On December 28th, an outbreak of severe weather took place. Initially, a few isolated supercells storms developed and produced some tornadoes.
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.
On December 28th, an outbreak of severe weather took place. Initially, a few isolated supercells storms developed and produced some tornadoes. As this occurred, a line of storms also developed and eventually pushed eastward across our region. Widespread damaging winds occurred with the line along with numerous tornadoes. This particular convective system was extremely efficient at producing tornadoes. This resulted in a record number of tornadoes for the month of December. The total across our forecast area was 43. The previous December record was 24 back in 2022.
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 Dec 28, 3:14 PM CST, 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 314 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 ...New DISCUSSION... .DISCUSSION... Issued at 313 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 Tonight: A significant severe weather event is still likely later this afternoon and this evening. The Tornado Watch for I-55 and east will be allowed to expire at 3PM as the convection earlier today has somewhat stabilized the area there. The new PDS Tornado Watch to the west of I-55 is in effect until 9 PM. Not a lot has changed in the thinking from this morning. Damaging winds up to 80mph, Tornadoes; some strong and long track, and hail up to golfball size will all be possible with the storms. In addition, due to antecedent conditions two to four inches of rain in a short amount of time will be possible leading to localized flash flooding, especially over urban and poor drainage areas. Mid afternoon water vapor imagery/RAP analysis showed a potent shortwave trough over central Oklahoma and north central Texas. Moisture and instability will continue to increase over our CWA ahead of this approaching feature. A stout speed max will rotate around the base of the shortwave trough and across our CWA helping to increase severe storm potential. This is expected to result in numerous severe storm damage leading to widespread power outages this evening. The potential for severe storms should be winding down over east Mississippi by midnight but there will be the chance for rain over east Mississippi until the cold front shifts into Alabama. /22/ Sunday through next week (Friday)... In the wake of the severe weather event today, a mostly quiet long term period can be expected through the early to mid portion of the period. Longwave trough/frontal zone will be shifting off to the east, with sfc ridging & drier air building back in into late weekend through early next week. This pattern will support seasonably warm pattern Sunday into early next week. Highs & lows during this period will be some 8-15F above (highs of 63-72F & lows 44-48F Monday morning & 45-54F Tuesday morning). A fast moving shortwave trough/sfc low & frontal system will drive in potential gusty winds on Tuesday but no concerns for storms as PWs will remain too low for convection. If moisture can be on the uptick, this would need to be monitored. In the wake of this frontal zone, a cold 1030mb sfc high will dive down out of the Plains into the Gulf Coast, ushering in near to seasonably cool temperatures. Highs & lows in the Wednesday to Friday timeframe will be some 2-5F below (highs 51-58F & lows 36-41F Wednesday morning & 29-35F both Thursday & Friday mornings with coldest north of Hwy 84 Thursday & northeast half Friday morning). Widespread frost/freeze looks likely during this timeframe. /DC/ && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1149 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024 Still looking at a rough day in aviation later this afternoon with a mixture of VFR/IFR/LIFR ceilings across multiple TAF sites. Current radar scans are still showing SHRA & TSRA east of the I-55 corridor. The fog is continuing to clear and ceilings are still lifting in southern & central areas in MVFR with several spots lifting to VFR. The main line of storms will arrive in the late afternoon to early evening hours & should clear the area shortly after midnight. Expect some gustier winds as well in any storms & preceding convection. A wind shift is expected in the wake of the front to the WNW. In the wake of the front, there is potential for another round of stratus & fog to return after 29/04-10Z Sunday. Flight categories of IFR to even as low as VLIFR are psbl, especially for central to southern TAF sites. Conditions will start to clear to MVFR/VFR conditions by 16Z Sunday with VFR conditions prevailing across the forecast area by 18Z Sunday. /SAS/DC/CR/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 54 67 47 71 / 100 0 0 0 Meridian 53 67 45 69 / 100 0 0 0 Vicksburg 51 67 47 72 / 90 0 0 0 Hattiesburg 56 70 46 71 / 90 0 0 0 Natchez 53 67 49 71 / 90 0 0 0 Greenville 52 64 47 67 / 100 0 0 0 Greenwood 53 66 47 70 / 100 0 0 0 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && 22/DC/CR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1001 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
MSZ064>066-073-281630-
Jones MS-Jefferson Davis MS-Covington MS-Lamar MS-
1001 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN COVINGTON...NORTHWESTERN
LAMAR...WEST CENTRAL JONES AND EASTERN JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTIES
THROUGH 1030 AM CST...
