Tornadoes · United States · Mississippi · 2017
EF0 tornado, Terrell, Mississippi, August 30, 2017
This EF0 tornado ran 1.1 miles across Jefferson Davis County on August 30, 2017, touching down at 12:35 PM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $15,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 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.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 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.
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
- EF0
- Date
- August 30, 2017
- Touchdown
- 12:35 PM CDT (17:35 UTC)
- Lifted
- 12:37 PM CDT (17:37 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.1 miles (1.7 km)
- Path width
- 50 yards (46 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $15,000
- County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Touchdown point
- 31.569, -89.751
- Lift-off point
- 31.584, -89.753
- Record number
- 1708301135-01
The damage survey
2 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS JAN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 80 mph.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
The remnants of Hurricane Harvey moved across the ArkLaMiss region on August 30th and 31st and brought gusty winds and rain to the region. A few tornadoes also occurred on the 30th. As Harvey decreased to a depression on the 31st, gusty winds still remained across portions of the region. This resulted in some downed trees outside of any shower activity.
This brief tornado touched down at Williams Ln, just off Highway 35, and tracked north for about one mile. At Williams Ln, a large tree was blown down onto a truck, the tree was laid to the west. Other large limbs and tree debris was also blown down here and laid to the west. The tornado broke off several limbs a Granby Road where it then dissipated. Maximum winds were around 80 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 16:27 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 Aug 30, 10:08 AM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 30, 10:08 AM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 30, 5:51 AM CDT, 6 hours 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 551 AM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017 ARZ074-075-LAZ007-008-015-024-026-MSZ018-019-025>028-034>036- 059>061-311100- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-Richland-Catahoula-Concordia- Bolivar-Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Washington- Humphreys-Holmes-Jefferson-Adams-Franklin MS- 551 AM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for extreme southeastern Arkansas and portions of northeastern Louisiana, central Mississippi, northwestern Mississippi, and southwestern Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Marginal TIMING...Midday through this evening FLOODING THREAT...Elevated TIMING...Today through Tonight NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS THREAT...Limited TIMING...Midday through Tonight Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible, mainly from midday through the early evening hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will be the main concerns. Localized flash flooding will become likely going through today into tonight as locally heavy rainfall associated with Harvey begins to concentrate over the area. Rainfall totals through tonight could be as much as 5 inches in a few spots. East to southeast winds will increase through the day and from midday through tonight sustained speeds up to 20 mph are expected with wind gusts up to 35 mph possible. These winds may be able to knock down or uproot weak trees due to the saturated state of the ground. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The flooding risk will gradually subside by later in the day Thursday as the remnants of Harvey shift north away from the region. Additional rainfall totals of a few inches are possible in spots through midday to early afternoon, especially in the northwestern Arklamiss Delta. Sustained southeast to south winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected for the whole region through late Thursday afternoon. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region today through Thursday. MSZ029>033-038-039-311100- Webster-Clay-Lowndes-Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Winston-Noxubee- 551 AM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, and northeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Marginal TIMING...Early afternoon through early evening FLOODING THREAT...Limited TIMING...Midday through Tonight NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS THREAT...Limited TIMING...Early afternoon through Tonight Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible, mainly from early afternoon through the early evening hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will be the main concerns. Localized flash flooding will be possible by this afternoon through tonight as locally heavy rain bands associated with Harvey move over the area. Through tonight a few areas may pick up a couple inches of rainfall in a short amount of time, increasing the flood threat. East to southeast winds will increase through the day and from early afternoon through tonight sustained speeds up to 20 mph are expected with wind gusts up to 30 mph possible. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The flooding risk will gradually subside by later in the day Thursday as the remnants of Harvey shift north away from the region. Additional rainfall totals of a few inches are possible in spots through midday to early afternoon. Isolated severe thunderstorms are again possible for portions of the region on Thursday, mainly in the late morning through afternoon hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will once be the main risks. Sustained southeast to south winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected for the whole region through late Thursday afternoon. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region today through Thursday. LAZ009-016-023-025-MSZ037-040>044-047>050-053>057-062>066-072>074- 311100- East Carroll-Madison LA-Franklin LA-Tensas-Attala-Issaquena- Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Leake-Warren-Hinds-Rankin-Scott- Claiborne-Copiah-Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Lincoln-Lawrence- Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest- 551 AM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northeast Louisiana and much of central and southeastern Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight FLOODING THREAT...Elevated TIMING...Today through Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...Mainly midday through early evening NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS THREAT...Limited TIMING...Midday through Tonight Isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible, mainly from early afternoon through the early evening hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will be the main concerns. Localized flash flooding will become likely by this afternoon through tonight as locally heavy rain bands associated with Harvey move over the area. Through tonight a few areas may pick up several inches of rainfall in a short amount of time, increasing the flood threat. East to southeast winds will increase through the day and from early afternoon through tonight sustained speeds up to 20 mph are expected with wind gusts up to 30 mph possible. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The flooding risk will gradually subside by later in the day Thursday as the remnants of Harvey shift north away from the region. Additional rainfall totals of a few inches are possible in spots through midday to early afternoon. Isolated severe thunderstorms are again possible for portions of the region on Thursday, mainly in the late morning through afternoon hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will once be the main risks. Sustained southeast to south winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected for the whole region through late Thursday afternoon. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region today through Thursday. MSZ045-046-051-052-058-311100- Neshoba-Kemper-Newton-Lauderdale-Clarke- 551 AM CDT Wed Aug 30 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of east central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight FLOODING THREAT...Limited TIMING...Midday through Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...Mainly midday through early evening NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS THREAT...Limited TIMING...Midday through Tonight Severe thunderstorms will be possible, mainly from midday through the early evening hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will be the main concerns. Localized flash flooding will become possible going through today into tonight as locally heavy rain bands associated with Harvey begin to rotate through the area and intensify. Rainfall totals through tonight could be as much as 3 inches in a few spots with some of the heavy rainfall potentially concentrated in a short amount of time. East to southeast winds will increase through the day and from midday through tonight sustained speeds up to 20 mph are expected with wind gusts up to 35 mph possible. These winds may be able to knock down or uproot weak trees due where the ground is quite saturated. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The flooding risk will gradually subside by later in the day Thursday as the remnants of Harvey shift north away from the region. Additional rainfall totals of a 1 to 2 inches are possible in spots through midday to early afternoon. Isolated severe thunderstorms are again possible for portions of the region on Thursday, mainly in the late morning through afternoon hours. Damaging wind gusts and brief tornadoes will once be the main risks. Sustained southeast to south winds of 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are expected for the whole region through late Thursday afternoon. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image2.png) (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image3.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region today through Thursday. 50 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* High...Significant severe thunderstorms are expected. Moderate...Severe storms expected with significant severe weather possible. Enhanced...Severe storms expected. Slight...Severe storms possible. Marginal...Isolated severe storms possible. *FLOODING* Extreme...Confident in significant flooding. Significant...Significant flooding possible. Elevated...Confident in flooding. Limited...Flooding possible. *NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS* Extreme...Sustained winds 50 mph or greater or wind gusts 65 mph or greater. Significant...Sustained winds 40-49 mph or wind gusts 58-64 mph. Elevated...Sustained winds 30-39 mph or wind gusts 45-57 mph. Limited...Sustained winds 20-29 mph or wind gusts 30 to 44 mph. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Tropical page... www.weather.gov/jan/tropical National Hurricane Center Home Page... www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Find NWS JAN on Facebook... www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... Storm Prediction Center (SPC)... www.spc.noaa.gov/ Meso Analysis... www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/ Day 1 through 3 Outlooks... www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ Storm Reports... www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/ ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR FLOODING ISSUES... Current Watches and Warnings... www.weather.gov/jan/safe_HeavyRain Observed Precipitation Images... www.weather.gov/jan/precipmaps River Forecast Center... www.weather.gov/lmrfc/ Significant River Flood Outlook... www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/index.html Day 1 through 3 Excessive Rainfall... www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excess_rain.shtml Excessive Rainfall Discussion... www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpferd.html Day 1 through 7 QPF... www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml QPF Discussion... www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpfpfd.html
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 30, 9:43 AM CDT, 2 hours 52 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
943 AM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
MSZ073-301515-
Lamar MS-
943 AM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT LAMAR COUNTY UNTIL 1015 AM
CDT...
