Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, May 8, 2025

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, May 8, 2025
Start: 2025-05-08T14:29
End: 2025-05-08T15:30
Location: Mississippi

May 8, 2025 · NWS JAN · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

A few isolated supercell storms developed during the afternoon of May 8th. One cell intensified and produced a swath of significant hail along with wind damage on the north side of Starkville.

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: 0
Property damage: $2.9 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 5

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 JAN wrote it up.

A few isolated supercell storms developed during the afternoon of May 8th. One cell intensified and produced a swath of significant hail along with wind damage on the north side of Starkville.

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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 8, 1:23 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 1:23 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
223 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION...

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

Through Tonight:

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible in northeastern
portions of our forecast area where moisture is sufficient enough
for some uncapped convection. Most of the area should remain
clear, through the evening, but storms in those areas to the
northeast could become strong to severe with decent deep-layer
shear to organize updrafts. A Marginal Risk for severe storms
remains in place into this evening. Residual moisture overnight
could lead to some patchy fog development early Friday morning,
however HREF probabilities are fairly low, and low PWAT values at
present suggest only shallow moisture will be available for fog to
develop in low-lying areas.

Friday through Thursday:

The weather pattern through the end of this week and into next
week will be dominated by a closed low pressure system cutting off
from buckled flow over the Gulf Coast. Returning moisture from the
south tomorrow could support some additional strong to severe
storms in southeast Mississippi, and a Marginal Risk for severe
thunderstorms has been issued for the afternoon and evening hours
to account for this potential.

A resulting rex block pattern introduces some uncertainty for how
quickly the cutoff low will lift northward again, but guidance in
decent agreement for showing the low move into the Midwest around
Tuesday in advance of a deepening trough over the U.S. West
Coast. While this low spins over our Gulf Coast region, expect an
increase in cloud cover, chances for rain (especially farther
east), and temperatures to lock in near normal values for mid May.
Once the low begins to push northward and eastward into the
middle of next week, the effects of shortwave ridging moving out
of the Desert Southwest will bring warmer temperatures into our
forecast area. High temperatures in the 80s to 90s could become
widespread by Wednesday and Thursday. /NF/

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

VFR conditions will prevail through at least 06Z Friday. Chances
for patchy BR or FG will introduce MVFR to IFR probabilities
through 15Z, with lifting and mixing to scattered and broken MVFR
cloud deck through the remainder of the period. /EC/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Jackson       62  80  61  74 /  10  40  30  30
Meridian      61  81  59  72 /  10  40  30  50
Vicksburg     62  79  61  73 /  10  40  20  30
Hattiesburg   65  83  62  77 /  20  60  40  60
Natchez       63  78  62  72 /  10  50  20  30
Greenville    62  76  59  72 /  10  20  10  10
Greenwood     61  78  59  75 /  10  30  10  20

&&

.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...None.
LA...None.
AR...None.
&&

NF/EC

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 8, 12:42 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Jackson MS
142 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0537 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     10 SW Start             32.40N 91.99W
05/06/2025                   Richland           LA   NWS Storm Survey

            Several trees were down in the vicinity of
            LA-15. Trees were downed in a scattered
            nature from near Archibald to the western
            Parish border.

&&

86

Special weather statement, May 8, 1:20 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
220 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

MSZ028-029-082000-
Montgomery MS-Webster MS-
220 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN WEBSTER AND CENTRAL
MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM CDT...

At 219 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Kilmichael, or near Winona, moving east at 20 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...
  Kilmichael and Lodi around 225 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3369 8940 3343 8941 3342 8972 3355 8974
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 262DEG 18KT 3348 8964

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

EC

Special weather statement, May 8, 1:46 PM CST, 43 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
246 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

MSZ029-032-082015-
Choctaw MS-Webster MS-
246 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CHOCTAW AND CENTRAL
WEBSTER COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM CDT...

