Two rounds of severe weather impacted the ArkLaMiss region - one beginning shortly after midnight on the morning of January 21st and ending shortly before daybreak. The round of storms began during the evening hours on the 21st and ended just before midnight.
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.
Two rounds of severe weather impacted the ArkLaMiss region - one beginning shortly after midnight on the morning of January 21st and ending shortly before daybreak. The round of storms began during the evening hours on the 21st and ended just before midnight. During the early morning event, areas south of I-20 in Mississippi were impacted. Most notably, an EF-3 tornado tracked through Lamar and Forrest counties, killing four people in Hattiesburg and injuring over 50 others. In addition, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding occurred in other areas across south Mississippi. The evening event impacted a larger proportion of the ArkLaMiss, and brought wind damage as well as large hail and a strong tornado.
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 Jan 20, 11:56 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson MS 1156 PM CST Fri Jan 20 2017 ...SEVERE STORMS TONIGHT AND POSSIBLE AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT... .UPDATE... Updated for 06Z aviation discussion && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF discussion: Patchy fog and low clouds to will affect PIB/HBG/MEI/NMM for the next few hours but the main aviation impact to the region through early tomorrow will come from a solid cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms pushing in the west between midnight and daybreak, possibly impacting sites such as HKS/JAN/NMM/MEI/PIB/HBG with strong winds and some hail. Confidence of the worst conditions is at PIB/HBG. Locations to the north such (such as GLH/GWO/GTR/CBM) will have the most intense activity pass to the south. After storms clear around or shortly after daybreak expect lower stratus clouds in the IFR to MVFR range to take at least until midday to break up at some sites. More storms and potential high impact will come late tomorrow into tomorrow night, but probably remained mostly confined north of the I-20 corridor. /BB/ && .DISCUSSION... Intense convection has initiated and continued to organize to our southwest over the last several hours in response to a potent upper disturbance interacting with a baroclinic zone near the northwest Gulf Coast. These storms are tending to grow upscale as expected and should eventually manifest in a linear mesoscale convection system (MCS) that marches through the southern half of the forecast area overnight. Even though surface moisture will be recovering from the south quickly in advance of this system expect surface instability to struggle to get north of the I-20 before the thunderstorm activity passes through. This means confidence in damaging winds (and a few embedded tornadoes) produced by the storms will be highest over southern areas, although locations along and north of I-20 could still see pockets of wind to 60 mph with hail a possibility and tornadoes a non-zero proposition. Of course, as mentioned, further south risks of damaging hail (up to golfball size) and wind will be higher and this will especially be the case along the Highway 98 corridor in far SE MS. Here the SPC has increased potential of tornadoes and enough instability could develop in juxtaposition with high shear to warrant mention that strong tornadoes cannot be ruled out as well. Assessed movement of developing activity to our southwest, along with latest hires model forecasts, has lead to us slightly speeding up timing expectations through the region overnight. Graphics are in the process of being updated to reflect the tweaks in thinking. /BB/ Prior discussion below: Tonight through Saturday night: Mostly sunny skies, a breezy southwest wind, and warmer than normal temperatures in the mid 70s were being observed over our CWA this afternoon. This pleasant weather will fade fast this evening as another round of severe storms is expected to move through our CWA tonight. Mid afternoon water vapor imagery/RAP analysis had a potent shortwave trough over the central and southern plains that will swing northeast through Saturday. Ahead of this wave this evening, WAA will strengthen and help increase deep moisture back across at least the southern half of our CWA. The 12Z JAN sounding had a PWAT of 0.64in and our dew points were running in the lower 50s this afternoon. Hi- res models develop convection this evening along the Texas/Louisiana coast and spread rapidly east northeast into our southwest most zones by 11 pm. There will be the potential for a few discrete cells ahead of the main surge but model consensus suggests more of a cluster or line spreading east northeast across our CWA. Model parameters haven't changed much from previous runs including MLCAPE 500-1000j/kg with 0-6km bulk shear of 40-60 kts, mid level lapse rates of 6-7 C/km and 0-1 km shear values of 20 to 30 kts. Any discrete cells would be capable of producing large hail to the size of golfballs as well as damaging winds and tornadoes. A line or cluster would likely produce more of a wind and tornado threat. In addition, the area south of Interstate 20 received several inches of rain yesterday so a quick inch or two in a short period of time may lead to runoff issues. Our Hazardous Weather Outlook continues an elevated risk for all modes of severe weather across the southern half of the forecast area tonight, with a limited threat across the remainder of the area. After the convection shifts east Saturday morning there will be a lull in activity through Saturday afternoon. A few breaks in the afternoon sky cover will allow temperatures to top out in the lower 70s at most sites. This will lend to decent instability going into Saturday evening for the advertised