Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Mississippi, April 10, 2024

The remaining portion of a long track tornado entered Wilkinson County from West Feliciana approximately 2.5 miles east of Highway 967 or Jackson Louisiana Road. Ground surveys were impeded due to lack of road access. High resolution satellite analysis was used for this survey. Downed trees indicated that the tornado continued for about 1 mile into Mississippi before it lifted. This was the conclusion of a 16.9 mile long track.

Tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm winds in Centerville. The report came in via social media.

Thunderstorm winds downed trees and limbs across Highway 11 in Picayune.

A tornado exited St Tammany Parish and entered into Hancock County by crossing the Pearl River due west of the Stennis Space Center main gate entrance. A combination of high resolution satellite and radar imagery analysis was used for this survey. Widespread tree damage could be seen on true color satellite imagery growing to a damage path as wide as 300 yards over the Pearl River Basin. Damage to a metal outbuilding was observed after the tornado crossed into Stennis Space Center. This began a very complex interaction of tornado dissipation and genesis around southern Stennis where the damage path of this tornado abruptly ends. The total path length of this tornado, including developing in St Tammany Parish, was 8 miles. Peak intensity was EF-2.

A tornado crossed the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area from St. Tammany Parish into Hancock County west of Stennis. It became increasingly more apparent as the tornado appeared to intensify on high resolution satellite imagery at this time. The tornado damage path was its widest and most intense just west of Perch Lake where the peak width was measured to be near 175 yards. This coincided with the tornado to the south occluding and dissipating which appeared to have given it a boost. After this point, the tornado damage path began to narrow and weaken as the tornado occluded into the tornado to its north. Mostly EF0 damage points were associated with this damage path as the tornado dissipated entering the property of Stennis Space Center. Peak estimated winds over the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area were 105 mph, or EF-1.

A second EF-1 tornado damage path was identified using high resolution satellite imagery. This path was distinctly separated from the tornado damage path to its south and began near H Rd and Old Highway 43. The tornado tracked southeast, just south of the NDBC, before turning east along the canal. The ground survey team found a swath of trees snapped and uprooted along the northern side of the canal, but further ground survey was limited further into Stennis Space Center. The end point for this tornado was estimated based off high resolution satellite imagery which showed a weakening swath of tree damage southeast of a water reservoir continuing northeast toward Ruffin Road. Maximum sustained winds were estimated near 100 mph, or EF-1.

One of two new tornadoes developed and wrapped into a mesovortex along the southern periphery of Stennis Space Center. This was the southern of the 2 tornadoes that was on the ground at the same time over Stennis. Widespread tree damage occurred near the south gate as well as a light pole that was removed from its concrete pedestal. While ground surveying was limited in and around Stennis Space Center, high resolution satellite imagery identified a swath of sporadic damage continued northeastward through Texas Flat Road though some of this was hard to discern between tornadic and straight-line wind. Numerous snapped softwood trees and a leaning transmission pole were observed. The damage path gradually became less obvious as the tornado moved northeast and the end points are associated with a defined linear swath of damage observed in the NDVI differencing on high resolution satellite just north of the Jourdan River. The wind damage that occurred beyond this point was reasoned to be non-tornadic.

An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum sustained winds of 95 mph was identified using high resolution satellite imagery over the northern portions of Stennis Space Center grounds. This tornado started fairly broad and likely multi-vortex with a damage swath extending from Leonard Kimble Road and further north along Mainline Road. High resolution satellite imagery indicated the tree damage path continued eastward where it crossed Texas Flat Road. Branches were broken and a few snapped trees were observed in a generally confluent pattern. The end point for this tornado is estimated based off high resolution satellite NDVI differencing as it interacted with the parent mesovortex to the south and appeared to dissipate. The tornado was rated as an EF-1 with peak winds of 100 mph, a maximum width of 200 yards, and path length of 5.28 miles.

A short-tracked tornado was identified using high resolution satellite imagery NDVI differencing. This tornado tracked over inaccessible rural lands north of Texas Flat Road along Catahoula Creek and Jourdan River before eventually dissipating as it interacted with the parent mesovortex to its east. The degree of damage could not be completed with enough confidence to determine an EF rating. Thus the rating for this tornado is unknown.

An EF-1 100MPH tornado was identified using high resolution satellite imagery NDVI differencing. This tornado tracked over inaccessible rural lands north of Texas Flat Road along Catahoula Creek and Jourdan River before eventually dissipating as it interacted with the parent mesovortex to its east. Numerous uprooted and snapped trees were identified in a swath along the river basin on high resolution satellite imagery which aided in the rating of this tornado.

An embedded tornado following along the backside of the mesovortex was identified using high resolution satellite imagery NDVI differencing where more localized damage to trees and structures were identified via ground survey. The roofs of a large barn and single family home were moderately damaged. This tornado tracked primarily along MS Highway 43 with the most widespread damage being located along the curve in Cuevas Road where a swath of trees appeared to be damaged on satellite imagery in addition to observed damage with ground survey. This is where the tornado appeared to be at its strongest. Thereafter, the damage path in NDVI differencing gradually weakens and the tornado is estimated to have dissipated as it crossed the Silver Creek Acres neighborhood where tree damage was found near Violet Street and Gardenia Street in Kiln. The tornado was rated as an EF-1 with peak winds of 100 mph, a maximum width of 150 yards, and path length of 3 miles.

High resolution satellite imagery aided in identifying yet another embedded tornado that trailed the parent mesovortex that tracked through the area. More localized tree damage in addition to an evident damage path on NDVI differencing helped to confirm the existence of this tornado which tracked from Firetower Road east-southeastward to Old Joe Moran Road. The end point is estimated per satellite imagery which occurred over inaccessible rural lands.

One inch hail reported along I-10 east of Stennis.

Large tree limbs were broken and shingles were blown of a roof northwest of Diamondhead.

The Gulfport ASOS KGPT measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 52 knots or 60 mph.

One inch hail was reported along I-10 near Diamondhead.

Thunderstorm winds down several trees on Edwin Ladner Road.

As the mesovortex tracked east into Harrison County, another tornado developed on the trailing flank of it and tracked east-southeast over primarily inaccessible rural land near the Wolf River. High resolution satellite imagery NDVI differencing identified a scalloped path that starts near F Malley Road in Dedeaux, MS and continues east-southeast where a ground survey identified numerous large tree branches snapped as well as a mobile home that had slid off its blocks. The tornado crossed River Road with minimal damage evident although the track remained visible on NDVI differencing as it crossed the Wolf River. The most notable tree damage from this tornado appears to be located along the river bank, but is not accessible to provide a rating for. The apparent track of the tornado continues east across Wolf River Road and appears to conclude just short of Alcede Lizana Road.

This brief tornado quickly raced southeast causing tree damage across rural areas of Hancock County including across Northrup Cuevas Road, just north of a longer-lived tornado that tracked near Wolf River. NDVI differencing helped to identify this tornado damage path which aligned with the ground survey of a rolled manufactured home on Moran Road. The tornado then lifted shortly thereafter.

Half dollar sized hail reported on the north side of Biloxi.

Broadcast media shared a picture of golf ball sized hail in Woolmarket.

Water covered I-59 between mile markers 4 and 6 in Mississippi.

Large tree limbs were broken by thunderstorm winds.

High resolution satellite imagery in conjunction with KMOB radar imagery helped to confirm the existence of a weak EF-0 65MPH tornado that tracked through rural parts of the Jackson County on April 10, 2024. Only minor tree damage was noted on satellite imagery.

One inch hail was reported east of Saucier.