A slow moving cold front sagged south into the region on June 12th. The combination of frontal lift, ample moisture, strong daytime heating, and dry air aloft provided the prime setup for severe winds across southwest Mississippi.
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 LIX wrote it up.
A slow moving cold front sagged south into the region on June 12th. The combination of frontal lift, ample moisture, strong daytime heating, and dry air aloft provided the prime setup for severe winds across southwest Mississippi.
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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 12, 2:28 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service New Orleans LA 328 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023 Tonight, thanks to an upper level impulse, scattered showers and storms will be possible and some could be severe. Storms are moving toward our area currently from the NW. These storms have had large hail and strong winds. These storms will persist through sunset this evening. Large hail and damaging winds (>60 mph) are the main concerns. The areas with the greatest threat will be along and north of the I-10/I-12 corridor. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect from now through 8PM CT for areas along and north of I-10/I-12, including Baton Rouge metro area, S MS, MS Coast, and northshore. As this impulse moves eastward, some ridging will build into the area for Tuesday, so rain chances will be low Tuesday for the most part. Southerly surface winds will continue to advect warm and moist air into the environment. Looking at the models and pattern, Tuesday will have low precipitation chances, but the cloud cover will be a little higher than today (20-30%). Temperatures will be in the low to mid 90s with dewpoints in the low 70s. Heat index values are expected to be a little "lower" thanks to the higher cloud cover and lower dewpoints tomorrow (low 70s). Heat index values are expected to be between 100 and 105 degrees Tuesday. These values are still quite warm, but will feel cooler than today for the most part. Wednesday, ridging is expected to build over the area a little more. Persistent southwest and southerly surface winds will help to advect warm and moist air into the region. Cloud cover will be lower on Wednesday during peak daytime heating (10-20%). Dewpoints will be a bit warmer as well in part thanks to the onshore flow. Amd temperatures are still forecast to be in the low to mid 90s. The feels like temperatures, though, will be approaching 108 degrees Wednesday. There are a few uncertainties in the cloud cover and dewpoint forecast and model consensus that is dependent on the strength of the ridging and flow pattern and how they develop over the next day. But generally looking at the ensemble of parameters and conditions, a heat advisory will likely be warranted starting Wednesday. People will need to remember throughout the week to stay hydrated, wear loose fitting clothing, and sunscreen. And check in on vulnerable populations and the elderly. It will be quite hot and we will definitely be feeling it! Stay cool and hydrated out there! MSW && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Sunday night) Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023 Again the primary concern is heat. Even with the differences and questions in the long term portion of the forecast it still seems likely we will be dealing with heat advisory conditions. The main question is how hot the actual temps will get and there are still the same details that could lead to temps not cooperating. The NBM still looks a little warm but the PoPs have come down a tad from yesterday so we have stuck much closer to the NBM with the exception of dropping highs 1-2 degrees Fri-Sun again. The main dominating feature in the extended is the building ridge over Mexico and the Southern and Central Plains. By Thursday afternoon The ridge axis will extend north all the way into central Canada. This is in response to a very deep L/W trough over Lakes and northeast CONUS with the trough axis extending to the FL/GA border along the Atlantic coast. While another closed mid lvl low is over the Canada/Montana border. The other features to note are embedded s/w and where these are will make all the difference in the forecast for Thursday and through the weekend. The ridge and ridge axis will not move much and this will keep us in northwest flow through Friday at least and thus quite vulnerable to s/w and associated MCS's working down towards the region. H925 temps will warm to around 27- 30C and this would convert to mid to upper 90s but that is there are no clouds and storms to worry about. First are any MCS's riding southeast on the periphery of the ridge and likely impacting the northeastern 3rd/half of the CWA. In addition h5 temps look to be around -7 to -9 even some indications of -10C and that is nowhere warm enough to squash convection after we reach convective temps. With that Wee are still hesitant to bite off on the forecast highs the NBM is advertising for much of the area Thursday and especially Friday which would likely tie or break records in a few locations. That said the heat is not as much of a questions. Even with highs in the 94-97 possibly 98 range dewpoints will likely remain in the lower to mid 70s and this should easily equate to heat index values of 103 to 108 Thursday and then 105 to 110 Friday. Heading into the weekend we will remain HOT. The actual forecast highs are expected to be a touch warmer as the ridge is being advertised to build a little more to the east with mid lvl hghts rising impressively however for some reason the models aren't showing the h5 temps responding that way which doesn't really jive. H925 and h85 temps surprisingly don't increase much with h925 around 28-30C and h85 around 22-23C. These mixed down to the sfc are still mid to upper 90s and yet the NBM is indicating 100s in a few locations for the weekend. This is not out of the questions provided we have no convection and little if any cloud cover. The position of