Tornadoes · United States · Mississippi · 2005

F1 tornado, Swiftown to Itta Bena, Mississippi, September 24, 2005

From Swiftown to Itta Bena, this F1 tornado ran 1.0 miles across Leflore County on September 24, 2005, touching down at 5:20 PM CDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F040 to 72 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2113 to 157 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. F3158 to 206 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5261 to 318 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
F1
Date
September 24, 2005
Touchdown
5:20 PM CDT (22:20 UTC)
Path length
1.0 miles (1.6 km)
Path width
100 yards (91 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Leflore County
Touchdown point
33.300, -90.380
Lift-off point
33.300, -90.380
Record number
454

What the Weather Service recorded

This tornado touched down just north-northwest of Cruger, in Holmes county, on the extreme southern end of Mosquito Lake and tracked northwest for 9 miles across southern Leflore county. As the tornado tracked northwest toward the Phillipstown Community, hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted across Mosquito Lake. Between Phillipstown and Quito was where the most significant damage occurred. Two homes and a church were significantly damaged and hunting lodge was totally destroyed with its contents and debris scattered half a mile along the path. A steel framed cotton gin was nearly destroyed in Quito with nearly all of the roof gone and many walls taken down. A seed warehouse at this location was also significantly damaged. Additionally, hundreds of trees were damaged along with several bails of picked cotton that were scattered across a few fields. The tornado dissipated just to the northwest of Quito.

This tornado was photographed near the Swiftown Community as it briefly touched down across farm land. The photo showed and impressive looking tornado along a tree line a mile or so away. Damage was confined to many trees snapped and uprooted.

This weak tornado touched down just south of Itta Bena and tracked northwest for 2 miles before dissipating. Several trees were damaged along the path.

This tornado touched down on the southeast side of Itta Bena and tracked into town for about a mile. Numerous trees were damaged a large limbs scattered along the path through town. One home sustained roof damage and the roof of the High School was damaged. All damage was minor. This tornado developed from the same storm which produced the Quito tornado.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

4 minutes of warning. NWS JAN issued a tornado warning for this county at 22:16 UTC, 4 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 22:45 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
12:00 UTC23:36 UTCLake Wind AdvisoryJAN
21:45 UTC22:15 UTCTornado WarningJAN
21:48 UTC22:15 UTCTornado WarningJAN
22:16 UTC22:45 UTCTornado WarningJAN
22:18 UTC22:45 UTCTornado WarningJAN
22:47 UTC23:15 UTCTornado WarningJAN
23:15 UTC00:00 UTCTornado WarningJAN
00:00 UTC00:45 UTCTornado WarningJAN
00:45 UTC01:30 UTCTornado WarningJAN

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 20:09 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Sep 24, 5:50 AM CDT, 11 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 24, 5:50 AM CDT, 11 hours 30 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
550 AM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

.DISCUSSION...
UPDATING ZONES FOR NEW TORNADO WATCH THAT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION AT 416 AM...
RITA LANDFALL IN THE SWRN CORNER OF LA SHOULD MAKE THIS HURC SEASON
ONE FOR THE RECORDS IN THAT STATE WITH A SECOND CAT.3 IN LESS THAN A
MONTH. SO FAR THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE STAYED JUST SW OF OUR CWFA
WITH 2-3 INCH TOTALS NOW CREEPING INTO CATAHOULA/CONCORDIA PARISHES.
LOOK FOR THESE DROUGHT-BUSTING RAINS TO INCREASE UP THE MS RIVER WITH
ADDITIONAL 2-4 INCH AMOUNTS WORKING NWD ACROSS NERN LA/WRN MS. WILL
KEEP WIND ADVISORY IN PLACE FOR LOCATIONS GENERALLY SW OF BROOKHAVEN
TO VICKSBURG TO BASTROP AND GO WITH LAKE WIND ADVISORIES JUST ABOUT
EVERYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT IN THE EXTREME ERN COUNTIES. STRONGEST 925MB
WIND FIELDS OF 50-60KTS WORK NWD THROUGH NERN LA THROUGH MIDNIGHT AS
THEY TURN MORE FROM THE S. THESE WIND FIELDS EXPAND EWD TO I-55 LATE
TONIGHT. FLASH FLOOD WATCH ALSO KEPT AS IS HOWEVER WILL PROBABLY NEED
TO BE EXTENDED NWD FOR TONIGHT AND SUNDAY TO INCLUDE THE DELTA REGION
AS RITA MOVES NWD ALONG THE SABINE RIVER AND SLOWS.

