Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, April 16 to 17, 2022

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, April 16 to 17, 2022
Start: 2022-04-16T14:40
End: 2022-04-17T20:26
Location: Mississippi

April 16 to 17, 2022 · NWS MOB · 12 events in 3 counties and zones

A very moist and unstable environment developed ahead of an approaching cold front. As this front entered the area during the evening hours, it triggered severe thunderstorms that produced tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.

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: 1
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 MOB wrote it up.

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 16, 12:26 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 16, 12:26 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
126 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

.NEAR TERM /Now Through This Evening/...A zonal to northwesterly flow
aloft is in place as an upper-level trough digs into the Great Lakes
region and a ridge builds over Mexico. With these two features
interacting, jet stream flow at the 300mb level has split over
Eastern Arkansas and Western Mississippi, with a northwesterly jet
situated over Louisiana/Southern Mississippi and a westerly jet over
the Ohio River valley. Embedded shortwave energy will also be moving
through the flow aloft, helping to induce lift across the region.
Looking in the lower levels, a surface frontal boundary is currently
draped from northwest Mississippi into southeast Alabama. This
boundary will slowly sag southward throughout the day today, before
stalling over our region this evening and lifting back to the north
Sunday morning.

Current analysis shows strong differential divergence over Eastern
Arkansas/Western Mississippi, where a portion of the surface
boundary resides, a 500mb shortwave trough is located, and the
aforementioned 300mb jet split took place. This has resulted in
ongoing showers and thunderstorms across that region. Looking east,
a 30-40 knot 850mb low level jet, which was over Eastern Alabama
earlier this morning, has departed, leaving behind a much weaker 20-
25 knot flow over the region. This likely assisted in the early
morning storm development over Central Alabama, which has since
waned as they entered our northern CWA counties. Additionally,
sufficient low-level moisture and instability has returned, with dew
points across the region in the upper 60s to near 70 and
temperatures (outside of regions that already received rain this
morning) in the low 80s, giving way to steep low-level lapse rates
and MLCAPEs of 1500 to 2000 J/kg. Although PWATs are between 1.4
to 1.7 inches, a rather stout dry layer was present above 700mb
in the 12z soundings from KLIX and KJAN. With northwesterly flow
aloft in place, this dry layer will have likely advected into our
region, bringing with it estimated DCAPEs of around 800 to 1000
J/kg.

As the frontal boundary pushes southward and the shortwave moves
within the northwesterly flow aloft, the region of maximized
differential divergence will push into our local area. With
sufficient moisture and instability in place, along with bulk shear
values around 30 to 35 kts, expect the shower and thunderstorm
activity to intensify as it pushes southeastward, likely reaching
our region by mid to late afternoon. High DCAPE values suggest that
storms have the potential to produce damaging downburst winds gusts
up to 60mph. Additionally, the dry air aloft and high instability
values suggest a hail threat (up to quarter-sized)with some of the
stronger storms. Storms will begin to weaken and rain coverage will
decrease by the late evening hours as instability values drop due to
the loss of daytime heating and the shortwave trough exits the
region. /96

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z issuance...VFR conditions are currently present across much of
the region. By mid to late afternoon, showers and thunderstorms,
some of which could produce damaging winds and hail, will spread
across the region. A lowering of visibilities and ceilings may occur
in some of the heavier storms. Rain coverage will decrease by the
late evening hours. By early Sunday morning, low stratus will move
into the region, possibly lowering ceilings to IFR. Additionally,
some patchy fog may also develop, reducing visibilities. Fog will
dissipate by mid-morning and ceilings should lift to MVFR by
Saturday afternoon before the next round of showers and storms
approach the region. /96

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...None.
FL...None.
MS...None.
GM...None.
&&

This product is also available on the web at:
www.weather.gov/mob

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 9:17 AM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1017 AM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

ALZ053-055-056-161600-
Clarke AL-Monroe AL-Conecuh AL-
1017 AM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Monroe, east central
Clarke and northwestern Conecuh Counties through 1100 AM CDT...

