A few isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of March 27th, but a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moving across the northern half of Mississippi brought more intense severe weather later that evening into the early morning hours of the 28th. Tornadoes and damaging straight line winds accompanied the overnight storms.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS JAN wrote it up.
A few isolated thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of March 27th, but a line of strong to severe thunderstorms moving across the northern half of Mississippi brought more intense severe weather later that evening into the early morning hours of the 28th. Tornadoes and damaging straight line winds accompanied the overnight storms.
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 27, 1:54 PM CST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 254 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 .DISCUSSION... Today and tonight... Warm gusty winds out of the south helping the daytime highs to overachieve a bit this afternoon...and aiding in mixing down some higher wind gusts as well. This same warm air advection pattern and general ascent across the region will result in some scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the expansive cu field over the southeast. However, the bigger storm concern is the advance of a front this evening/overnight into an unstable airmass. Models are fairly consistent with developing a line of showers and thunderstorms along and ahead of the boundary, coming into the Miss River Valley btwn 03Z-06Z. Models lack certainty with timing, and run to run with CAMS is not much better. This afternoon modeled SBCAPE in excess of 2000 J/kg...which is underestimated given how much the daytime heating is overachieving. Showers and thunderstorms this afternoon ahead of the line will have access to the instability with a quickly eroding cap and moderate lapse rates. Some of these storms may be strong, though less organized in coverage. Shear increases into the evening hours ahead of the front...with supercell composite values reaching 2-6 ahead of the front in the overnight hours...mainly along and north of hwy 82...moving into the northwest close to 11pm-midnight. With increasing shear, instability and solid southerly flow ahead of the boundary, all hazards are possible with these storms-- damaging wind gusts, hail, possible tornadoes, heavy rain, particularly until the developing showers along the line start to make forward progress. Enhanced risk of severe weather is outlined for the northwestern portion of the forecast area, northern MS, southeastern AR...decreasing down to marginal from MEI through the metro to Natchez. Convection diminishes after 09Z...though some embedded supercells could continue. The front moves through the remainder of the forecast area through the early morning hours, clearing the forecast region by 18Z. Prev runs have held the actual front back, with the line of convection running ahead of it, resulting in a secondary line of showers developing across the southern third of the forecast area in the afternoon...though subsequent runs are moving away from the later showers. /HJS/ Sunday night through Friday... While surface high pressure will continue to settle over the region Sunday night, mid level southwest flow will remain in place as the tail end of the departing mid level trough looks to break off over TX. Only high clouds will stream across the area through Monday, but as the high pressure area moves east Monday night, deeper moisture will begin to increase from the south. Meanwhile, broader scale southwest flow will setup across the region Monday night into Tuesday as a potent wave moves out of the Pacific Northwest into the Intermountain West. In response, strengthening low level winds will lead to ascent as the old boundary begins moving back to the north Tuesday morning. Elevated convection looks to develop from the south through the day Tuesday with a tightly packed dewpoint gradient, but by Tuesday evening, the surface warm front will move into southern portions with dewpoints around 70. As the mid level system and its attendant cold front approach the area Tuesday night, increased ascent/cooling aloft will lead to steepening lapse rates and CAPEs near 1000 J/kg over the south. This with increasing low and deep layer shear should provide the necessary ingredients for some severe potential. The failure mode for this will be the available instability given the nocturnal timing of the event. With ongoing severe potential at present for tonight, will hold off on mentioning in the HWO at present, but will continue to monitor model trends. The cold front will push through the area rapidly Wednesday with cooler/drier air spreading into the region. Some potential for freezing temperatures may exist over northeast portions by Friday morning as a good radiational cooling event may setup with dewpoints in the mid 20s while the surface ridge axis moves across./GG/ && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF discussion: Mostly VFR with some IFR cigs out there today, though not at any of the TAF sites at the moment. Southerly flow a little more gusty than prev forecasts, and have made some adjustments. Frontal approach in the overnight (and expected TSRA) remains delayed until closer to 06z in the northwest...then progressing to the southeast. Forecast confidence wanes somewhat with the southeastern terminals of the Pine Belt, given how far the front will get by 18z tomorrow. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 61 71 43 70 / 69 55 3 3 Meridian 62 74 43 69 / 40 62 5 4 Vicksburg 60 71 44 71 / 80 37 2 3 Hattiesburg 66 76 46 71 / 21 62 7 8 Natchez 62 71 46 71 / 60 49 3 4 Greenville 58 66 43 67 / 91 22 1 2 Greenwood 59 68 42 68 / 91 32 1 2 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && HJS/GG
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 322 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 ARZ074-075-MSZ018-019-025-026-034-282030- Ashley-Chicot-Bolivar-Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Washington- 322 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, north central Mississippi, and northwest Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Sunday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Enhanced TIMING...Tonight FLOODING THREAT...Limited TIMING...Tonight Severe thunderstorms are likely and tornadoes are possible. Some thunderstorms may produce damaging winds up to 70 mph and large hail up to golf ball size. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) Localized flash flooding is possible, particularly in low lying and urban areas. Minor river flooding is also possible. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday night through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region tonight through Sunday. LAZ007-MSZ027>030-032-035-036-282030- Morehouse-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Choctaw-Humphreys- Holmes- 322 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, and northeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Sunday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...Tonight into Sunday morning FLOODING THREAT...Limited TIMING...Tonight into Sunday morning Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds to 60 mph and hail at least to the size of quarters. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) Localized flash flooding is possible, particularly in low lying and urban areas. Minor river flooding is also possible. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday night through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region tonight through Sunday. LAZ008-009-015-MSZ031-033-037-040>042-282030- West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland-Lowndes-Oktibbeha-Attala- Issaquena-Sharkey-Yazoo- 322 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, northeast Mississippi, and west central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Sunday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...Tonight into Sunday morning Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds to 60 mph and hail at least to the size of quarters. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday night through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region tonight through Sunday. LAZ016-023>026-MSZ038-039-043>066-072>074-282030- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Winston-Noxubee- Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper-Warren-Hinds-Rankin-Scott-Newton- Lauderdale-Claiborne-Copiah-Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke-Jefferson- Adams-Franklin MS-Lincoln-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington- Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest- 322 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, and south central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Sunday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Marginal TIMING...Tonight through Sunday Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging wind gusts and hail. A tornado cannot be ruled out. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday night through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region tonight through Sunday. 26 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* High...Significant severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are likely with strong or violent tornadoes possible. Moderate...Significant severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are likely with strong tornadoes possible. Enhanced...Severe thunderstorms are likely and tornadoes are possible. Slight...Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible. Marginal...Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. *FLOODING* Extreme...Widespread and significant flooding is likely. Significant...Widespread flash flooding is likely and significant flooding is possible. Elevated...Areas of flash flooding likely. Limited...Localized flash flooding is possible. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... https://www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... https://www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Find NWS JAN on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... Storm Prediction Center (SPC)... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/ Meso Analysis... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/ Day 1 through 3 Outlooks... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ Storm Reports... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/ ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR FLOODING ISSUES... Current Watches and Warnings... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe_HeavyRain Observed Precipitation Images... https://www.weather.gov/jan/precipmaps River Forecast Center... https://www.weather.gov/lmrfc/ Significant River Flood Outlook... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/index.html Day 1 through 3 Excessive Rainfall... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excess_rain.shtml Excessive Rainfall Discussion... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpferd.html Day 1 through 7 QPF... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml QPF Discussion... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpfpfd.html
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
432 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021
MSZ030-031-033-272200-
Lowndes MS-Oktibbeha MS-Clay MS-
432 PM CDT Sat Mar 27 2021
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN OKTIBBEHA...
SOUTHERN CLAY AND CENTRAL LOWNDES COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 432 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Starkville, moving northeast at 30 mph.
Dime size hail will be possible with this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Muldrow around 445 PM CDT.
Tibbee around 450 PM CDT.
West Point and Waverly around 500 PM CDT.
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 3334 8881 3349 8905 3373 8872 3368 8872
3368 8850 3367 8849 3367 8850 3366 8852
3365 8851 3366 8850 3366 8846 3368 8842
3364 8837
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 222DEG 24KT 3347 8878
JNEThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:45 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail up to the size of quarters fell along a swath from the Crawford area to near the New Hope area.
Utility poles and lines were blown down along Old Yorkville Road on the northeast side of New Hope.
A brief EF-0 tornado developed east of the Mississippi River levee in Rosedale near the intersection of Levee Street and Main Street. A large portion of a church’s metal roof was peeled off, and the siding and facade of the building was damaged. The tornado lofted the roofing material into the trees and carried it several blocks to the northeast. It caused some roof damage to several other homes and snapped several large hardwood branches before lifting just north of Brown Road on the east side of Rosedale. Estimated peak wind speed was 85 mph.
Several utility poles were blown over, and windows were blown out of a house along Shaw-Skene Road west of Cleveland.
An EF-2 tornado developed just southwest of the intersection of Sixteenth Section Road and US Highway 61 on the southeast side of Shelby. The tornado tracked northeast, crossed Highway 61, and significantly damaged a home - removing the roof and collapsing an exterior wall. It continued to the northeast and destroyed five empty grain bins along Parchman Road. Several trees lost large branches, and one hardwood tree was uprooted. The tornado continued to the northeast and dissipated in a field north of Parchman Road. Estimated peak wind speed was 120 mph.
The Pleasant Grove Church building was blown off its foundation. Other damage to the building included shingle loss, the steeple being blown off, and a rolled propane tank. Tin roofing from a barn just to the west along Sixteenth Section Road was also peeled off.
A few trees were blown down along Mississippi Highway 46 near Hazelwood Loop.
A few trees were blown down along Mississippi Highway 47 in northern Clay County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2021Warnings in Mississippi, March 2021
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: 957604, 957605, 957606, 957613, 957608, 957609, 957614, 957615.