SWRN HALF OF CWFA WILL BE UNDER THE GUN FOR TORNADOES IN THE OUTER
BANDS OF RITA AS DAYTIME HEATING GETS UNDERWAY. ALREADY SEEING STRONG
INDICATIONS OF ROTATING CELLS IN SERN LA AND THESE WILL BE HEADING
INTO SRN MS THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. TORNADO WATCH POSTED AND WILL
LIKELY BE EXTENDED BY SPC DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS.

BY TONIGHT...RITA CENTER PROGGED TO APPROACH ARKLATEX REGION AND
SHOULD BE NEARLY STALLING CLOSE TO THE KSHV AREA TOWARD MORNING.
EXPECT MORE WIDESPREAD RAINS...STEADY WINDS TONIGHT WITH STILL A
TORNADO RISK FOR MAINLY WRN HALF OF CWFA. RAINFALL TOTALS ALONG AND W
OF THE MS RIVER SHOULD AVERAGE 4-8 INCHES WITH MORE LIKELY THROUGH
THE DAY SUNDAY./40/

LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...THIS PERIOD WILL DEPEND ON THE
INLAND PATH OF RITA. RITA WILL MOVE WEST AND NORTHWEST OF THE REGION
ON SUNDAY...WHERE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND A RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL
CONTINUE. IT WILL WEAKEN TO A INLAND LOW BY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO
MONDAY...WHEN IT MOVES OVER OUR CWA. THE SEVERE WEATHER RISK SHOULD
FINALLY DECREASE ON MONDAY. THE 00Z GFS HAS PRECIPITABLE WATER
DECREASING FROM THE WEST DURING THE DAY. ACCORDING TO THE GFS THE
SHORTWAVE WILL PHASE WITH A NORTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE MOVING INTO
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS WILL PUSH THE RAINS OUT OF THE REGION BY
TUESDAY MORNING. THIS IS A LITTLE FASTER THAN THE PREVIOUS GFS MODEL
RUN IN MOVING THE REMANTS OF RITA OUT OF THE REGION. IT BRINGS IN THE
DRIER AIR WITH 50S SURFACE DEWPOINTS BY TUESDAY...WHICH IS TOO
FAST...WHILE THE OTHER MODELS BRING IT IN ON THURSDAY...WHICH IS MORE
REASONABLE. SO THIS MODEL WAS DISCARDED. THE NAM MODEL STILL KEEPS
RAINS MAINLY WEST OF THE AREA MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...BEFORE
BRINGING THE MAIN MID LEVEL TROF AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT INTO THE
REGION WEDNESDAY...WHILE THE EUROPEAN...NOGAPS AND CANADIAN SLOWS
THINGS DOWN AND KEEPS SOME RAIN AROUND TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. THE
OTHER MEDIUM RANGE MODELS WERE SIMILAR IN BRINGING THE MAIN UPPER
TROUGH TO THE EAST COAST BY THURSDAY OR FRIDAY...WHILE A FLAT RIDGE
DEVELOPS FROM THE WEST. WILL KEEP POPS ABOUT THE SAME AND MAKE SLIGHT
ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMPS./17/

&&

.AVIATION...
NOT A GREAT DAY FOR AVIATION CONCERNS WITH INCREASING WIND SHEAR
ASSOCIATED WITH RITA. MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IN RAIN WILL
SPREAD NWD THROUGH THE CWFA TODAY. STRONGER BANDS OF RAIN WILL
PRODUCE IFR CONDITIONS AT TIMES. EXPECT MOST WINDS TO REMAIN OUT OF
090-130 DEGREES THROUGH MIDDAY AND BECOME MORE 130- 160 DEGREES
DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ONLY IMPROVEMENTS TONIGHT WILL BE
IN THE KMEI AND KHBG SITES WHERE MVFR CEILINGS AND VFR VISIBILITIES
RETURN./40/

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON       83  76  82  72 / 100  80  90  80
MERIDIAN      83  74  84  69 /  90  70  90  60

&&

.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 AM SUNDAY FOR MSZ053-MSZ059-MSZ060-
     MSZ061.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM SATURDAY FOR MSZ047-MSZ053-MSZ059-
     MSZ060-MSZ061-MSZ062.

     LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 AM SATURDAY TO 7 PM SATURDAY FOR
     MSZ018-MSZ019-MSZ025-MSZ026-MSZ027-MSZ028-MSZ034-MSZ035-
     MSZ036-MSZ037-MSZ040-MSZ041-MSZ042-MSZ043-MSZ044-MSZ048-
     MSZ049-MSZ050-MSZ054-MSZ055-MSZ056-MSZ063-MSZ064-MSZ065-
     MSZ066-MSZ072-MSZ073-MSZ074.

LA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 8 AM SUNDAY FOR LAZ007-LAZ008-LAZ009-
     LAZ015-LAZ016-LAZ023-LAZ024-LAZ025-LAZ026.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM SATURDAY FOR LAZ007-LAZ008-LAZ009-
     LAZ015-LAZ016-LAZ023-LAZ024-LAZ025-LAZ026.

AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 7 AM SATURDAY TO 7 PM SATURDAY FOR
     ARZ074-ARZ075.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 24, 10:39 AM CDT, 6 hours 41 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1039 AM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074-
251539-
ADAMS-ASHLEY-ATTALA-BOLIVAR-CARROLL-CATAHOULA-CHICOT-CHOCTAW-
CLAIBORNE-CLARKE-CLAY-CONCORDIA-COPIAH-COVINGTON-EAST CARROLL-
FORREST-FRANKLIN LA-FRANKLIN MS-GRENADA-HINDS-HOLMES-HUMPHREYS-
ISSAQUENA-JASPER-JEFFERSON-JEFFERSON DAVIS-JONES-KEMPER-LAMAR-
LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEAKE-LEFLORE-LINCOLN-LOWNDES-MADISON LA-
MADISON MS-MARION-MONTGOMERY-MOREHOUSE-NESHOBA-NEWTON-NOXUBEE-
OKTIBBEHA-RANKIN-RICHLAND-SCOTT-SHARKEY-SIMPSON-SMITH-SUNFLOWER-
TENSAS-WARREN-WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WEST CARROLL-WINSTON-YAZOO-
1039 AM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHEAST LOUISIANA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...THUNDERSTORMS...
SCATTERED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING TORNADOES AND WIND GUSTS
TO 70 MPH WILL BE LIKELY TODAY ACROSS NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...MAINLY WEST OF A LINE FROM
CANTON...TO RALEIGH...TO THE LAUREL/HATTIESBURG AREA. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE MORE ISOLATED ACROSS SOUTHEAST
ARKANSAS...NORTHERN AND EASTERN MISSISSIPPI.I

HURRICANE RITA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHWARD ALONG THE SABINE
RIVER VALLEY TODAY. AS IT DOES...STRONG WIND SHEAR IN LOWER
LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE STORM WILL
SPREAD INTO EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.
SEVERAL THUNDERSTORMS CONTAINING STRONG ROTATION HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING...AND IN
ADDITION A STRONG LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS DEVELOPING ACROSS
SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA INTO THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO. ALL OF
THIS ACTIVITY WILL MOVE NORTH INTO NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI THIS AFTERNOON.

DUE TO THE STRONG WIND SHEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE...SOME OF THESE
STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE TORNADOES AND WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH.
TORNADOES ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES OF THE SIZE AND INTENSITY OF
RITA CAN BE STRONG...AND CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR AT LEAST
A FEW STRONG TORNADOES TODAY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER 9
PM...BUT A RISK OF ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL CONTINUE OVER THE
REGION...ESPECIALLY WEST OF THE INTERSTATE 55 CORRIDOR.

...FLOODING...
ALTHOUGH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK
AREA...IT MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR OVER NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI. WITH PLENTY OF TROPICAL MOISTURE FLOWING
INTO THE REGION...PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED AS RAIN
BANDS FROM HURRICANE RITA REPEATEDLY MOVE INTO THE AREA. RAINFALL
TOTALS THROUGH SUNDAY MAY REACH 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS
POSSIBLE.

PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME ALONG WITH SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OVER THE SAME AREAS MAY LEAD TO RAPID
RUN OFF AND FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED
FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM BASTROP TO CLAYTON
LOUISIANA TO BUDE MISSISSIPPI.

