A significant severe weather outbreak across northeast Louisiana and central and southern MS amid a favorably sheared environment. A capping inversion limited early convection, which allowed for higher instability.
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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.
A significant severe weather outbreak across northeast Louisiana and central and southern MS amid a favorably sheared environment. A capping inversion limited early convection, which allowed for higher instability. Supercell initiation began in the afternoon and eroded the capping inversion to allow a long track supercell to take root. This supercell produced a long track EF-3 tornados. Several other brief, weak tornadoes occurred. Supercells also produced hail as large as baseballs and straight line wind damage also occurred. The duration of rainfall also lead to flash flooding.
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 6, 12:31 PM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 131 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 ...New DISCUSSION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe storms capable of producing tornadoes, some possibly strong, damaging winds and large hail, are likely this afternoon into tonight. - Locally heavy rainfall and areas of flooding are likely, with further drought relief expected. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 130 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 Rest of this Afternoon into Thursday...A threat for severe storms continues across the forecast area this afternoon into tonight. There have indeed been some adjustments to the respected threat areas across the forecast area based upon both surface and upper air observations through the course of the day, and the latest high-res model data. The primary adjustments to these threat areas have been a shift to the south for each. This is primarily due to a steadier southward push of the cold front and the cooler drier air associated with it settling into northern portions of the CWA, in addition to a good capping inversion remaining across the area. This cap will continue to be sampled with special KJAN RAOBS through late this afternoon and evening. As eluded to earlier, this cap, along with the abundance of cloud cover across the forecast area, could play a sizeable roll in hampering both coverage and intensity of convection across the area, along with where the best threat area for severe weather sets up. From now through around 6 PM, storms that develop across the CWA will primarily have the potential of producing damaging winds to 70 mph and hail to the size of golf balls. This will especially be the case across areas currently residing in both the "Enhanced Risk" (Level 3 of 5) and the "Slight Risk" (Level 2 of 5) areas. Some convection developing in the wake of the front, namely across the Delta region and North Central Mississippi can't be ruled out. There, a "Marginal Risk" for isolated severe storms exists, with a low end threat for hail to the size of quarters and damaging wind gusts. As we move into late afternoon and evening hours, an area of ascent will lift northeast across the region. The combination of the expected weakening cap, available instability, steep mid-level lapse rates, and increasing overall wind shear and lengthening hodographs, the potential for severe storms increases further. During this time and to a greater extent, the threat for tornadoes increases across much of the area. This is particularly the case in both the "Enhanced Risk" and "Slight Risk" areas, with a strong tornado possible in and around the "Enhanced Risk" area. In addition to the severe weather threat today, an "Elevated Threat" for flash flooding due to heavy rainfall and training of convection is likely given the increase in atmospheric moisture across the region, 2-2.25 inch precipitable H2O values. This will particularly be the case across portions of central, south, and east Mississippi. Here, rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches, and locally higher, will be possible in a short amount of time. Elsewhere across a good portion of the area, a "Limited Threat" for flash flooding exists with rainfall amounts ranging from 2-3 inches will be possible in a short amount of time. Currently, the potential for severe weather looks to finally wrap up across the Pine Belt region between the hours of 1-3 AM Thursday. Some shower activity will linger there through late morning. Clouds will gradually break across the area from northwest to southeast through the afternoon, with slightly cooler drier conditions expected for Thursday into Thursday night. /19/ Friday through next Tuesday...Rain chances begin to shift southeast into late week. Synoptic and surface features will consist of cutoff low aloft near the International Border with frontal zone shifting southeast into the northern Gulf. This will keep some rain chances along the Natchez Trace through before daybreak Friday, with highest coverage into the Pine Belt to Highway 84 to Interstate 59 corridors but shifting northward into the Interstate 20 corridor through the day. As shortwave trough swings into the ArLaTex into the weekend, expect rain coverage to pick up Saturday and into Sunday (25 to 55 percent) ahead of another front. Temperature forecast become more seasonable as return flow gradually shifts around into the weekend (highs in upper 70s Friday to low to mid 80s Saturday and Sunday to mid to upper 80s Sunday and lows in upper 50s to low 60s Friday night to low to mid 60s Saturday and Sunday night). As shortwave