
PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN CARROLL AND WESTERN GRENADA COUNTIES SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3373 8971 3345 9008 3347 9010 3364 9011
3365 9010 3368 9013 3383 8996 3383 8993
3386 8993 3389 8991
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 225DEG 25KT 3358 9008
BYBARZ074-075-022010-
ASHLEY AR-CHICOT AR-
141 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
141 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND
40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3 MILES EAST OF OLD MILO AT 141 PM
CST...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
PEOPLE IN NORTHERN CHICOT AND ASHLEY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS
STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3338 9197 3339 9147 3357 9145 3357 9135
3352 9131 3352 9126 3357 9124 3351 9118
3344 9123 3345 9117 3350 9117 3347 9112
3341 9121 3338 9117 3345 9109 3342 9106
3334 9114 3310 9178 3309 9214
TIME...MOT...LOC 1941Z 248DEG 35KT 3330 9181
JAMSZ032-033-037-038-022010- ATTALA MS-WINSTON MS-OKTIBBEHA MS-CHOCTAW MS- 142 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 142 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ACKERMAN AT 142 PM CST...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. 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 SOUTHEASTERN CHOCTAW...SOUTHWESTERN OKTIBBEHA... NORTHWESTERN WINSTON AND NORTHEASTERN ATTALA COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3345 8900 3325 8887 3304 8940 3320 8950 TIME...MOT...LOC 1942Z 242DEG 34KT 3316 8935 BYB
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.
17 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A mobile home was destroyed at 7585 Highway 45 South Alternate.
A swath of tennis to baseball size hail fell across the southern half of the county.
A couple of trees were blown down across Nashville Ferry Road and Old Yorkville Road.
A swath of wind damage downed seven power poles southeast of Indianola. Four were blown down along Highway 49 West and three along Highway 3. Several power poles and a few medium to large trees were blown down near Moorhead.
One to two inch hail fell just south of Grenada.
Quarter size hail fell along Highway 82, two miles west of Carrollton.
Power lines were blown down in Grenada.
Quarter size hail fell along Highway 49 East at the Leflore and Holmes County line.
Trees were blown down in the Mantee and Montevista communities.
A roof was blown off of a shed.
Numerous trees were blown down around Belzoni. A tractor trailer was blown off of Highway 49 near Belzoni.
A car had its windshield busted out due to the hail.
Quarter size hail covered the ground.
This tornado initially touched down along Beach Road, where it overturned two trailers, took part of the roof off a home, destroyed a shed and caused some tree damage. From there the tornado weakened and seemed to skip along for several miles as it crossed Boggy Hollow Road and Coaltown Road. The tornado strengthened again as it crossed Purvis to Columbia Road. There the tornado caused damage to the roof and siding of a home and snapped several trees. The tornado them weakened again as it moved through the northwest sections of Purvis with only sporadic tree damage. The tornado strengthened again as it crossed Highway 11 and Sherlock Herrington Road. There numerous trees were snapped, the roof and siding of a home were damaged, a large storage shed was heavily damaged, and 3 mobile homes sustained heavy damage. The tornado then reached its peak intensity as it crossed Harold Tucker Road. A strapped down mobile home was blown off its foundation and heavily damaged, two other mobile homes were damaged, and a single family home had part of the roof blown off. Numerous trees were snapped at this location as well. This location had both the maximum winds associated with this tornado of 100 mph and the maximum width of 300 yards.
The tornado then crossed White Chapel Road causing extensive tree damage. It then moved into Forrest County and crossed over Interstate 59 knocking over several trees at a rest stop. The tornado then crossed Browns Bridge Road and Frye Road snapping numerous trees, one of which fell on a house. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing Frye Road.
Storm spotters estimated 60 to 70 mph winds in Poplar Creek and Lodi. At least one tree was blown down in the area.
This tornado initially touched down along Beach Road, where it overturned two trailers, took part of the roof off a home, destroyed a shed and caused some tree damage. From there the tornado weakened and seemed to skip along for several miles as it crossed Boggy Hollow Road and Coaltown Road. The tornado strengthened again as it crossed Purvis to Columbia Road. There the tornado caused damage to the roof and siding of a home and snapped several trees. The tornado them weakened again as it moved through the northwest sections of Purvis with only sporadic tree damage. The tornado strengthened again as it crossed Highway 11 and Sherlock Herrington Road. There numerous trees were snapped, the roof and siding of a home were damaged, a large storage shed was heavily damaged, and 3 mobile home sustained heavy damage. The tornado then reached its peak intensity as it crossed Harold Tucker Road. A strapped down mobile home was blown off its foundation and heavily damaged, two other mobile homes were damaged, and a single family home had part of the roof blown off. Numerous trees were snapped at this location as well. This location had both the maximum winds associated with this tornado of 100 mph and the maximum width of 300 yards.
The tornado then crossed White Chapel Road causing extensive tree damage. It then moved into Forrest County and crossed over Interstate 59 knocking over several trees at a rest stop. The tornado then crossed Browns Bridge Road and Frye Road snapping numerous trees, one of which fell on a house. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing Frye Road.
A swath of golf ball size hail fell across Choctaw County.
A tree was blown down along Washington Street in Vicksburg, causing an automobile accident. Power lines were blown down in the 4000 block of Oak Ridge Road northeast of Vicksburg.
Golf ball size hail fell all across the city of Starkville.
A swath of hail up to the size of baseballs fell across Lowndes County.
Measured at Hawkins Field in downtown Jackson.
Numerous large limbs were blown down along Rice Road. Two trees were also blown down in the North Bay subdivision, including one on a house.
Widespread flooding occurred across the city. Several cars were flooded due to the high water. One person was trapped in the flood waters. A business was flooded near 5th Street and 29th Street.
The tornado began near the intersection of Mt. Carmel Road and East Granby Road, where a few large limbs were downed. The tornado continued east northeast, where it destroyed a mobile home's porch and also knocked another mobile home off of its piers. The tornado ended just past this location, where it snapped and uprooted a few hardwood and softwood trees. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 85 miles per hour.
A road in Bay Springs was under water.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2012Warnings in Mississippi, March 2012
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: 368575, 368576, 368579, 368903, 368907, 368922, 368920, 368923, 368924, 368925, 368926, 368927, 368932, 370714, 368928, 368929, 368934, 368930, 368931, 369014, 370724, 369015, 369019, 369022, 369023, 369025, 369026, 370775, 369028, 369029, 369031, 369033, 370859.