HEAVY RAIN AND PONDING CAN BE EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE AREA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE...CAUSING
WATER TO ACCUMULATE ON ROADWAYS AND IN OTHER LOW LYING AREAS.

...NON PRECIPITATION...
WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY FOR MUCH OF MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST
ARKANSAS AND NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH
WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH CAN EXPECTED OVER A WIDE AREA WEST OF A
LAUREL TO WINONA LINE. AS HURRICANE RITA MOVES FARTHER
NORTH...STRONG WINDS WILL SPREAD NORTH AND EAST WITH SUSTAINED
WINDS OF NEAR 30 MPH...AND GUSTS UP TO AROUND 50 MPH OVER EAST
CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...ALONG AND SOUTHWEST
OF A BROOKHAVEN TO VICKSBURG TO BASTROP LINE.

WINDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN QUITE GUSTY OVER THE AREA THIS MORNING.
JACKSON HAS REPORTED A PEAK SUSTAINED WIND OF 26 MPH...WITH A
PEAK GUST OF 36 MPH...WHILE NATCHEZ-ADAMS CIVIL DEFENSE HAS
REPORTED A GUST TO 47 MPH. WINDS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE A BIT
MORE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON...BEFORE DIMINISHING SOMEWHAT THIS
EVENING AS RITA WEAKENS.

A COMBINATION OF WET GROUND OVER NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...AND DAMAGED TREES AND LIMBS FROM KATRINA
OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...WILL LIKELY LEAD TO
DOWNED TREES AND LIMBS FROM THESE WINDS.  SOME OF THESE LIMBS AND
TREES MAY COME DOWN ON POWERLINES...AND POWER OUTAGES HAVE
ALREADY BEEN REPORTED OVER PARTS OF THE AREA. BE ESPECIALLY ALERT
FOR DEAD LIMBS THAT COULD FALL IF YOU ARE VENTURING OUTDOORS
TODAY.

...FIRE DANGER...
AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER DUE TO NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES AND LIMBS
CONTINUES TO EXIST ACCORDING TO THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY
COMMISSION...PARTICULARLY ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI WHERE
NUMEROUS BURN BANS ARE IN EFFECT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

...DAYS TWO AND THREE...SUNDAY AND MONDAY...
THE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY...AS SPIRAL
BANDS FROM RITA MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE MAIN
RISK WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR TORNADOES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE
BANDS. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RISK ON SUNDAY WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON
HOW RAPIDLY RITA WEAKENS. AT THE PRESENT TIME...THE GREATEST RISK
LOOKS TO BE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 55 CORRIDOR AS STEADY RAINS
PERSIST TO THE WEST.
ISOLATED STORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EASTERN MISSISSIPPI
MAINLY DURING SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR INCREASES
DURING THE DAYTIME HEATING.

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL COVER MOST OF THE OUTLOOK AREA SUNDAY AND
PERSIST ALL THE WAY INTO MONDAY MORNING. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS
OF 6 TO 10 INCHES MAY BE COMMON OVER NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI BY MONDAY MORNING.

...DAYS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE RITA WILL CONTINUE TO HANG AROUND THE
REGION THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WORK WEEK...PRODUCING
INTERMITTENT AND OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER PORTIONS OF THE
FORECAST AREA. ADDITIONAL RAIN AMOUNTS DURING THIS TIME OF A FEW
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN ISOLATED SPOTS...WHICH COULD EXACERBATE
ANY MINOR FLOODING PROBLEMS WHICH MAY OCCUR OVER THE WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTER GROUPS...AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER
OPERATIONS...WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THROUGH THE
WEEKEND...ESPECIALLY FOR THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA. OTHERWISE...ACTIVATION SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED NEXT
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOK.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 24, 4:44 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
444 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