second round of severe storms but the potential for additional severe storms is more of a question this afternoon as hi-res models do not show a lot of redevelopment. The cold core low will approach our delta region by sunrise Sunday morning. This is expected to steepen lapse rates and initiate convection Saturday evening. Large hail and damaging winds are expected with the storms that develop. The northern half of our CWA will have the more favorable conditions for severe storms. /22/ Sunday through Friday morning: Sunday morning the deep upper trough will have dived far south into the ArkLaTex and moving into the ArkLaMiss. Anomalously low heights and surface pressures will be present as the surface low deepens ~990-995mb just to the north in the low-mid Mississippi Valley. In addition, height falls will be some 10-15DM at 500mb. This with strong upper lift, anomalously low surface pressures/upper heights and 150kt upper jet over the northern Gulf will help continue shower and thunderstorm development to be possible through the early morning into the afternoon. Lapse rates could approach 7-8 deg C/km but limited moisture will limit overall destabilization and coverage of storms. With such cold low-mid levels (500mb temperatures around -20), some destabilization will be still ongoing. With efficient shear around, there is definitely a possibility of some stronger to severe storms. Wet bulb zero heights around 5-7kft will support small hail being achieved even in showers and any storms that could attain enough depth to have possibility of any severe hail. In addition, there is enough flow and height falls that there looks to be some type of squall line progressing across early-mid morning or so across the region, mainly east of the Mississippi River. For now, there is quite a bit of uncertainty on how this event will pan out, limited moisture, extremely low heights, and how far east it will have progressed by Sunday morning. For now, left out of any mention in the graphics but this will have to continue to be evaluated. Still have mention in the HWO for Saturday night into Sunday morning, so some of that has a possibility of lingering over into the daytime hours. There could also be some gusty winds of 20-25mph or so due to a strong pressure gradient around. Some increasing isentropic lift/moisture transport could keep some chances of rain lingering north of I-20 as the upper low swings through Sunday night. Expect rain and storm chances to decrease into Sunday evening as the surface low ejects northeast. As the upper trough/surface low eject northeast, expect a strong pressure gradient as surface ridging and drier air move in the wake. Highs should top out near or slightly above normal in the wake. This dry and cooler period will last through early-mid week as surface ridging moves through the region. A deep trough will dive down into the western half of the CONUS around mid-week and a strong surface low moves into the Great Lakes. Temperatures will moderate around mid-week around mid 60s-low 70s. Rain chances will moving back in mid-week around Wednesday or so as an attendant cold front helps isentropic/moisture transport to move back in, helping chances of showers to move back in. As the cold front moves through, strong surface high (~1030-1040mb) will be diving into the Rockies, bringing much drier air with PW's less than a quarter of an inch across the country and into our region. This will usher in much cooler conditions than recently, much closer to climatological normals. /DC/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 59 73 54 64 / 91 19 73 54 Meridian 58 73 54 64 / 99 53 71 61 Vicksburg 58 74 53 64 / 74 15 73 39 Hattiesburg 62 76 56 67 / 100 55 66 46 Natchez 59 74 54 66 / 100 18 68 31 Greenville 56 71 53 62 / 41 13 73 67 Greenwood 57 72 54 63 / 54 15 73 73 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && 22/28/BB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 ARZ074-MSZ018-220615- ASHLEY-BOLIVAR- 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER A LULL IN STORM ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LARGE HAIL TO GOLFBALL SIZE IS EXPECTED BUT SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH OR GREATER IS ALSO EXPECTED. A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE2.PNG) .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 FOR PORTIONS OF THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT. ARZ075-LAZ007>009-015-MSZ019-025>042-044-220615- CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND-SUNFLOWER- LEFLORE-GRENADA-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WEBSTER-CLAY-LOWNDES-CHOCTAW- OKTIBBEHA-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ATTALA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE- ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY-YAZOO-LEAKE- 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TORNADOES THREAT...LIMITED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...LIMITED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT. HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH ARE POSSIBLE. WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE1.PNG) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER A LULL IN STORM ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LARGE HAIL TO GOLFBALL SIZE IS EXPECTED BUT SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH OR GREATER IS ALSO EXPECTED. A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE2.PNG) .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 FOR PORTIONS OF THE REGION TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT. MSZ043-045-220615- MADISON MS-NESHOBA- 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TORNADOES THREAT...LIMITED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...ELEVATED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT, MAINLY AFTER 11PM, UNTIL DAYBREAK SATURDAY MORNING. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60MPH ARE EXPECTED. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE1.PNG) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER A LULL IN STORM ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LARGE HAIL TO GOLFBALL SIZE IS EXPECTED BUT SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH OR GREATER IS ALSO EXPECTED. A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE2.PNG) .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 FOR PORTIONS OF THE REGION TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT. LAZ016-023>026-MSZ046>066-220615- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-CATAHOULA-TENSAS-CONCORDIA-KEMPER-WARREN- HINDS-RANKIN-SCOTT-NEWTON-LAUDERDALE-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON- SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS-LINCOLN-LAWRENCE- JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON-JONES- 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TORNADOES THREAT...ELEVATED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...ELEVATED TIMING...TONIGHT FLOODING THREAT...LIMITED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS AND DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH ARE EXPECTED. TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE...BUT MAINY SOUTH OF A JONESVILLE...TO JACKSON...TO DEKALB LINE. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE1.PNG) SOME STRONGER STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. GIVEN THE SATURATED GROUND FROM RAIN AND STORMS OVER THE LAST DAY, THIS COULD LEAD TO SOME LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING ISSUES. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE3.PNG) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER A LULL IN STORM ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LOCATIONS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 WILL HAVE THE HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. IN THIS AREA, LARGE HAIL TO GOLFBALL SIZE IS EXPECTED BUT SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH OR GREATER IS ALSO EXPECTED. A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. LOCATION SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 COULD SEE SOME SEVERE STORMS WITH HAIL QUARTER TO GOLFBALL SIZE, DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE2.PNG) .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 FOR PORTIONS OF THE REGION TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT. MSZ072>074-220615- MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 1212 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TORNADOES THREAT...SIGNIFICANT TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...ELEVATED TIMING...TONIGHT FLOODING THREAT...LIMITED TIMING...TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS AND DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH TO 70 MPH ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. TORNADOES ARE ALSO LIKELY...AND A STRONG TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE1.PNG) SOME STRONGER STORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. GIVEN THE SATURATED GROUND FROM RAIN AND STORMS OVER THE LAST DAY, THIS COULD LEAD TO SOME LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING ISSUES. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE3.PNG) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER A LULL IN STORM ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY SATURDAY, ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LOCATIONS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 WILL HAVE THE HIGHER RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. IN THIS AREA, LARGE HAIL TO GOLFBALL SIZE IS EXPECTED BUT SOME STORMS MAY PRODUCE HAIL LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60MPH OR GREATER IS ALSO EXPECTED. A TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. LOCATION SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 COULD SEE SOME SEVERE STORMS WITH HAIL QUARTER TO GOLFBALL SIZE, DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBILITY OF A TORNADO. (WWW.WEATHER.GOV/IMAGES/JAN/GRAPHICAST/IMAGE2.PNG) .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 FOR PORTIONS OF THE REGION TONIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT. 50 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *TORNADOES* EXTREME...CONFIDENT IN STRONG TORNADOES WITH RATINGS EF2 OR GREATER. SIGNIFICANT...STRONG TORNADOES POSSIBLE WITH RATINGS EF2 OR GREATER. ELEVATED...CONFIDENT IN TORNADOES. LIMITED...TORNADOES POSSIBLE. *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* EXTREME...CONFIDENT IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 75 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR 2 INCH DIAMETER OR LARGER HAIL. SIGNIFICANT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE WITH WIND GUSTS OF 75 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR 2 INCH DIAMETER OR LARGER HAIL. ELEVATED...CONFIDENT IN SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH WINDS GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR 1 INCH DIAMETER OR LARGER HAIL. LIMITED...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE WITH WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER AND/OR 1 INCH DIAMETER OR LARGER HAIL. *FLOODING* EXTREME...CONFIDENT IN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING. SIGNIFICANT...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING POSSIBLE. ELEVATED...CONFIDENT IN FLOODING. LIMITED...FLOODING POSSIBLE. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN HOME PAGE... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN STAY AWARE, STAY SAFE NWS JAN BRIEFING PAGE... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/SAFE LATEST WEATHER BRIEFING... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/WEATHER_BRIEFING FIND NWS JAN ON FACEBOOK... WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSJACKSONMS FOLLOW NWS JAN ON TWITTER... @NWSJACKSONMS ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/SAFE LATEST WEATHER BRIEFING... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/WEATHER_BRIEFING STORM PREDICTION CENTER (SPC)... WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/ MESO ANALYSIS... WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/EXPER/MESOANALYSIS/DAY 1 THROUGH 3 OUTLOOKS... WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/PRODUCTS/OUTLOOK/ STORM REPORTS... WWW.SPC.NOAA.GOV/CLIMO/ONLINE/ ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR FLOODING ISSUES... CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/SAFE_HEAVYRAIN OBSERVED PRECIPITATION IMAGES... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/PRECIPMAPS LATEST WEATHER BRIEFING... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/JAN/WEATHER_BRIEFING RIVER FORECAST CENTER... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LMRFC/ SIGNIFICANT RIVER FLOOD OUTLOOK... WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/NATIONALFLOODOUTLOOK/INDEX.HTML DAY 1 THROUGH 3 EXCESSIVE RAINFALL... WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/QPF/EXCESS_RAIN.SHTML EXCESSIVE RAINFALL DISCUSSION... WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/DISCUSSIONS/QPFERD.HTML DAY 1 THROUGH 7 QPF... WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/QPF/QPF2.SHTML QPF DISCUSSION... WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/DISCUSSIONS/QPFPFD.HTML PLEASE CONVERT ALL WEB ADDRESSES TO LOWER CASE BEFORE ENTERING!
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 hail, 14 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A swath of pea to golfball size hail fell in the southwestern part of the county. Golfball sized hail fell near the White Apple community.
Pea to quarter sized hail fell in the northwestern part of the county.
Dime to quarter sized hail fell in Florence.
A tree was blown down on Highway 43.
Numerous trees were blown down along Highway 49.
Multiple trees were blown down across the county. These included: a trees down across Highway 49 about 1.5 miles south of the Highway 590 intersection; trees were down on Cold Springs Road, Kelly Creek Road, Evergreen Church Road near Ray Harvey Road, and Three Notch Road near Wilson Road and Williams Road.
Ping pong ball sized hail fell in the Oak Grove community as well as golfball sized hail just to the west of West Hattiesburg.
This tornado began along Purvis-Oloh Road, about 5 miles west northwest of Purvis. It tracked northeast across portions of Lamar County causing mainly tree damage, uprooting and snapping softwood and hardwood trees. It caused some minor to moderate structural damage as well. The tornado crossed Old Highway 11, continuing to cause mainly tree damage, although at least a few structures were also damaged. The tornado began to gain strength as it reached Slade Road, where some homes received roof damage. As the tornado crossed Sullivan Kilrain Road, additional homes received significant roof and structural damage, especially on Carter Circle and Tatum Camp Road. Comprehensive assessments from Lamar County emergency management officials count 26 homes in the county being destroyed or with major damage and 52 homes receiving minor damage. The tornado continued to gain strength as it crossed into Forrest County. There it struck a subdivision along Nellwood Drive, Lakeland Drive and Crestwood Drive and caused significant damage to many homes. Several homes received significant roof and structural damage. One home sustained significant damage and also was the site of one of the fatalities. As the tornado continued to track northeast, it caused extensive tree damage and powerline damage. It struck a church along Helveston Road, which suffered damage to the top floor. As the tornado approached William Cary College, it intensified to EF3 strength, causing damage to numerous buildings on campus. The tornado then affected a mobile home park, where it downed trees and caused damage to mobile homes. Here, two more fatalities occurred. It then caused structural damage to several homes, churches and businesses on James Street and Alcorn Road. Another|fatality occurred on Alcorn Road, when a tree fell on a home. The tornado continued to track northeast, crossing the Leaf River and headed into Petal. Here the tornado got very wide and continued to cause EF2 type damage to businesses along Main Street and into the neighborhoods on the southern side of the city. Extensive tree|damage occurred and countless homes had minor to major roof damage in the neighborhood south of Hillcrest Loop. As the tornado reached Sun Circle, it intensified to EF3 strength again and caused significant damage to a few homes as well as moderate damage to many homes in the neighborhood. Beyond the subdivision along Sun Circle, the tornado caused tree damage again before reaching Evelyn Gandy|Parkway. It caused structural damage to an AT&T store by lifting the roof of the strip mall. It caused additional roof damage to several homes and a church along the Parkway as well as along Springridge Road and Corinth Road. As the tornado tore across Shawnee Trail, it caused impressive tree damage, which included snapping and uprooting hardwood and softwood trees. As the tornado tracked just south of|HDR Lane, it took down two metal electrical transmission lines. The tornado then destroyed a house along Macedonia Road, as well as causing additional roof to other homes and taking down numerous trees. Additional impressive tree damage occurred along Old Richton Road and Tyroby Lane. The tornado continued to down trees as it|tracked across Old Richton Road into Perry County. Comprehensive assessments from Forrest County emergency management officials count 499 homes in the county being destroyed or with major damage and 632 homes receiving minor damage.
