Tornadoes · United States · Mississippi · 2022

EF2 tornado, Mc Leod to Ravine, Mississippi, March 30, 2022

From Mc Leod to Ravine, this EF2 tornado ran 11.0 miles across Noxubee County on March 30, 2022, touching down at 8:08 PM CDT and reaching 400 yards wide. It killed nobody and injured 2, and did $250,000 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.

  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 mph

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

  3. EF2111 to 135 mphthis tornado

    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.

The record

Rating
EF2
Date
March 30, 2022
Touchdown
8:08 PM CDT (01:08 UTC)
Lifted
8:20 PM CDT (01:20 UTC)
On the ground
12 minutes
Path length
11.0 miles (17.7 km)
Path width
400 yards (366 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
$250,000
County
Noxubee County
Touchdown point
33.101, -88.469
Lift-off point
33.211, -88.332
Record number
2203301908-01

The damage survey

30 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS JAN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 135 mph.

  • Chicken house collapsed. Trees snapped nearby and tin strewn in trees.
  • Chicken houses roofs collapsed and uplift of roof
  • Small shed destroyed & tin strewn in trees nearby. Numerous trees snapped around halfway up with some uprooted & damage to roof in nearby chicken house.
  • Trees snapped & uprooted in this area.

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

A strong weather system interacted with an unstable airmass to bring widespread severe weather to the region. There was copious amounts of wind energy in the atmosphere ahead of the squall line to bring down trees and power lines from gradient winds. In addition, damaging winds and tornadoes occurred within the squall line as it moved through Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.

This tornado began just north of MS Highway 14, where some minor tree damage occurred. It continued northeast before crossing Douglass Road, where minor tree damage occurred including uprooting and snapping many trees, before crossing into an area of chicken houses. One chicken house collapsed with minor tree damage and tin strewn in the treeline just to the northeast. It then crossed B&D Road, where a small storage outbuilding was completely destroyed, a chicken house had loss of tin roofing and increasing tree damage occurred. It then continued northeast across Prairie Point Road. A tornado debris signature was evident on radar just northeast of B&D Road and just south of Prairie Point Road. The tornado became nearly the widest at this point,|around a quarter of a mile wide. Three power poles were snapped, and tree damage intensified. In this area, the tornado increased to EF-2 intensity. Many softwood trees were snapped nearly halfway down the trunks. A residential home roof uplift occurred, with a large portion of the roof missing and the eastern wall removed. A tin metal storage building s wall panels were removed. Just northeast of this building, another open metal storage building was completely destroyed. At this area of the home and|open metal storage building, moderate EF-2 damage was observed, and the highest rating of around 130-135 mph was assigned. Some concrete pillars were moved, with one completely removed and missing. These concrete pillars were rebared into a steel plate a few feet below ground. The tornado then crossed Howard Hill Road, Buggs Ferry Road, and Hummer Loop where minor tree damage occurred. A mobile home was rolled on Fox Chase Road, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted in this area, and minor shingle damage occurred to a home. When crossing a field just southwest of Tom Bennett Road, two farming irrigation pivots were overturned in a nearby field. A storage outbuilding was destroyed and loss of tin occurred just northeast of this location. EF-2 damage occurred to a mobile home that was rolled and destroyed,|with debris strewn all over the area. Two occupants of the mobile home were thrown a considerable distance into a nearby forested area, causing some unknown injuries. A mobile home just north on Tom Bennett Road had minor roof damage, and an uprooted tree fell on top of it. The tornado began to weaken and narrow before crossing Sandyland Road, where minor tree damage occurred. The tornado lifted shortly thereafter before crossing the Alabama state line.

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

The warnings

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 21:30 UTC and running to 01:46 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
13:00 UTC00:00 UTCHigh Wind WarningJAN
14:00 UTC08:44 UTCWind AdvisoryJAN
21:30 UTC01:46 UTCTornado WatchJAN
23:05 UTC00:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAN
23:40 UTC00:44 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAN
23:53 UTC00:27 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAN
00:30 UTC01:29 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningJAN
01:10 UTC01:25 UTCTornado WarningJAN
01:13 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 Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 00:57 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 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.

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 00:00Z

1.1 hours before the tornado, 151 km from the path. March 31, 2022.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2022-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 4 joules per kilogram, CIN -65, lifted condensation level 1794 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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, Birmingham, AL at 00:00Z on 2022-03-31The 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 192 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 59 knots.1939587897Sfc1 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
4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Surface CAPE
21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1794 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
59 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
27 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
192 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
449 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
8.2 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 12:00Z

10.9 hours after it, 151 km from the path. March 31, 2022.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2022-03-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -84636, lifted condensation level 645 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2022-03-31The 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 -76 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 74 knots.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-84636 J/kg
Surface CAPE
22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-76 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
2 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
4.0 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 83 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 01:05 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
23:43 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nne StarkvilleOktibbeha, MSTREE FELL ON A HOME ON CALDWELL ST.
23:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Se NoxapaterWinston, MSA TREE WAS DOWNED ALONG JOHNSON 5 RD.
23:45 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sse Craig SpringsWinston, MSTREE DOWN ALONG HWY 25 NEAR THE OKTIBBEHA/WINSTON COUNTY LINE.
23:50 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Sse Craig SpringsWinston, MSA TREE WAS SNAPPED ALONG RAYMOND WILLIAMS RD.
23:52 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ssw BethedenWinston, MSTREES DOWNED ON BETHEDEN RD.
00:38 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 S PrestonKemper, MSTREE DOWN ON LYNVILLE RD.
00:47 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Nne GholsonNoxubee, MSSOCIAL MEDIA REPORT OF A TREE DOWN ON SANDHILL RD.
00:49 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Wsw ColumbusLowndes, MSWCBI ARTICLE REPORTS SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN THE COLUMBUS AREA.
00:53 UTCHAIL 0.5CaledoniaLowndes, MSHALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL NEAR CALEDONIA. REPORT RELAYED VIA MPING.
01:06 UTCTORNADO5 E MaconNoxubee, MSTHIS TORNADO BEGAN JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY 14, WHERE SOME MINOR TREE DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT CONTINUED NORTHEAST BEFORE CROSSING DOUGLASS ROAD, WHERE MINOR TREE DAMAGE, INCLUDING UPROOTING AND SNAPPING MANY TREES, BEFORE CROSS
01:12 UTCTORNADO2 W Prairie PointNoxubee, MSPOWERLINES DOWNED NEAR PRAIRIE POINT RD.
01:18 UTCTORNADO3 S Bigbee ValleyNoxubee, MSA MOBILE HOME WAS DAMAGED ON TOM BENNETT RD.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2022 tornado in MississippiEvery tornado in Mississippi since 1950Warnings in force in Mississippi nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of March 30, 2022

