EF1 tornado, Orange Hill to Luckney, Mississippi, May 4, 2021

1. EF065 to 85 mph

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

2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. EF4166 to 200 mph

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

6. 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.

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.

Rating

EF1

Date

May 4, 2021

Touchdown

2:24 PM CDT (19:24 UTC)

Lifted

2:55 PM CDT (19:55 UTC)

On the ground

31 minutes

Path length

30.7 miles (49.4 km)

Path width

880 yards (805 m)

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Property damage

$855,000

Counties

Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties

Touchdown point

32.464, -90.519

Lift-off point

32.325, -90.022

Record number

2105041324-01

65 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS JAN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 110 mph.

• Large trees uprooted & one snapped causing roof damage to home
• Multiple trees uprooted & large branches broken
• Multiples trees downed & large limbs snapped. Grass is flattened in areas. Branches facing different directions
• Small tree uprooted/large branches broken

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred on May 4th. An initial round of supercell thunderstorms that morning brought several brief tornadoes to the area along with a few instances of damaging winds. The main round of storms occurred during the afternoon in the form of an intense line of storms. Widespread wind damage occurred with embedded swaths of significant damaging winds up to 80 mph. This resulted in numerous downed trees, power lines and infrastructure damage. Seven tornadoes also occurred within the squall line.

This mesovortex tornado began just past the Farr Road line to the northwest of Brownsville. The tornado surged southeast along North John Warren Road, Alexander Road, Coxs Ferry Road causing tree damage, including large limbs snapped & uprooting trees. More widespread damage occurred in the Brownsville area near Trotter Road and State Highway 22, where a tornado debris signature was observed on radar and the tornado began to strengthen. A shed was destroyed from falling limbs as well near here. The tornado continued southeast along Lorance Road, McGuffee Road, Clinton Tinnin Road, N Ratliff Road and Pinehaven Drive/Highway 49 N. Winds began to strengthen to a high end EF1, nearly 100mph, in this region, where widespread damage|to softwood and hardwood trees occurred. Some trees fell on powerlines and a powerpole was broken near Highway 49 N. The tornado continued at this strength southeast over MacLean Road and along W County Line Road, Billy Bell Road, Natchez Trace Parkway and into NW Jackson bordering the Madison County Line. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees, causing damage residential homes and outbuildings in NW Jackson just before crossing Livingston Road, Lakeover Road and Watkins Drive/Hwy 220. The tornado then crossed the densely packed residential areas near Beasley Road and Hanging Moss Road, causing widespread tree and damages to residence and near Callaway High School. Winds were estimated at high end EF1, around 100-110mph, in this area. The tornado then cross N State Street, Briarwood Drive and Interstate 55. A tree fell on an 18 wheeler cab, causing major damage. Peeling of metal siding was observed to a business along Briarwood as well. The tornado continues southeast along Ridgewood Road, Old Canton Road, Westbrook Road and Sedgwick Drive/Harrow Drive. In this area the tornado remained intense EF1 around 90-110mph. Tree damage occurred all through this area and quite a few homes were damaged, some major, from falling trees. One home was split in half from a falling tree in this area. A power pole was snapped in this area, leading to some high end EF1 damage. This tornado continued southeast across the Hinds/Rankin County Line and Pearl River bottom before crossing into portions of northern Flowood. Some large limbs were snapped and a few softwood trees fell into homes in the Laurelwood Subdivision. One home was destroyed and split in half from falling tree. High end EF0 damage around 80-85mph was estimated in this region. The tornado continued southeast before turning east-southeast, crossing Flowood Drive, Lakeland Drive and straddling Luckney Road. Some minor tree damage occurred from falling limbs and small trees, with highest winds around high end EF0. A tree was uprooted along Lakeland Drive and Luckney Road intersection, with a few more down along Luckney and Riverbend Drive and lifted shortly before crossing Highway 471. Maximum estimated winds were 110 miles per hour for the tornado, which occurred in northeast Hinds County. Total path length was 30.70 miles and maximum width was 880 yards, which occurred in Hinds County.