At 940 AM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Baxterville, or 14 miles east of Sandy Hook, moving north at 40
mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Pine Ridge around 955 AM CDT.
Hattiesburg around 1000 AM CDT.
Oak Grove around 1005 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 3100 8948 3100 8950 3101 8950 3101 8955
3100 8955 3100 8965 3131 8964 3132 8936
3099 8943 3099 8948
TIME...MOT...LOC 1440Z 187DEG 33KT 3110 8957
17Special weather statement, Aug 30, 11:36 AM CDT, 59 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1136 AM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
MSZ072-301700-
Marion MS-
1136 AM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MARION COUNTY UNTIL
NOON CDT...
At 1136 AM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Pickwick, or near Columbia, moving north at 35 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Columbia around 1140 AM CDT.
Improve and Goss around 1155 AM CDT.
Bunker Hill around 1200 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
A tornado watch remains in effect until 600 PM CDT for south central
Mississippi.
LAT...LON 3113 8986 3139 8993 3139 8982 3144 8982
3143 8966 3112 8972
TIME...MOT...LOC 1636Z 185DEG 30KT 3119 8978
17Local storm report, Aug 30, 11:47 AM CDT, 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1147 AM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 AM TSTM WND DMG 8 W PURVIS 31.14N 89.54W
08/30/2017 LAMAR MS EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW TREES DOWN NEAR BEACH AND RL ANDERSON
ROADS, POSSIBLE TORNADO.
&&
CELocal storm report, Aug 30, 12:01 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1201 PM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM TORNADO 1 WNW PETAL 31.35N 89.26W
08/30/2017 FORREST MS EMERGENCY MNGR
TORNADO REPORTED IN DOWNTOWN PETAL. TWO
BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET WITH MAJOR ROOF
DAMAGE. SEVERAL TREES DOWN ON HIGHWAY 11 AT
EVELYN GANDY PARKWAY.
&&Local storm report, Aug 30, 12:22 PM CDT, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1222 PM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1043 AM HEAVY RAIN 6 NNW PURVIS 31.23N 89.45W
08/30/2017 E2.00 INCH LAMAR MS TRAINED SPOTTER
HIGHWAY 589 WAS COVERED WITH 1-2 INCHES OF
WATER AND IT WAS STILL RISING.
&&Local storm report, Aug 30, 12:31 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1231 PM CDT WED AUG 30 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1142 AM TORNADO 1 NW PETAL 31.35N 89.27W
08/30/2017 FORREST MS AMATEUR RADIO
TREE ON A HOUSE.
&&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
5.6 hours before the tornado, 88 km from the path. August 30, 2017.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 273 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -30 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 391 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 523 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 235 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 218 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.3
- Supercell composite
- 3.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.7 K/km
The surface observations
Columbia (0R0), 32 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 17:36 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.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2017 tornado in MississippiEvery tornado in Mississippi since 1950Warnings in force in Mississippi nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of August 30, 2017
6 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | 1:46 AM CDT | EF0 | Harrison, MS | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| August 30 | 2:16 AM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| August 30 | 10:04 AM CDT | EF1 | Lamar, MS | 1.7 | 100 | $150,000 | ||
| August 30 | 10:12 AM CDT | EF1 | Pearl River, MS | 4.6 | 100 | |||
| August 30 | 11:31 AM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 2.3 | 100 | |||
| August 30 | 11:41 AM CDT | EF1 | Forrest, MS | 1.3 | 160 | $200,000 |
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.