the ridge will be key but most of the medium range guidance is still showing somewhat of a northwest flow regime. With that we did drop temps a degree or two but this weekend looks hot and heat advisories are likely to be issued for the weekend if no continued into the weekend. /CAB/ && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023 VFR conditions prevail at all area airports and will persist through the forecast period at most area airports. Frequent wind shifts greater than 30 degrees will be possible at most area airports throughout the forecast period. Ceilings at MCB will lower to LIFR conditions with lower visibilities around daybreak due to fog in the area. Conditions at MCB will improve to VFR conditions by mid morning tomorrow. MSW && .MARINE... Issued at 238 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023 Not much change in the marine forecast from yesterday. Pressure gradient again tonight increases tonight will cause onshore wind speeds to increase to 15-20kts. An exercise caution headline is in effect tonight through 12Z Tuesday. Winds will be predominantly southwesterly and calm tomorrow through Wednesday. An impulse may move through the area mid-week, so some higher wind speeds will be possible (15-20kts) Wednesday through Thursday. There are still a few model uncertainties regarding timing, so it will be something to monitor for changes. Afterward, winds will calm to <15 knots and remain southerly Thursday through the weekend. MSW && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MCB 70 92 71 92 / 20 20 20 40 BTR 75 95 77 96 / 20 10 10 20 ASD 74 95 76 96 / 30 10 10 30 MSY 76 95 78 96 / 10 10 10 30 GPT 74 91 77 92 / 60 10 20 40 PQL 73 93 76 94 / 40 10 10 40 && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. GM...None. MS...None. GM...None. && SHORT TERM...MSW LONG TERM....CAB AVIATION...MSW MARINE...MSW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
346 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
MSZ070-071-122145-
Pike MS-Walthall MS-
346 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Walthall and east central Pike Counties through 445 PM CDT...
At 345 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Jayess, or 13 miles east of Mccomb, moving southeast at 10 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...
Tylertown and Salem.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
southern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3121 9003 3118 9003 3117 9000 3113 9000
3113 8994 3112 8994 3112 9026 3131 9029
3132 9021
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 327DEG 7KT 3128 9024
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CABSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
409 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
LAZ035-MSZ068-069-122145-
West Feliciana LA-Wilkinson MS-Amite MS-
409 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern West
Feliciana Parish, eastern Wilkinson and northern Amite Counties
through 445 PM CDT...
At 408 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Kingston, or 15 miles southeast of Natchez, moving southeast at 25
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 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...
Liberty, Centreville, Woodville, Gloster, Smithdale, Dolorosa and
Crosby.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
southeastern Louisiana...and southern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3135 9121 3134 9115 3132 9112 3134 9106
3133 9106 3133 9103 3135 9102 3133 9099
3135 9098 3135 9057 3124 9055 3097 9125
3132 9143 3136 9130 3137 9123
TIME...MOT...LOC 2108Z 297DEG 21KT 3144 9119
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH
MSWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
447 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
MSZ071-122230-
Walthall MS-
447 PM CDT Mon Jun 12 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Walthall County through 530 PM CDT...
At 447 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Salem, or 10 miles northwest of Kokomo, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 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...
Salem.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for
southern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3135 9009 3133 9008 3133 9004 3118 9003
3117 9000 3115 9001 3117 9025 3135 9025
TIME...MOT...LOC 2147Z 271DEG 16KT 3132 9011
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
FryeThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Local emergency manager reported a tree downed by thunderstorm winds near the intersection of Highway 24 and I-55.
Local emergency manager reported a tree downed onto a home by thunderstorm winds along West Oaks Street in Magnolia.
Local emergency manager reported trees downed onto powerlines by thunderstorm winds along Magnolia Progress Road.
Local Sherriff's office reported several trees and powerlines downed by thunderstorm winds in the Lexie area.
Local emergency manager reported minor home damage from thunderstorm winds.
Local Sheriffs office reported trees downed by thunderstorm winds in the Crossroads area.
Local Sheriffs office reported trees downed by thunderstorm winds in the Henleyfield area.
Local emergency manager reported a tree downed onto a home by thunderstorm winds on South Pine in Poplarville. There were additional trees uprooted and powerlines downed nearby.
Local emergency manager reported a tree downed onto a home by thunderstorm winds on West Mcclendon near South Allen in Poplarville. There were also uprooted trees and powerlines downed in the nearby area.
Local emergency manager reported a tree downed onto a home by thunderstorm winds on Hyde Street near North Jackson Street in Poplarville. Trees were uprooted and powerlines downed in the nearby area.
Local Sheriffs office reported trees downed by thunderstorm winds in Poplarville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, June 2023
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: 1113062, 1113063, 1113064, 1113066, 1113067, 1113068, 1113069, 1113071, 1113073, 1113075, 1113077.