ARZ074>075-LAZ007>009-015>016-023>026-
-MSZ018>019-025>066-072>074-250200-
ASHLEY AR-CHICOT AR-CATAHOULA LA-CONCORDIA LA-
EAST CARROLL LA-FRANKLIN LA-MADISON LA-MOREHOUSE LA-
RICHLAND LA-TENSAS LA-WEST CARROLL LA-ADAMS MS-
ATTALA MS-BOLIVAR MS-CARROLL MS-CHOCTAW MS-
CLAIBORNE MS-CLARKE MS-CLAY MS-COPIAH MS-COVINGTON MS-
FORREST MS-FRANKLIN MS-GRENADA MS-HINDS MS-HOLMES MS-
HUMPHREYS MS-ISSAQUENA MS-JASPER MS-JEFFERSON MS-
JEFFERSON DAVIS MS-JONES MS-KEMPER MS-LAMAR MS-
LAUDERDALE MS-LAWRENCE MS-LEAKE MS-LEFLORE MS-
LINCOLN MS-LOWNDES MS-MADISON MS-MARION MS-
MONTGOMERY MS-NESHOBA MS-NEWTON MS-NOXUBEE MS-
OKTIBBEHA MS-RANKIN MS-SCOTT MS-SHARKEY MS-SIMPSON MS-
SMITH MS-SUNFLOWER MS-WARREN MS-WASHINGTON MS-
WEBSTER MS-WINSTON MS-YAZOO MS-

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CANCELED A PORTION OF TORNADO
WATCH 813 AND HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 816 UNTIL 9 PM CDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING AREAS

IN ARKANSAS THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

ASHLEY                CHICOT

IN LOUISIANA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 9 PARISHES

IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA

CATAHOULA             CONCORDIA             EAST CARROLL
FRANKLIN              MADISON               MOREHOUSE
RICHLAND              TENSAS                WEST CARROLL

IN MISSISSIPPI THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 47 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

ATTALA                CHOCTAW               COPIAH
HINDS                 HOLMES                HUMPHREYS
LEAKE                 MADISON               RANKIN
SCOTT                 SIMPSON               SMITH
YAZOO

IN EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

CLARKE                JASPER                KEMPER
LAUDERDALE            NESHOBA               NEWTON
NOXUBEE               WINSTON

IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

CARROLL               GRENADA               LEFLORE
MONTGOMERY            WEBSTER

IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

CLAY                  LOWNDES               OKTIBBEHA

IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI

BOLIVAR               SUNFLOWER             WASHINGTON

IN SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

JEFFERSON DAVIS       LAWRENCE              LINCOLN
MARION

IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

COVINGTON             FORREST               JONES
LAMAR

IN SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI

ADAMS                 CLAIBORNE             FRANKLIN
JEFFERSON

IN WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

ISSAQUENA             SHARKEY               WARREN

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...ACKERMAN...ANGUILLA...BASSFIELD...
BASTROP...BAY SPRINGS...BELZONI...BRANDON...BROOKHAVEN...
BROOKSVILLE...BUDE...CANTON...CARROLLTON...CARTHAGE...CLEVELAND...
COLLINS...COLUMBIA...COLUMBUS...CONEHATTA...CROSSETT...
CRYSTAL SPRINGS...DE KALB...DECATUR...DELHI...DERMOTT...DURANT...
EPPS...EUDORA...EUPORA...FAYETTE...FERRIDAY...FOREST...GOODMAN...
GREENVILLE...GREENWOOD...GRENADA...HAMBURG...HARRISONBURG...
HATTIESBURG...HAZLEHURST...HEIDELBERG...INDIANOLA...ISOLA...
JACKSON...JONESVILLE...KOSCIUSKO...LAKE PROVIDENCE...
LAKE VILLAGE...LAUREL...LEXINGTON...LOUISVILLE...LUMBERTON...
MABEN...MACON...MADISON...MAGEE...MATHISTON...MAYERSVILLE...
MEADVILLE...MENDENHALL...MERIDIAN...MONTICELLO...MORTON...
MOUNT OLIVE...NATCHEZ...NEW HEBRON...NEWELLTON...NEWTON...
NORTH CARROLLTON...NORTH CROSSETT...OAK GROVE...PEARL...
PEARL RIVER...PHILADELPHIA...PICKENS...PORT GIBSON...PRENTISS...
PURVIS...QUITMAN...RALEIGH...RAYVILLE...RICHLAND...RIDGELAND...
ROLLING FORK...ROXIE...RULEVILLE...SCOOBA...SHUBUTA...
ST. JOSEPH...STARKVILLE...STONEWALL...TALLULAH...TAYLORSVILLE...
TCHULA...UNION...VAIDEN...VICKSBURG...VIDALIA...WATERPROOF...
WEIR...WESSON...WEST CROSSETT...WEST FERRIDAY...
WEST HATTIESBURG...WEST POINT...WINNSBORO...
WINONA AND YAZOO CITY.
Local storm report, Sep 24, 4:46 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
446 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

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

0225 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CLINTON                 32.34N 90.33W
09/24/2005                   HINDS              MS   AMATEUR RADIO

            A FEW TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN AT MONROE AND SPROLES
            STREET.