The tornado path length in just Lamar and Forrest counties was 24.2 miles, although the entire path of the tornado in total was 31.3 miles. Along the entire tornado path the total number of homes destroyed or receiving major damage is estimated to be 531 with the number of homes having minor damage estimated at 689. Maximum estimated winds were 145 mph. The maximum path width was 900 yards, which occurred in the Petal area of Forrest County. This tornado affected a large number of forested areas. Approximately 1570 forested acres were damaged, with 1453 acres being privately owned. In total, 4320 acres were damaged from this tornado. The total economic impact was $410,784 in Lamar, Forrest and Perry counties. 777 total acres were damaged in Lamar County, and 400 in Forrest.
A few trees were blown down near Ross-McPhail Road.
This tornado began along Purvis-Oloh Road, about 5 miles west northwest of Purvis. It tracked northeast across portions of Lamar County causing mainly tree damage, uprooting and snapping softwood and hardwood trees. It caused some minor to moderate structural damage as well. The tornado crossed Old Highway 11, continuing to cause mainly tree damage, although at least a few structures were also damaged. The tornado began to gain strength as it reached Slade Road, where some homes received roof damage. As the tornado crossed Sullivan Kilrain Road, additional homes received significant roof and structural damage, especially on Carter Circle and Tatum Camp Road. Comprehensive assessments from Lamar County emergency management officials count 26 homes in the county being destroyed or with major damage and 52 homes receiving minor damage. The tornado continued to gain strength as it crossed into Forrest County. There it struck a subdivision along Nellwood Drive, Lakeland Drive and Crestwood Drive and caused significant damage to many homes. Several homes received significant roof and structural damage. One home sustained significant damage and also was the site of one of the fatalities. As the tornado continued to track northeast, it caused extensive tree damage and powerline damage. It struck a church along Helveston Road, which suffered damage to the top floor. As the tornado approached William Carey College, it intensified to EF3 strength, causing damage to numerous buildings on campus. The tornado then affected a mobile home park, downing trees and causing damage to mobile homes. Here, two more fatalities occurred. It then caused structural damage to several homes, churches and businesses on James Street and Alcorn Road. Another fatality occurred on Alcorn Road, when a tree fell on a home. The tornado continued to track northeast, crossing the Leaf River and headed into Petal. Here the tornado got very wide and continued to cause EF2 type damage to businesses along Main Street and into the neighborhoods on the southern side of the city. Extensive tree damage occurred and countless homes had minor to major roof damage in the neighborhood south of Hillcrest Loop. As the tornado reached Sun Circle, it intensified to EF3 strength again and caused significant damage to a few homes as well as moderate damage to many homes in the neighborhood. Beyond the subdivision along Sun Circle, the tornado caused tree damage again before reaching Evelyn Gandy|Parkway. It caused structural damage to an AT&T store by lifting the roof of the strip mall. It caused additional roof damage to several homes and a church along the Parkway as well as along Springridge Road and Corinth Road. As the tornado tore across Shawnee Trail, it caused impressive tree damage, which included snapping and uprooting hardwood and softwood trees. As the tornado tracked just south of|HDR Lane, it took down two metal electrical transmission lines. The tornado then destroyed a house along Macedonia Road, as well as causing additional roof to other homes and taking down numerous trees. Additional impressive tree damage occurred along Old Richton Road and Tyroby Lane. The tornado continued to down trees as it|tracked across Old Richton Road into Perry County. Comprehensive assessments from Forrest County emergency management officials count 499 homes in the county being destroyed or with major damage and 632 homes receiving minor damage.