At 1016 AM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 10 miles southwest of Vredenburgh, or 15 miles
northwest of Monroeville, moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Monroeville, Frisco City, Peterman, Uriah, Excel, Beatrice,
Vredenburgh and Repton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3160 8689 3124 8753 3169 8766 3183 8741
      3183 8725
TIME...MOT...LOC 1516Z 323DEG 16KT 3172 8745

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 9:59 AM CST, 4 hours 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1059 AM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

ALZ055-056-161645-
Monroe AL-Conecuh AL-
1059 AM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Monroe and
central Conecuh Counties through 1145 AM CDT...

At 1059 AM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm near Monroeville, moving southeast at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 to 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Monroeville, Frisco City, Peterman, Excel and Repton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3153 8686 3126 8740 3126 8742 3160 8756
      3172 8725
TIME...MOT...LOC 1559Z 309DEG 15KT 3158 8733

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 1:02 PM CST, 1 hour 38 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
202 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

ALZ051-053-161945-
Clarke AL-Choctaw AL-
202 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Choctaw and
northwestern Clarke Counties through 245 PM CDT...

At 202 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 7 miles southwest of Putnam, or 12 miles
southeast of Butler, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Thomasville and Fulton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3199 8810 3201 8809 3199 8807 3199 8767
      3172 8770 3186 8821 3203 8816 3203 8812
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 282DEG 27KT 3193 8810

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 1:26 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
226 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

ALZ051-053-162015-
Clarke AL-Choctaw AL-
226 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Choctaw and
northwestern Clarke Counties through 315 PM CDT...

At 225 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Myrtlewood to 5
miles northwest of Toxey. Movement was east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Butler, Pennington, Gilbertown and Toxey.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3218 8801 3215 8802 3214 8804 3211 8805
      3209 8804 3206 8807 3207 8810 3205 8812
      3202 8812 3199 8810 3200 8809 3201 8809
      3199 8807 3199 8803 3180 8807 3191 8847
      3196 8847 3224 8801
TIME...MOT...LOC 1925Z 280DEG 37KT 3222 8797 3195 8838

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 2:15 PM CST, 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
315 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

ALZ051-053-MSZ067-162100-
Clarke AL-Choctaw AL-Wayne MS-
315 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern Choctaw,
northwestern Clarke and northeastern Wayne Counties through 400 PM
CDT...

At 315 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated
strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 4 miles southwest of
Putnam to 10 miles south of Crandall. Movement was east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Silas, Gilbertown and Toxey.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3202 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809 3199 8807
      3199 8767 3197 8767 3184 8791 3172 8832
      3171 8858 3185 8864 3189 8848 3192 8847
      3204 8811
TIME...MOT...LOC 2015Z 275DEG 16KT 3197 8809 3182 8855

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Apr 16, 2:24 PM CST, 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
324 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

MSZ067-075-076-162115-
Perry MS-Greene MS-Wayne MS-
324 PM CDT Sat Apr 16 2022

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Perry,
southwestern Wayne and northwestern Greene Counties through 415 PM
CDT...

At 323 PM CDT, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm 4 miles east of Ovett, or 9 miles north of
Richton, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Clara.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3143 8907 3143 8894 3158 8894 3159 8862
      3137 8865 3137 8907
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 267DEG 21KT 3149 8895

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Wayne

When: April 16, 2:40 PM CST to 2:42 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, 1 mi NNE of Mulberry
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.493, -88.844

Hail, Wayne

When: April 16, 2:44 PM CST to 2:46 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, 18 mi SW of Waynesboro
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.486, -88.866

Hail, Greene

When: April 16, 2:45 PM CST to 2:47 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 3 mi SSW of Smithtown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.390, -88.750

Hail, Greene

When: April 16, 2:55 PM CST to 2:57 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 3 mi SSW of Smithtown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.390, -88.750

Tornado, Perry

When: April 17, 7:19 PM CST to 7:20 PM CST
Where: Perry County, 1.73 mi WNW of Richton to 1.5 mi WNW of Richton
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.26 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.358, -88.978

A brief tornado began along Highway 42 west of Richton destroying|a barn and heavily damaging another barn as it quickly reached|peak intensity. An open door structure and older construction|supported a lower bound estimate to the damage. The tornado|continued to the east northeast where several trees and large|branches were snapped. A clear convergence path was noted in the|damage just south of Highway 42. A carport was picked up and|deposited a couple hundred yards down path in power lines. The|tornado then weakened as it likely crossed Highway 42 with a few|large branches snapped and a couple uproots noticed. Some shingle|damage was also noted to a nearby home before the tornado lifted.