&&

DB
Local storm report, Sep 24, 4:48 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
448 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

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

0403 PM     TSTM WND DMG     YAZOO CITY              32.86N 90.41W
09/24/2005                   YAZOO              MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            A COUPLE OF TREES DOWN IN YAZOO CITY.

&&

DB
Local storm report, Sep 24, 4:54 PM CDT, 26 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
454 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

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

0413 PM     TORNADO          BELZONI                 33.18N 90.49W
09/24/2005                   HUMPHREYS          MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            *** 1 FATAL *** EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO 2 SUBDIVISIONS IN
            BELZONI WITH NUMEROUS INJURIES ALSO.

&&

DB
Local storm report, Sep 24, 5:01 PM CDT, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
501 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

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

0315 PM     TORNADO          1 E GREENVILLE          33.39N 91.03W
09/24/2005                   WASHINGTON         MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND NEAR DODD AND BLACK BOW
            ROADS. 5 TRAILER HOUSE WERE DAMAGED...2 DESTROYED. 2
            HOUSES WERE DAMAGED OFF OF DODD RD.

&&

DB
Local storm report, Sep 24, 5:08 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
508 PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

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

0440 PM     TORNADO          5 NE INVERNESS          33.41N 90.53W
09/24/2005                   SUNFLOWER          MS   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED A TORNADO 5 NE OF INVERNESS ON
            HWY 3 CAUSING AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE

&&

DB

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Jackson, MS (KJAN), 12:00Z

10.3 hours before the tornado, 113 km from the path. September 24, 2005.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2005-09-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 580 joules per kilogram, CIN -8, lifted condensation level 755 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2005-09-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 210 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 25 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
580 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-8 J/kg
Surface CAPE
470 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
755 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
210 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
245 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.3
0-3 km lapse rate
5.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Jackson, MS (KJAN), 00:00Z

1.7 hours after it, 113 km from the path. September 25, 2005.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jackson, MS at 00:00Z on 2005-09-25Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 947 joules per kilogram, CIN -20, lifted condensation level 724 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Jackson, MS at 00:00Z on 2005-09-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 234 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 28 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
947 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-20 J/kg
Surface CAPE
663 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
724 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
234 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
270 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
5.3
0-3 km lapse rate
5.6 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Indianola (IDL), 35 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
20:20 UTC80.673.4120° 23 kt331005.8TSRA
20:31 UTC75.271.6120° 11 kt311005.8TSRA BR
20:40 UTC75.271.6190° 14 kt171006.1TSRA BR
20:44 UTC73.471.6190° 14 kt201005.8+TSRA FG
20:56 UTC7473200° 19 kt261005.1+TSRA BR
21:14 UTC75.273.4130° 15 kt221005.1-TSRA BR
21:28 UTC78.875.2120° 16 kt211005.4+RA BR
21:33 UTC75.273.4120° 15 kt251005.1+RA BR
21:41 UTC75.271.6100° 17 kt231005.1RA BR
21:56 UTC7673100° 14 kt191004.7-RA
22:56 UTC7773100° 17 kt221003.7
23:56 UTC787290° 21 kt281003.4