80 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
March 304:04 AM CDTEF3Springdale tornado, AR5.23507$20 million
March 304:34 AM CDTEF1Rockwall, TX0.550$500,000
March 304:39 AM CDTEF0Pittsburg, OK0.6100$75,000
March 306:25 AM CDTEF1Red River, TX3.0100$25,000
March 307:47 AM CDTEF1Johnson, AR3.5400
March 3011:16 AM CDTEF1Sabine, TX0.9100$15,000
March 3011:41 AM CDTEF1Newton, TX1.9100$150,000
March 3011:53 AM CDTEF0Natchitoches Parish, LA1.2100$5,000
March 3011:53 AM CDTEF0Natchitoches Parish, LA5.5100
March 3012:05 PM CDTEF1Natchitoches Parish, LA3.7200$12,000
March 3012:20 PM CDTEF1Bienville Parish, LA1.7400
March 3012:22 PM CDTEF0Natchitoches Parish, LA2.750
March 3012:28 PM CDTEF1Jackson Parish, LA0.3200$1,000
March 3012:37 PM CDTEF1Vernon Parish, LA2.185$10,000
March 3012:42 PM CDTEF1Jackson Parish, LA0.7500
March 3012:44 PM CDTEF1Jackson Parish, LA4.2200$10,000
March 301:53 PM CDTEF1Richland Parish, LA7.41,000$50,000
March 302:03 PM CDTEF0Richland Parish, LA1.825$50,000
March 302:10 PM CDTEF1Franklin Parish, LA6.8350$85,000
March 302:51 PM CDTEF2Madison Parish, LA to MS17.3300$270,000
March 303:19 PM CDTEF1Bolivar, MS7.9450$60,000
March 303:31 PM CDTEF1Bolivar, MS1.0751$110,000
March 303:41 PM CDTEF1Warren, MS6.0100$20,000
March 303:58 PM CDTEF1Yazoo, MS16.6700$110,000
March 304:21 PM CDTEF1Holmes, MS11.51,7001$140,000
March 304:26 PM CDTEF1Hinds, MS6.4350$45,000
March 304:37 PM CDTEF1Panola, MS16.22001$140,000
March 304:41 PM CDTEF1Hinds, MS2.9350$175,000
March 304:43 PM CDTEF1Hinds, MS8.5200$280,000
March 304:52 PM CDTEF1Carroll, MS6.1250$30,000
March 304:56 PM CDTEF1Madison, MS5.3350$20,000
March 305:23 PM CDTEF0Franklin, IL4.0100$62,000
March 305:24 PM CDTEF1Calhoun, MS7.6100$60,000
March 305:32 PM CDTEF2Leake, MS10.71,200$850,000
March 306:01 PM CDTEF0Wayne, IL0.350$30,000
March 306:11 PM CDTEF1White, IL6.6400$200,000
March 306:12 PM CDTEF1Tangipahoa Parish, LA6.4150$250,000
March 306:18 PM CDTEF1Madison, TN8.5175$500,000
March 306:31 PM CDTEF1Madison, TN7.1250$300,000
March 306:50 PM CDTEF1Carroll, TN9.2150$200,000
March 306:59 PM CDTEF1Vanderburgh, IN1.075$10,000
March 307:16 PM CDTEF0Monroe, MS7.7150$50,000
March 307:44 PM CDTEF1Lamar, MS1.9425$20,000
March 307:44 PM CDTEF0Lamar, MS7.325$35,000
March 307:45 PM CDTEF0Saint Tammany Parish, LA2.050
March 308:01 PM CDTEF0Clarke, MS2.1125$35,000
March 308:06 PM CDTEF1Clarke, MS3.750$152,000
March 308:11 PM CDTEF2Forrest, MS11.3500$250,000
March 308:24 PM CDTEF1Lauderdale, MS6.8200$50,000
March 308:31 PM CDTEF1Lauderdale, MS3.9250$75,000
March 308:43 PM CDTEF1Wayne, MS0.550
March 308:45 PM CDTEF1Wayne, MS0.250
March 308:46 PM CDTEF2Perry, MS2.0250
March 308:47 PM CDTEF1Wayne, MS1.930
March 308:51 PM CDTEF1Sumter, AL5.6600
March 308:55 PM CDTEF1Wayne, MS0.350
March 309:02 PM CDTEF1Pickens, AL16.6450
March 309:10 PM CDTEF1Greene, AL8.8275
March 309:12 PM CDTEF2Choctaw, AL37.41,350
March 309:33 PM CDTEF2Perry, AL6.0620

All 81 of them

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.