Hail, Perry

When: April 17, 7:30 PM CST to 7:32 PM CST
Where: Perry County, Richton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.350, -88.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 17, 7:40 PM CST to 7:42 PM CST
Where: Greene County, Leakesville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.150, -88.570

Tornado, Perry

When: April 17, 7:52 PM CST to 7:54 PM CST
Where: Perry County, 0.82 mi NNW of Beaumont to 1.12 mi E of Beaumont
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.66 mi
Path width: 275 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.180, -88.937

A bowing segment of storms produced a tornado beginning along|Highway 198 near Isabelle Loop just northwest of downtown|Beaumont. The tornado traveled along the tracks of the Canadian|National Railroad, uprooting a tree which fell onto a manufactured|home in its wake. By this time, the tornado had strengthened to|an EF-2 and entered a lumber mill and caused extensive damage to|two large metal buildings. One of the buildings collapsed on|itself, likely due to it being only partially enclosed. Nearby|power poles were damaged, with one snapped clean at its base.|Damage was rated near expected bounds given the age and|construction of the metal buildings which lined up to the snapped|utility pole. The tornado quickly weakened somewhat (to an EF-1),|and continued southeast along the railroad tracks due to the|motion of the parent bowing segment. As it moved along, it caused|a decent amount of tree destruction to numerous hardwood and|softwood trees. As the tornado crossed Bolton Avenue and MS-15, it|restrengthened briefly into an EF-2 and snapped many hardwoods|and softwoods as well as uprooting several trees. It also damaged|the roof of a nearby small home and the roof of a church. A shed|or carport on the church property was also destroyed. More trees|were damaged as the tornado continued to move southeast and also|destroyed a large shed/unattached garage. The tornado then moved|east, parallel to 1st Street, where it likely lifted and|dissipated; however, the survey team was not able to access this|area as the street was closed due to down power poles and|continued tree damage.

Tornado, Greene

When: April 17, 8:02 PM CST to 8:06 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 1 mi SSE of Avera to 2.67 mi SE of Avera
Rating: EF2
Path length: 1.77 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.287, -88.743

A QLCS produced a tornado off of Highway 63 and Lovewell Road|south of the town of Avera, initially snapping and uprooting|trees. One of the trees fell onto a vehicle near a manufactured|home. As the tornado moved southeast it strengthened into an EF-2,|snapping and decimating many large hardwood oak trees. The degree|of damage to these trees were enough to support a higher end|intensity estimate. A large tree limb from one of these oak trees|was turned into a projectile and injured a woman when it pierced|the side of the aforementioned manufactured home. The tornado|proceeded southeast, continuing to destroy hardwood trees in its|wake. It passed through an open field before coming upon more|trees and a small manufactured home. It snapped and uprooted many|of these trees (both soft and hardwood), with two falling onto the|manufactured home. The tornado then likely weakened to an EF-1|and continued southeastward, almost parallel to Highway 63. It|lifted and dissipated just before it reached Avera Road, but not|before tossing a large grain holder and tearing off metal portions|of a nearby barn roof. Debris from this roofing was seen strewn|out over the field.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 17, 8:04 PM CST to 8:06 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 2 mi S of Avera
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.271, -88.750

An NWS Storm Survey documented approximately 5 miles of straight line wind damage along Neely Avera road with several large trees uprooted and large limbs snapped. Winds were estimated at 70 to 80 mph. Times were based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 17, 8:04 PM CST to 8:06 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 5 mi SSW of Jonathan
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 31.153, -88.682

High winds downed large trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 17, 8:24 PM CST to 8:26 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 3 mi WNW of Leakesville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 31.167, -88.617

University of South Alabama CHILI mesonet site near Leakesville measured a 70mph thunderstorm wind gust.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Mississippi, 2022 Warnings in Mississippi, April 2022

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: 1024902, 1024907, 1024910, 1024911, 1020745, 1025105, 1025109, 1020741, 1020792, 1021066, 1025111, 1025112.