At 1000 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sumrall, or 13 miles northwest of West Hattiesburg, moving northeast
at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Seminary and Sanford around 1005 AM CST.
Collins around 1010 AM CST.
Hebron around 1020 AM CST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 300 PM CST for south central
and southeastern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3141 8965 3177 8951 3166 8925 3143 8941
3143 8945 3138 8945 3135 8947
TIME...MOT...LOC 1600Z 205DEG 38KT 3145 8954
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
86Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1050 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1042 AM Hail Dermott 33.52N 91.43W
12/28/2024 E2.75 Inch Chicot AR Fire Dept/Rescue
Large hail in town to at least baseball
size, some possibly larger. Will update with
additional info and damages later.
&&
CEPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1100 AM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1004 AM Hail 1 NE Mist 33.28N 91.68W
12/28/2024 E1.50 Inch Ashley AR Public
&&
CESpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1249 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
MSZ018-019-281945-
Sunflower MS-Bolivar MS-
1249 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN SUNFLOWER AND BOLIVAR
COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM CST...
At 1249 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Beulah, or near Rosedale, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Pace around 1255 PM CST.
Mound Bayou, Winstonville, Merigold, Cleveland, and Renova around
100 PM CST.
Shelby around 105 PM CST.
Parchman and Rome around 120 PM CST.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3399 9066 3399 9046 3397 9045 3367 9045
3353 9075 3353 9117 3362 9113 3370 9118
3368 9103 3372 9114 3378 9114 3378 9099
3385 9107 3393 9101 3396 9108 3396 9097
3401 9098 3412 9074 3412 9066
TIME...MOT...LOC 1849Z 247DEG 38KT 3379 9097
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
86Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
122 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0301 PM Tornado 3 ESE Myrick 31.65N 88.95W
12/27/2024 Jones MS Emergency Mngr
Along Clay Taylor Rd and Pearman Rd, tree
down on a house, roof lifted and supporting
brick column shifted and cracked. Trampoline
and play set blown into a field. TDS was
noted as well near the Co line associated
with this damage.
&&
CEThe Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:24 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter fell on Louisiana State Road 618.
Several trees were blown down 2 to 4 miles North of town. Some old barns had some tin peeled off.
A tree was blown down near Highway 17 north of Oak Grove.
Several barns and outbuildings had roof, tin or shingle damage. Multiple trees within this swath were damaged or downed as well.
Some minor roof damage in the area and a few trees damaged or downed.
This tornado began near LA Highway 577 north of Waverly and tracked northeast, where it damaged the roof of a house on Highway 577 and snapped several trees. It also peeled tin off the roof of an outbuilding and spread debris into the field northeastward along the path. The tornado continued northeastward largely across open fields, crossed into southwestern East Carroll Parish west of LA 579 and downed trees, large tree limbs and caused minor damage to outbuildings as it tracked along Joes Bayou. As it approached the intersection of LA Hwy 577 and LA Hwy 877, several trees were snapped or uprooted, a road sign was blown over, and a home sustained damage to the roof, gutters, and flashing. Farther northeast, a mobile home along Martin Muse Rd was pushed off its block piers and destroyed. Tin from the home was strewn downwind along the path. The tornado lifted south of LA Highway 881. This tornado was observed and recorded from at least three different locations, including along I-20 near Delhi, along LA Hwy 577, and crossing LA Hwy 580. Total path length across Madison and East Carroll parishes was 16.2 miles.