At 245 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles east of Lodi, or 7 miles west of Eupora, moving east at 30 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...
  Eupora, Walthall, and Bellefontaine around 250 PM CDT.
  Sherwood, Clarkson, and Mathiston around 300 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3369 8913 3345 8912 3346 8938 3346 8941
      3363 8940
TIME...MOT...LOC 1945Z 261DEG 28KT 3353 8940

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

19

Special weather statement, May 8, 1:53 PM CST, 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
253 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

MSZ027-028-082030-
Carroll MS-Montgomery MS-
253 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL CARROLL AND
SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM CDT...

At 253 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Vaiden, moving east at 30 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...
  Kilmichael and Poplar Creek around 300 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3334 8946 3332 8973 3343 8974 3346 8948
      3346 8945
TIME...MOT...LOC 1953Z 259DEG 27KT 3339 8968

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

AC

Special weather statement, May 8, 2:19 PM CST, 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
319 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

MSZ029-030-033-082100-
Oktibbeha MS-Clay MS-Webster MS-
319 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN OKTIBBEHA...EASTERN
WEBSTER AND WEST CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM CDT...

At 319 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Clarkson to near Mathiston. Movement was
east at 15 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.

Strong thunderstorms will be near...
  Cumberland, Maben, and Mantee around 325 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3354 8895 3353 8909 3354 8909 3353 8920
      3351 8924 3352 8926 3369 8929 3374 8913
      3374 8904 3375 8903 3375 8897
TIME...MOT...LOC 2019Z 253DEG 15KT 3367 8916 3358 8914

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

AC

Special weather statement, May 8, 2:21 PM CST, 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
Issued by National Weather Service Huntsville AL
321 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

MSZ036-082100-
Holmes MS-
321 PM CDT Thu May 8 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HOLMES COUNTY THROUGH
400 PM CDT...

At 321 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lexington, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 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...
  Emory and Bowling Green around 325 PM CDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3324 8986 3313 8983 3311 9010 3325 9015
      3329 9003
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 253DEG 15KT 3319 9003

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

19

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Oktibbeha

When: May 8, 2:29 PM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 0.47 mi NW of Maben
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.556, -89.085

Hail up to the size of quarters fell.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oktibbeha

When: May 8, 2:31 PM CST to 2:32 PM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 0.49 mi NW of Maben to 0.69 mi N of Maben
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.556, -89.085

Multiple trees and power lines were blown across Maben. Five homes had minor storm damage.

Hail, Oktibbeha

When: May 8, 2:58 PM CST to 3:10 PM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 2.34 mi NW of Starkville to 1.6 mi E of Patrick
Measured: 2.25 in hail
Property damage: $1.8 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.496, -88.855

An intense supercell storm produced a swath of significant hail across the north side of Starkville. Hail size ranged from ping pong ball size to 2.25 inches diameter. This hail damaged homes and vehicles along with the stripping of foliage along a portion Highway 82 and near Reed and Garrard roads to where MS State Highway 182 intersects Highway 12 and 82. In the Clayton Village area the hail damaged roofs, broke windows, smashed car windows, and cracked car headlights.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oktibbeha

When: May 8, 2:59 PM CST to 3:17 PM CST
Where: Oktibbeha County, 2.01 mi NNW of Starkville to 0.18 mi SSE of Starkvl Oktibbeha Ar
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.495, -88.847

A swath of 60-75 mph winds occurred on the flank of an intense supercell as it moved across the norther side of Starkville. Numerous trees were uprooted or had portions snapped or limbs broken off. A large section of a roof was blown off a home. Several trees were down on homes along with single and other minor roof damage to apartment complexes. Tree damage lessened east of town but remained intermittent along Old Highway 82 E.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lowndes

When: May 8, 3:20 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Lowndes County, 1.6 mi W of Mayhew to 4.29 mi NNE of (Gtr)columbus Rgnl A
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 33.479, -88.658

Multiple trees down along Old Highway 82 and Highway 182 Old Westpoint Road.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2025 Every state in 2025 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, May 2025

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: 1266304, 1266307, 1266324, 1266336, 1266348.