This mesovortex tornado began just past the Farr Road line to the northwest of Brownsville. The tornado surged southeast along North John Warren Road, Alexander Road, Coxs Ferry Road causing tree damage, including large limbs snapped & uprooting trees. More widespread damage occurred in the Brownsville area near Trotter Road and State Highway 22, where a tornado debris signature was observed on radar and the tornado began to strengthen. A shed was destroyed from falling limbs as well near here. The tornado continued southeast along Lorance Road, McGuffee Road, Clinton Tinnin Road, N Ratliff Road and Pinehaven Drive/Highway 49 N. Winds began to strengthen to a high end EF1, nearly 100mph, in this region, where widespread damage to softwood and hardwood trees occurred. Some trees fell on powerlines and a powerpole was broken near Highway 49 N. The tornado continued at this strength southeast over MacLean Road and along W County Line Road, Billy Bell Road, Natchez Trace Parkway and into NW Jackson bordering the Madison County Line. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees, causing damage residential homes and outbuildings in NW Jackson just before crossing Livingston Road, Lakeover road and Watkins Drive/Hwy 220. The tornado then crossed the densely packed residential areas near Beasley Road and Hanging Moss Road, causing widespread tree and damages to residence and near Callaway High School. Winds were estimated at high end EF1, around 100-110mph, in this area. The tornado then cross N State Street, Briarwood Drive and Interstate 55. A tree fell on an 18 wheeler cab, causing major damage. Peeling of metal siding was observed to a business along Briarwood as well. The tornado continues southeast along Ridgewood Road, Old Canton Road, Westbrook Road and Sedgwick Drive/Harrow Drive. In this area the tornado remained intense EF1 around 90-110mph. Tree damage occurred all through this area and quite a few homes were damaged, some major, from falling trees. One home was split in half from a falling tree in this area. A power pole was snapped in this area, leading to some high end EF1 damage. This tornado continued southeast across the Hinds/Rankin County Line and Pearl River bottom before crossing into portions of northern Flowood. Some large limbs were snapped and a few softwood trees fell into homes in the Laurelwood Subdivision. One home was destroyed and split in half from falling tree. High end EF0 damage around 80-85mph was estimated in this region. The tornado continued southeast before turning east-southeast, crossing Flowood Drive, Lakeland Drive and straddling Luckney Road. Some minor tree damage occurred from falling limbs and small trees, with highest winds around high end EF0. A tree was uprooted along Lakeland Drive and Luckney Road intersection, with a few more down along Luckney and Riverbend Drive and lifted shortly before crossing Highway 471. Maximum estimated winds in Madison County were 104 miles per hour. Maximum estimated winds were 110 miles per hour for the tornado, which occurred in northeast Hinds County. Total path length was 30.70 miles and maximum width was 880 yards, which occurred in Hinds County.

This mesovortex tornado began just past the Farr Road line to the northwest of Brownsville. The tornado surged southeast along North John Warren Road, Alexander Road, Coxs Ferry Road causing tree damage, including large limbs snapped & uprooting trees. More widespread damage occurred in the Brownsville area near Trotter Road and State Highway 22, where a tornado debris signature was observed on radar and the tornado began to strengthen. A shed was destroyed from falling limbs as well near here. The tornado continued southeast along Lorance Road, McGuffee Road, Clinton Tinnin Road, N Ratliff Road and Pinehaven Drive/Highway 49 N. Winds began to strengthen to a high end EF1, nearly 100mph, in this region, where widespread damage to softwood and hardwood trees occurred. Some trees fell on powerlines and a powerpole was broken near Highway 49 N. The tornado continued at this strength southeast over MacLean Road and along W County Line Road, Billy Bell Road, Natchez Trace Parkway and into NW Jackson bordering the Madison County Line. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees, causing damage residential homes and outbuildings in NW Jackson just before crossing Livingston Road, Lakeover road and Watkins Drive/Hwy 220. The tornado then crossed the densely packed residential areas near Beasley Road and Hanging Moss Road, causing widespread tree and damages to residence and near Callaway High School. Winds were estimated at high end EF1, around 100-110mph, in this area. The tornado then cross N State Street, Briarwood Drive and Interstate 55. A tree fell on an 18 wheeler cab, causing major damage. Peeling of metal siding was observed to a business along Briarwood as well. The tornado continues southeast along Ridgewood Road, Old Canton Road, Westbrook Road and Sedgwick Drive/Harrow Drive. In this area the tornado remained intense EF1 around 90-110mph. Tree damage occurred all through this area and quite a few homes were damaged, some major, from falling trees. One home was split in half from a falling tree in this area. A power pole was snapped in this area, leading to some high end EF1 damage. This tornado continued southeast across the Hinds/Rankin County Line and Pearl River bottom before crossing into portions of northern Flowood. Some large limbs were snapped and a few softwood trees fell into homes in the Laurelwood Subdivision. One home was destroyed and split in half from falling tree. High end EF0 damage around 80-85mph was estimated in this region. The tornado continued southeast before turning east-southeast, crossing Flowood Drive, Lakeland Drive and straddling Luckney Road. Some minor tree damage occurred from falling limbs and small trees, with highest winds around high end EF0. A tree was uprooted along Lakeland Drive and Luckney Road intersection, with a few more down along Luckney and Riverbend Drive and lifted shortly before crossing Highway 471. Maximum estimated winds were 110 miles per hour for the tornado, which occurred in northeast Hinds County. Total path length was 30.70 miles and maximum width was 880 yards, which occurred in Hinds County.