This EF-1 tornado touched down north of Poverty Point Reservoir in the Black Bear Golf Club. Large tree limbs were downed from several hardwood trees. The garage down from a golf cart storage building, which faced south, was partially blown outward. Golf course employees also mentioned furniture on the golf course had also been thrown and displaced. It then crossed into West Carroll Parish south of LA 877 and snapped small hardwood trees. It dissipated just south of LA 134.
Multiple power lines were blown down near Hwy 17 north of Delhi.
This tornado began near LA Highway 577 north of Waverly and tracked northeast, where it damaged the roof of a house on Highway 577 and snapped several trees. It also peeled tin off the roof of an outbuilding and spread debris into the field northeastward along the path. The tornado continued northeastward largely across open fields, crossed into southwestern East Carroll Parish west of LA 579 and downed trees, large tree limbs and caused minor damage to outbuildings as it tracked along Joes Bayou. As it approached the intersection of LA Hwy 577 and LA Hwy 877, several trees were snapped or uprooted, a road sign was blown over, and a home sustained damage to the roof, gutters, and flashing. Farther northeast, a mobile home along Martin Muse Rd was pushed off its block piers and destroyed. Tin from the home was strewn downwind along the path. The tornado lifted south of LA Highway 881. This tornado was observed and recorded from at least three different locations, including along I-20 at Delhi, along LA Hwy 577, and crossing LA Hwy 580. Total path length across Madison and East Carroll parishes was 16.2 miles.
This EF-1 tornado touched down north of Poverty Point Reservoir in the Black Bear Golf Club. Large tree limbs were downed from several hardwood trees. The garage down from a golf cart storage building, which faced south, was partially blown outward. Golf course employees also mentioned furniture on the golf course had also been thrown and displaced. It then crossed into West Carroll Parish south of LA 877 and snapped small hardwood trees. It dissipated just south of LA 134.
This brief tornado crossed I-20 and US 80 between Waverly and Tendal, snapping and uprooting trees along the path.
Several trees were damaged or downed along highway 580 just west of Alsatia.
This tornado began near LA Highway 580 in the Alsatia community and moved across US 65 and downed trees and large tree limbs. Some tree limbs blocked railroad tracks. One house near the intersection of Fletcher Loop and George Hart Road sustained significant shingle loss, but the wooden beams and plywood remained intact. The tornado continued northeastward and paralleled the Mississippi River east of Transylvania for some time before crossing into Issaquena County near the Fitler community. The tornado crossed MS Highway 1, where it destroyed a shed, damaged a carport, and shifted a mobile home off its foundation. It continued to break branches and snap small softwood trees. The tornado dissipated just beyond Moon Lake where additional tree damage was noted from hi-res satellite data west of Cary. The total path length from the Louisiana side into Mississippi is roughly 18 miles.
A utility pole and large tree limb fell on Division Street.
A few homes were damaged with minor to major roof damage. Worst damage was when a large section of roof was pealed back and portions broken apart. A few other sheds were damaged with roof damage as well. Trees were uprooted and other damaged. Much of this was on the east side of the lake where winds were unimpeded. Peak winds were around 75 mph.
Trees and power lines were down. Some homes sustained roof damage.
Trees and power lines were blown down.
This brief tornado touched down in the community of Ridgecrest along Hammett Addition Circle where it uprooted trees and broke a fence. It broke large branches and it also shifted a shed off its foundation. Tin was noted in the field along HWY 84 where the tornado dissipated.
Hail as large as 1.75 inches fell across the area.
A building had a large section of the rood collapse. A few trees were also uprooted in the area.
Tree and utility lines downed on South Spruce Street and South Oak Street in Vidalia.
A 61 mph wind gust measured via weather station observation.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2024Warnings in Louisiana, December 2024
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1229228, 1229230, 1229231, 1229869, 1229870, 1225289, 1225296, 1227981, 1225290, 1225297, 1252548, 1229872, 1225298, 1229232, 1229895, 1229233, 1229234, 1225302, 1229236, 1229902, 1229235, 1229237.