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
20:03 UTCTORNADO 23 Se GreenvilleWashington, MSTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND NEAR DODD AND BLACK BOW ROADS. 4 MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED, 3 WITH MAJOR DAMAGE AND 15 MINOR DAMAGE. 3 HOMES WERE DAMAGED OFF OF DODD ROAD AND 1 BUISNESS WAS DESTROYED. SEVERAL TREES AND POWER
20:03 UTCTORNADO3 Se GreenvilleWashington, MSTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GROUND NEAR DODD AND BLACK BOW ROADS. 4 MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED, 3 WITH MAJOR DAMAGE AND 15 MINOR DAMAGE. 3 HOMES WERE DAMAGED OFF OF DODD RD AND 1 BUISNESS WAS DESTROYED. SEVERAL TREES AND POWER L
20:35 UTCTORNADO 0Silver CityHumphreys, MSMOVED TO 5 SW BELZONI. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO SOME DOWNED LIMBS AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF A HOME...4 MILE LENGTH AND 50 YD MAX WIDTH
20:40 UTCTORNADO1 W BelzoniHumphreys, MSSHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR HWY 49 JUST WEST OF BELZONI
21:03 UTCTSTM WND DMGYazoo CityYazoo, MSA COUPLE OF TREES DOWN IN YAZOO CITY.
21:13 UTCTORNADOBelzoniHumphreys, MS*** 1 FATAL *** EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO 2 SUBDIVISIONS IN BELZONI WITH NUMEROUS INJURIES ALSO.
21:18 UTCTORNADO 13 Nnw BelzoniHumphreys, MSDAMAGE CONSISTED OF DOWNED TREES...BLOWN OVER IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT...AND ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOME AND CHURCH. 1.5 MILE PATH LENGTH AND 75 YARD MAX WIDTH.
21:20 UTCTORNADOBelzoniHumphreys, MSMAJOR DAMAGE REPORTED AT THE JOCKEY MANUFACTURING PLANT IN BELZONI.
21:25 UTCTORNADO 14 E IsolaHumphreys, MS*** 1 FATAL, 2 INJ *** STRUCK AND FLIPPED A MOBILE HOME...CAUSING IT TO BE TOTALLY DESTROYED...A NUMBER OF TREES DOWNED...3 MI LENGTH AND 100 YD MAX WIDTH
21:34 UTCTORNADO 24 Sse BelzoniHumphreys, MS*** 3 INJ *** HEAVIEST DAMAGE ON E AND NE SIDES OF BELZONI...SEVERAL HOUSES SERIOUSLY DAMAGED...MODULAR COMMERCIAL BUILDING TOTALLY DESTROYED...STEEL FRAMED CHURCH BLDG HEAVILY DAMAGED...RURAL DAMAGE TO TREES...POWERLINE
21:35 UTCTORNADO 0ShawBolivar, MSLARGE TREE AND POWER POLE DOWN. SHED DAMAGED. NEED TIME AND DATE.
21:40 UTCTORNADO5 Ne InvernessSunflower, MSEMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED A TORNADO 5 NE OF INVERNESS ON HWY 3 CAUSING AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE
22:03 UTCTORNADO4 Ene ShawBolivar, MSA TORNADO PATH BEGAN ON SANDPIT RD AND MOVED NW TO NEAR BOYLE AND THEN TO SOMEWHERE W OF CLEVELAND. SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
22:25 UTCTORNADO 23 Nw CrugerHolmes, MSTORNADO BEGAN JUST INSIDE THE HOLMES COUNTY LINE...AND THEN MOVED NORTHWEST THROUGH THE PHILLIPSTOWN AND QUITO COMMUNITIES...BEFORE DISSIPATING 1.5 MI SW OF ITTA BENA. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG THE PATH...WITH
22:34 UTCTORNADO3 Ese ClevelandBolivar, MSTHIS TORNADO MOVE INTO BOLIVAR COUNTY JUST ESE OF CLEVELAND AND MOVED NW TO AT LEAST 4 N OF CLEVELAND. SEVERAL HOMES WERE DAMAGED ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
22:54 UTCTORNADO9 Se Itta BenaLeflore, MSTORNADO SPOTTED ON THE GROUND. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWNED. SEVERAL HOMES AND GINS DAMAGED. THE TORNADO MOVED OUT OF NW HOLMES, NEAR CRUGER, ACROSS MOSQUITO LAKE TO THE PHILLIPSTOWN COMMUNITY TO QUITO TO ITTA BE
22:55 UTCTORNADO 11 Se Itta BenaLeflore, MSTORNADO MOVED THROUGH THE EAST SIDE OF ITTA BENA. NUMEROUS LARGE LIMBS AND TREES WERE DOWNED ON A PATH THROUGH THE TOWN...THE ROOF OF THE HIGH SCHOOL HAD MINOR DAMAGE AND ONE HOME HAD SOME ROOF DAMAGE.
22:55 UTCTORNADO5 Sw Morgan CityLeflore, MSTORNADO REPORTED ON THE GOUND IN EXTREME SOUTHERN LEFLORE COUNTY.
23:15 UTCTORNADO5 Wsw GreenwoodLeflore, MSTORNADO ON THE GROUND. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWNED.
23:25 UTCTORNADO 012 N LexingtonHolmes, MSSHORT PATH OF WEAK TORNADO DAMAGE WITH A NUMBER OF LARGE LIMBS AND POWERLINES DOWNED ABOUT 3 MI SE OF THE ACONA COMMUNITY.
23:45 UTCTORNADO 06 S GreenwoodLeflore, MSBRIEF TOUCHDOWN OBSERVED BY FIRE AND EM SPOTTERS NEAR THE RISING SUN COMMUNITY. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2005 tornado in MississippiEvery tornado in Mississippi since 1950Warnings in force in Mississippi nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of September 24, 2005

