Tornado and Hail in Mississippi, March 5, 2018

Name: Tornado and Hail in Mississippi, March 5, 2018
Start: 2018-03-05T18:17
End: 2018-03-05T19:12
Location: Mississippi

March 5, 2018 · NWS JAN · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Showers and storms developed in the afternoon ahead of a cold front. Some of these storms produced hail and damaging winds during the late afternoon and early evening across west central Mississippi.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $60,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.

Showers and storms developed in the afternoon ahead of a cold front. Some of these storms produced hail and damaging winds during the late afternoon and early evening across west central Mississippi.

What forecasters said that day

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 5, 5:14 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 5, 5:14 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jackson MS
514 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

...SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.UPDATE...
Updated for 00Z aviation discussion

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF discussion:
Showers and storms are moving across northeast Louisiana and
portions of the Mississippi Delta. These will continue to track
east through the evening. Those storms that reach severe limits
will have potential to bring quarter size hail. These will also
reduce ceilings and especially vis at any TAF site these storms
affect. Outside of storms, VFR conditions will continue. Winds
will eventually shift out of the north and could be gusty at times
through the night into early tomorrow morning. Rain will move out
of the region during the morning hours and VFR conditions will
return to all sites tomorrow. /28/

&&

.DISCUSSION...

.DISCUSSION...

This Evening through Tuesday:

A Marginal Risk for severe weather will continue across the
western half of our forecast area through around midnight tonight
- including far southeast Arkansas, central and northeast
Louisiana, and areas in Mississippi west of Interstate 55. As a
stacked low pressure system spins over the Northern High Plains
this afternoon, a cold front extends south along the Mississippi
River Valley into northern Louisiana. Daytime heating and warm,
moist advection ahead of the cold front have boosted dewpoints to
around 65 degrees as far north as Cleveland, MS and Stuttgart, AR.
A line of robust thunderstorms has developed along the portion of
the front from southeast AR to central LA, as 1000 J/kg of MLCAPE
and 40-50 kts of 0-6km shear have allowed for these storms to
become better organized. A few storms have already exhibited
supercell characteristics. With the discrete nature of these
storms, hail and damaging winds will be the primary hazards.
Generally weaker low- level shear across most of the line will
limit tornado potential, however low-level shear is sufficient
enough across the ArkLaMiss Delta region for supercells to be
capable of producing tornadoes.

The threat for severe weather will decrease after sunset tonight,
as the storms move into a less supportive environment and
instability weakens with the loss of daytime heating. Therefore
even though thunderstorms may linger after midnight and for areas
east of Interstate 55, the severe threat will have diminished by
that time and for those areas. Cooler and drier air will begin to
filter into our forecast area by morning as the front clears the
area. Rain chances should end in the Pine Belt by around 9 AM
tomorrow morning. High temperatures should be right around normal
(mid 60's) under sunny skies. As the low pressure system passes to
our north and surface pressure continues to rise during the day,
west winds at around 10 to 15 mph are expected for the afternoon
hours. A few gusts of up to 25 to 35 mph may be possible across
the Highway 82 corridor if some stronger winds can mix down during
the afternoon. /NF/

Wednesday to Monday:

The weather pattern for the middle portion of the week will be
dominated by a anomalous E CONUS trough (Great Lakes upper low)
which will allow for strong sfc higher pressure to build in. Cold
air advection (CAA) will be pretty stout on Wed with 925-850mb
temps running in the 10th percentile. These cold conditions will
support temps some 5-10 degrees below avg Wed-Thu with some
frost/freeze potential (esp Thu and Fri mornings). Each morning,
the NE half of the area will have the greatest potential to see
near or sub freezing temps. At this time, we will continue to
highlight this threat in our HWO graphics.

Look for a quick warmup for Friday with some 70s being reached
(could be more 70s if sunshine prevails). This increasing warmth
will be in response to an approaching shortwave which will impact
the region over the weekend. Look for moisture to increase as
well, especially Friday night into Saturday. As for storm
potential Sat into Sat night, a good deal of uncertainty exists in
how this system will evolve and what sort of hazards may play out
in our area. One thing that the global models do indicate is cold
temps aloft will exist along with strong deep layer shear. Much
will hinge on how quality marine moisture gets used up with any
coastal or off short convective complex. However, there does seem
to be sufficient moisture return into the forecast area to support
convection. At a minimum, convection is the likely steep lapse
rate environment would support large hail. Due to the prev noted
uncertainty, we will continue to monitor this potential system as
it remains in the day 5- 6 timeframe.