The tornado path length in just Lamar and Forrest counties was 24.2 miles, although the entire path of the tornado in total was 31.3 miles. Along the entire tornado path the total number of homes destroyed or receiving major damage is estimated to be 531 with the number of homes having minor damage estimated at 689. Maximum estimated winds were 145 mph. The maximum path width was 900 yards, which occurred in the Petal area of Forrest County. This tornado affected a large number of forested areas. Approximately 1570 forested acres were damaged, with 1453 acres being privately owned. In total, 4320 acres were damaged from this tornado. The total economic impact was $410,784 in Lamar, Forrest and Perry counties. 777 total acres were damaged in Lamar County, and 400 in Forrest.
Trees were blown down along Glade Dummy Line Road.
Swath of golfball sized hail fell in the eastern edge of the county.
Numerous trees were blown down onto Highway 59.
A tree was blown down on Interstate 59 at mile marker 134. A large oak tree was also blown down on Highway 513 near Enterprise Elementary School.
Flooding occurred along Pruitt Road near Burnt Bridge Road and Tallahala Creek.
Old River Road South was flooded.
A tree was blown down along Meehan Savoy Road just west of Highway 11.
Multiple portions of the University of Southern Mississippi campus were flooded.
Quarter size hail fell on Pistol Ridge Road.
Quarter sized hail occurred near Vicksburg, including half dollar size hail near the Vicksburg mall.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell in the Robinhood community.
Nickel sized hail fell near the Academy Sports on County Line Road.
Hail fell in southwest Jefferson County, including golfball size hail around the Church Hill area.
Hail to the size of quarters fell just south of Lake Caroline.
Nickel to quarter size hail fell between Pelahatchie and the Rankin/Scott county line.
A tree was blown down across Springfield Road near the intersection of Highway 13 South.
A swath of hail fell, including quarter size hail in Morton and golfball size hail near the intersection of Highway 35 and Old Jackson Road in the Hillsboro community.
Powerlines were blown down along Highway 21 North.
Quarter size hail fell in Wesson and Beauregard.
Multiple trees were blown down along Highway 18 between Raleigh and White Oak.
Trees were blown down along Sunshine Road.
This tornado touched down in a wooded area near Russell Topton Road, snapping trees and powerlines and causing minor roof damage as it crossed the road. The tornado continued northeast onto Lockhart Trailer Court Road and Chip Pickering Drive, where many trees were downed and some structural damage occurred to mobile homes. Here on Lockhart Trailer Court Road, a mobile home was rolled and destroyed, with one minor injury as the resident was thrown out. The tornado|continued northeast before crossing Fred Clayton Road and Campground Road. Here the tornado began to widen and more intense damage occurred. Some minor roof damage occurred to a church and numerous trees were snapped, with some causing damage to some structures. As it traveled roughly along Campground Road and the railroad tracks, the tornado became quite large, around a quarter of a mile wide or|so. Here significant tree damage, EF2 with winds near 115mph, occurred as nearly every tree were snapped and uprooted. The tornado continued northeast until crossing Green Loop Road. The tornado also was at its strongest at Green Loop as many mobile homes were rolled, with around 4 destroyed. One mobile home was thrown with the undercarriage wrapped around a tree. Here the most intense damage|occurred, with winds near 120mph winds. Around 10-11 people were thrown out of mobile homes but thankfully no injuries. The tornado continued before crossing Beaver Pond Road, snapping and uprooting trees. It then continued northeast across a wooded area near Ponta Creek before beginning to weaken and become smaller. It crossed Old Lauderdale Lizelia Road, Highway 45 and then Old Highway 45N,|snapping and uprooting trees before lifting northeast in a wooded area. The maximum estimated winds were 120mph.
Trees were blown down along I-59 and County Road 333 just west of Enterprise.
Trees were blown down along KOA Road. Trees and powerlines were also blown down along Greenhill Loop Road.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Forrest | 2017-01-21 | 58 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Forrest | 2017-01-21 | 47 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Forrest | 2017-01-21 | 20 | Male | Permanent Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Forrest | 2017-01-21 | 72 | Female | Permanent Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2017Warnings in Mississippi, January 2017
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: 676017, 676018, 676019, 676020, 676021, 676022, 676023, 676024, 676495, 676025, 676496, 676026, 676027, 676028, 676029, 676030, 676034, 676031, 676032, 676033, 676273, 676274, 676275, 676278, 676276, 676277, 676279, 676280, 676281, 676284, 676282, 676283, 676285, 676286, 676287, 676288, 676289, 676497, 676290, 676291.