This mesovortex tornado began just past the Farr Road line to the northwest of Brownsville. The tornado surged southeast along North John Warren Road, Alexander Road, Coxs Ferry Road causing tree damage, including large limbs snapped & uprooting trees. More widespread damage occurred in the Brownsville area near Trotter Road and State Highway 22, where a tornado debris signature was observed on radar and the tornado began to strengthen. A shed was destroyed from falling limbs as well near here. The tornado continued southeast along Lorance Road, McGuffee Road, Clinton Tinnin Road, N Ratliff Road and Pinehaven Drive/Highway 49 N. Winds began to strengthen to a high end EF1, nearly 100mph, in this region, where widespread damage to softwood and hardwood trees occurred. Some trees fell on powerlines and a powerpole was broken near Highway 49 N. The tornado continued at this strength southeast over MacLean Road and along W County Line Road, Billy Bell Road, Natchez Trace Parkway and into NW Jackson bordering the Madison County Line. The tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees, causing damage residential homes and outbuildings in NW Jackson just before crossing Livingston Road, Lakeover road and Watkins Drive/Hwy 220. The tornado then crossed the densely packed residential areas near Beasley Road and Hanging Moss Road, causing widespread tree and damages to residence and near Callaway High School. Winds were estimated at high end EF1, around 100-110mph, in this area. The tornado then cross N State Street, Briarwood Drive and Interstate 55. A tree fell on an 18 wheeler cab, causing major damage. Peeling of metal siding was observed to a business along Briarwood as well. The tornado continues southeast along Ridgewood Road, Old Canton Road, Westbrook Road and Sedgwick Drive/Harrow Drive. In this area the tornado remained intense EF1 around 90-110mph. Tree damage occurred all through this area and quite a few homes were damaged, some major, from falling trees. One home was split in half from a falling tree in this area. A power pole was snapped in this area, leading to some high end EF1 damage. This tornado continued southeast across the Hinds/Rankin County Line and Pearl River bottom before crossing into portions of northern Flowood. Some large limbs were snapped and a few softwood trees fell into homes in the Laurelwood Subdivision. One home was destroyed and split in half from falling tree. High end EF0 damage around 80-85mph was estimated in this region. The tornado continued southeast before turning east-southeast, crossing Flowood Drive, Lakeland Drive and straddling Luckney Road. Some minor tree damage occurred from falling limbs and small trees, with highest winds around high end EF0. A tree was uprooted along Lakeland Drive and Luckney Road intersection, with a few more down along Luckney and Riverbend Drive and lifted shortly before crossing Highway 471. Maximum estimated winds in Rankin County were 85 miles per hour, overall maximum estimated winds were 110 miles per hour. Total path length was 30.70 miles and maximum width was 880 yards, which occurred in Hinds County.

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

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 14:20 UTC and running to 20:34 UTC.

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 Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 16:29 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.

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.

The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 19:25 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.

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

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

The live radar over the trackEvery 2021 tornado in MississippiEvery tornado in Mississippi since 1950Warnings in force in Mississippi nowThe forecast where you are

38 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

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.

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