A return to cooler conditions is anticipated early next week with
another shot at a frost/freeze in the early/mid week timeframe.
/CME/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Jackson       48  65  37  56 / 100   5   0   0
Meridian      51  65  38  57 / 100  31   0   0
Vicksburg     46  66  37  56 /  99   1   0   0
Hattiesburg   54  65  39  60 / 100  78   0   0
Natchez       49  66  40  56 / 100   5   0   0
Greenville    43  64  36  54 /  52   0   0   0
Greenwood     43  64  36  53 /  87   0   0   0

&&

.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...None.
LA...None.
AR...None.

&&

28

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 5, 4:45 PM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Jackson MS
445 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025-027-034>036-
040>043-047-048-053-054-059>061-062245-
Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland-
Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar-
Sunflower-Leflore-Carroll-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Issaquena-
Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Warren-Hinds-Claiborne-Copiah-Jefferson-
Adams-Franklin MS-
445 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast
Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central
Mississippi, northwest Mississippi, southwest Mississippi, and
west central Mississippi.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Tuesday

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
THREAT...Marginal
TIMING...Through this Evening

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and
evening until around 10 PM CST. The primary hazards from these
storms will be hail up to the size of golf balls and damaging wind
gusts up to 60 mph, although a tornado cannot be ruled out.

(www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png)

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday night through Sunday

A light freeze is possible early Thursday and Friday mornings,
especially across areas of Mississippi north of Interstate 20 and
east of Interstate 55. Elsewhere across the area, patchy frost will
be possible Thursday and Friday mornings. After an early start to
the growing season, these conditions could cause damage to
unprotected sensitive vegetation early Thursday and early Friday.
This potential weather event is still several days away and the
timing and impacts will likely be adjusted in later forecasts.

(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 remainder
of the afternoon through tonight.

MSZ026-028>033-037>039-044>046-050>052-055>058-063>066-072>074-
062245-
Grenada-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Lowndes-Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Attala-
Winston-Noxubee-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper-Scott-Newton-Lauderdale-
Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-
Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest-
445 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central
Mississippi, east central Mississippi, north central Mississippi,
northeast Mississippi, south central Mississippi, and southeast
Mississippi.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Tuesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday night through Sunday

A light freeze is possible early Thursday and Friday mornings,
especially across areas of Mississippi north of Interstate 20 and
east of Interstate 55. Elsewhere across the area, patchy frost
will be possible Thursday and Friday mornings. After an early
start to the growing season, these conditions could cause damage
to unprotected sensitive vegetation early Thursday and early
Friday. This potential weather event is still several days away
and the timing and impacts will likely be adjusted in later
forecasts.

(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 is not expected through next Sunday.

MSZ049-062-062245-
Rankin-Lincoln-
445 PM CST Mon Mar 5 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central
Mississippi, and south central Mississippi.

.DAY ONE...Tonight and Tuesday

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
THREAT...Marginal
TIMING...Through this Evening

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and
evening until around 10 PM CST. The primary hazards from these
storms will be hail up to the size of golf balls and damaging wind
gusts up to 60 mph, although a tornado cannot be ruled out.

(www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png)

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday night through Sunday

A light freeze is possible early Thursday and Friday mornings,
especially across areas of Mississippi north of Interstate 20 and
east of Interstate 55. Elsewhere across the area, patchy frost
will be possible Thursday and Friday mornings. After an early
start to the growing season, these conditions could cause damage
to unprotected sensitive vegetation early Thursday and early
Friday. This potential weather event is still several days away
and the timing and impacts will likely be adjusted in later
forecasts.

(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 remainder
of the afternoon.

NF

&&

...HAZARD LEGEND...

*SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS*
High...Significant severe thunderstorms are expected.
Moderate...Severe storms expected with significant
 severe weather possible.
Enhanced...Severe storms expected.
Slight...Severe storms possible.
Marginal...Isolated severe storms 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
Follow NWS JAN on Youtube...
   www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss

...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES...