becomes absorbed in the developing trough and deepening axis over the region, this will help drive clearing front through the area and rain chances out likely by early to midday Monday of next week. High pressure and seasonably cool conditions will build in the wake. /DC/ && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1238 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026 Mix of MVFR/IFR flight conditions at sites as low ceiling and light rain moves across the area. Stratus clouds will linger over the region with southerly and southwesterly winds near 10-15 kts with higher gusts throughout the afternoon. Showers/storms, with severe storms likely, are expected after 20/21Z Wednesday, resulting in IFR flight conditions throughout the evening and overnight hours. Rain/storm coverage will begin decreasing from the northwest after 05Z Thursday.Low ceilings will keep conditions at MVFR/IFR through the end of the period. /SW/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 61 74 56 74 / 100 10 10 40 Meridian 62 75 54 74 / 90 20 0 30 Vicksburg 58 73 56 75 / 90 0 10 40 Hattiesburg 67 78 59 73 / 80 60 20 60 Natchez 61 75 59 74 / 100 10 30 70 Greenville 55 71 54 76 / 80 0 0 0 Greenwood 56 73 52 77 / 90 0 0 0 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && 19/DC/SW
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1245 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
MSZ052-058-061830-
Lauderdale MS-Clarke MS-
1245 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN CLARKE AND SOUTHEASTERN
LAUDERDALE COUNTIES THROUGH 130 PM CDT...
At 1244 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Stonewall, or near Quitman, moving east at 40 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...
Sykes, Middleton, and Sable around 1250 PM CDT.
Snell around 100 PM CDT.
Causeyville around 105 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3209 8845 3203 8891 3229 8890 3258 8840
3258 8839
TIME...MOT...LOC 1744Z 258DEG 36KT 3210 8877
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
86Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
302 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ023>026-MSZ060-062045-
Tensas LA-Concordia LA-Catahoula LA-Franklin LA-Adams MS-
302 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN TENSAS...
CONCORDIA...CATAHOULA...SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN PARISHES IN
NORTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AND NORTHWESTERN ADAMS COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM
CDT...
At 302 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Mayna, or 12 miles southwest of Jonesville, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea 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...
New Era and Mayna around 305 PM CDT.
Monterey around 310 PM CDT.
Jonesville and Wildsville around 315 PM CDT.
Frogmore around 320 PM CDT.
Ferriday around 330 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northeastern
Louisiana...and southwestern Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3130 9201 3129 9201 3130 9200 3131 9201
3132 9200 3133 9201 3178 9200 3200 9155
3137 9142 3129 9189 3130 9193 3128 9194
3127 9201 3128 9202 3130 9202
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 238DEG 27KT 3145 9192
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SASSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
324 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
LAZ016-MSZ040-047-062115-
Madison LA-Warren MS-Issaquena MS-
324 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN MADISON PARISH...
NORTHERN WARREN AND SOUTHEASTERN ISSAQUENA COUNTIES THROUGH 415 PM
CDT...
At 324 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Eagle Bend, or 9 miles northwest of Vicksburg, moving northeast at 30
mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Vicksburg and Redwood around 330 PM CDT.
Oak Ridge around 340 PM CDT.
Youngton around 355 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northeastern
Louisiana...and central and west central Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3266 9079 3266 9073 3264 9071 3264 9070
3263 9070 3262 9072 3262 9069 3259 9069
3259 9067 3255 9065 3254 9065 3244 9059
3240 9061 3231 9103 3250 9108
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 246DEG 26KT 3243 9097
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
SASSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
338 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
MSZ031-062115-
Lowndes MS-
338 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LOWNDES COUNTY
THROUGH 415 PM CDT...
At 338 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Caledonia, or 13 miles north of Columbus, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Caledonia and Kolola Springs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northeastern
Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3362 8826 3366 8844 3367 8844 3368 8843
3367 8842 3368 8840 3369 8839 3369 8837
3372 8833 3374 8833 3374 8825
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 281DEG 21KT 3369 8835
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DLThe Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:03 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
This tornado downed multiple trees along a path in a wooded area west of LA Highway 15 just north of the Deer Park community. The tornado was observed from LA 15 by a storm chaser. The maximum estimated wind speed was 85 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2026Warnings in Louisiana, May 2026
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: 1338679.