51 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 249:15 AM CDTF0Franklin, MS0.5100
September 2411:14 AM CDTF0Hinds, MS2.075
September 2411:20 AM CDTF0Hinds, MS0.550
September 2411:21 AM CDTF1Warren, MS1.875
September 2412:40 PM CDTF1Ashley, AR7.0100$100,000
September 2412:51 PM CDTF1Chicot, AR1.0100$300,000
September 2412:54 PM CDTF1Drew, AR4.840
September 241:30 PM CDTF0Hinds, MS0.750
September 242:10 PM CDTF2Washington, MS2.0300$680,000
September 242:45 PM CDTF0Desha, AR11.040
September 243:12 PM CDTF0Washington, MS0.5100
September 243:13 PM CDTF0Bolivar, MS3.5100
September 243:19 PM CDTF0Arkansas, AR7.040
September 243:30 PM CDTF0Jefferson, AR1.540
September 243:35 PM CDTF0Humphreys, MS4.050$10,000
September 244:18 PM CDTF1Humphreys, MS1.575$150,000
September 244:25 PM CDTF1Humphreys, MS3.510012$50,000
September 244:34 PM CDTF2Humphreys, MS18.08003$2.5 million
September 244:35 PM CDTF0Bolivar, MS1.050$30,000
September 244:40 PM CDTF2Lonoke, AR7.21005
September 244:40 PM CDTF0Sunflower, MS1.050
September 245:02 PM CDTF1Sunflower, MS1.0100$20,000
September 245:03 PM CDTF1Bolivar, MS9.0200$400,000
September 245:14 PM CDTF0East Carroll Parish, LA1.050
September 245:35 PM CDTF0Sunflower, MS1.0100$10,000
September 245:37 PM CDTF2Bolivar, MS12.0200$800,000
September 245:54 PM CDTF1Chicot, AR1.075$60,000
September 245:56 PM CDTF0Leflore, MS2.050
September 245:59 PM CDTF1Lonoke, AR1.5100
September 246:00 PM CDTF2Leflore, MS9.0250
September 246:01 PM CDTF1Pulaski, AR4.2100
September 246:09 PM CDTF1Pulaski, AR6.080
September 246:17 PM CDTF1Leflore, MS1.075$200,000
September 246:18 PM CDTF1Faulkner, AR2.080
September 246:25 PM CDTF0Holmes, MS1.050$10,000
September 246:29 PM CDTF1Chicot, AR2.075$150,000
September 246:40 PM CDTF0Carroll, MS3.075
September 246:48 PM CDTF2Conway, AR1.0100
September 246:55 PM CDTF0Franklin, MS2.075
September 247:33 PM CDTF2White, AR9.0150
September 247:45 PM CDTF2Newton, MS0.8100$1.0 million
September 247:55 PM CDTF0Cleburne, AR0.640
September 247:56 PM CDTF0Concordia Parish, LA2.075$70,000
September 248:05 PM CDTF1Cleburne, AR0.750
September 248:37 PM CDTF0Sharkey, MS1.0100
September 248:40 PM CDTF1Sharkey, MS3.0100$400,000
September 249:21 PM CDTF1Arkansas, AR7.040
September 2410:06 PM CDTF1Catahoula Parish, LA9.050$200,000
September 2412:40 AM CDTF0Bolivar, MS1.050$10,000
September 2412:42 AM CDTF0Concordia Parish, LA1.075
September 2412:44 AM CDTF3Concordia Parish, LA14.01003$1.1 million

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.