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/

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 5, 4:31 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
431 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

LAZ007-052300-
Morehouse LA-
431 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL MOREHOUSE PARISH UNTIL
500 PM CST...

At 431 PM CST, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Sterlington, or near Bastrop, moving east at 35 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Bastrop around 440 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this storm include Collinston, Mer Rouge
and Oak Ridge.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3290 9208 3284 9159 3274 9161 3270 9164
      3268 9162 3261 9167 3261 9171 3259 9173
      3264 9192 3266 9191 3266 9194 3271 9197
      3270 9202 3271 9204 3270 9204 3269 9205
      3271 9206 3280 9205 3284 9206 3287 9208
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 278DEG 30KT 3276 9202

DB

Local storm report, Mar 5, 5:09 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
509 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0451 PM     HAIL             2 ESE BASTROP           32.77N 91.88W
03/05/2018  E1.00 INCH       MOREHOUSE          LA   PUBLIC

&&

CE

Special weather statement, Mar 5, 5:22 PM CST, 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
522 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

LAZ008-009-015-016-052345-
Richland LA-Madison LA-East Carroll LA-West Carroll LA-
522 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN EAST CARROLL...
NORTHWESTERN MADISON...NORTHEASTERN RICHLAND AND SOUTHWESTERN WEST
CARROLL PARISHES UNTIL 545 PM CST...

At 521 PM CST, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles west of Darnell, or 14 miles northeast of Rayville, moving east
at 35 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Darnell and Warden around 535 PM CST.
  Monticello around 545 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this storm include Pioneer and Epps.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3260 9172 3261 9171 3261 9169 3262 9168
      3261 9167 3264 9165 3267 9164 3268 9162
      3269 9162 3270 9164 3271 9163 3275 9160
      3276 9160 3272 9119 3240 9126 3255 9174
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 277DEG 29KT 3264 9161

DB

Special weather statement, Mar 5, 5:35 PM CST, 42 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
535 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

MSZ025>028-060030-
Carroll MS-Grenada MS-Leflore MS-Montgomery MS-
535 PM CST MON MAR 5 2018

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN CARROLL...
GRENADA...NORTHEASTERN LEFLORE AND NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES
UNTIL 630 PM CST...

At 534 PM CST, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Money, or 14 miles north of Greenwood, moving east at 40 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This strong thunderstorm will be near...
  Avalon around 545 PM CST.
  Leflore around 550 PM CST.
  Holcomb around 555 PM CST.
  Bew Springs around 600 PM CST.
  Grenada and Jefferson around 605 PM CST.
  Elliott around 615 PM CST.
  Duck Hill around 620 PM CST.
  Gore Springs around 625 PM CST.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3350 8965 3364 9031 3370 9030 3369 9028
      3370 9026 3376 9023 3375 9029 3381 9028
      3381 9018 3377 9018 3375 9023 3374 9023
      3372 9022 3372 9014 3381 9014 3381 8998
      3382 8998 3382 8993 3384 8992 3386 8956
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 278DEG 35KT 3372 9021

DB

The radar

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Carroll

When: March 5, 6:17 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, 0.69 mi N of Carrollton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.510, -89.920

Hail, Montgomery

When: March 5, 6:32 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.86 mi WNW of Winona
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.490, -89.760

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: March 5, 6:34 PM CST to 6:37 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.5 mi NNW of Winona to 2.7 mi SE of Winna Montgomery Co
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.500, -89.740

An 18 wheeler went off a road and into a ravine along US Highway 82 near Highway 51. A tree was also blown down at the intersection of Oldham Road and Highway 407.

Tornado, Warren

When: March 5, 7:11 PM CST to 7:12 PM CST
Where: Warren County, 2.84 mi ESE of Villanova to 3.3 mi S of Oak Ridge
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.421, -90.733

This brief, weak tornado touched down along Fox Road and traveled for two miles, crossing Flowers Hill Road before it dissipated. Several trees were uprooted and a few large tree branches were snapped. Maximum estimated wind speed was 70 mph.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Mississippi, 2018 Warnings in Mississippi, March 2018

Sources

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: 737993, 737994, 737997, 737995.