Tornadoes · United States · Mississippi · 2024

EF2 tornado, Chicora to Denham, Mississippi, December 28, 2024

Name: EF2 tornado, Chicora to Denham, Mississippi, December 28, 2024
Start: 2024-12-29T03:33:00.000Z
End: 2024-12-29T03:42:00.000Z
Location: Chicora to Denham, Mississippi

From Chicora to Denham, this EF2 tornado ran 6.5 miles across Wayne County on December 28, 2024, touching down at 9:33 PM CST and reaching 550 yards wide. It killed nobody.

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 mph
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 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.
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: EF2
Date: December 28, 2024
Touchdown: 9:33 PM CST (03:33 UTC)
Lifted: 9:42 PM CST (03:42 UTC)
On the ground: 9 minutes
Path length: 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
Path width: 550 yards (503 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
County: Wayne County
Touchdown point: 31.580, -88.590
Lift-off point: 31.620, -88.490
Record number: 2412282133-01

The damage survey

33 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS MOB, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 115 mph.

Damage to several greenhouses at the K-M Nursery. Several trees uprooted or snapped around the nursery and on the southwest side of the road. Roof damage to a nearby tree, likely from a fallen tree. The tornado likely started just west of Chicora River Rd.
Sporadic pine trees snapped and uprooted.
Manufactured home completely rolled off the cinder blocks and pushed toward the road. The manufactured home on blocks was not tied down, but likely relatively new.
Several big pine trees snapped with nearby trees uprooted.

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 multi-day severe weather episode occurred across southeast Mississippi into southwest and south-central Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with round #1 beginning the afternoon of December 27th and lasting through the evening hours and round #2 beginning the afternoon of December 28th and lasting into the early morning hours of December 29th. Multiple tornadoes and areas of damage were reported.

The tornado began just west of Chicora River Road near the Chicora community and quickly moved across the K-M Nursery. Several greenhouses at the nursery were damaged with several trees uprooted or snapped all around the nursery, producing EF-1 damage. The tornado moved east-northeast across the Chickasawhay River and over another 1-1.5 miles of inaccessible land. The tornado began to intensify as it approached Old 45 Winchester Road with numerous pine trees snapped low. The worst damage was noted along Taylor Circle as the tornado intensified to EF-2 strength. A new, manufactured home was completely rolled off its cinder blocks and pushed toward the road and a nearby house. There were 4 injuries in the manufactured home. The home across the street sustained roof damage with blown-out windows. Several cars were destroyed by falling trees or debris. A significant corridor of damage was noted on the north side of Taylor Circle as nearly every large tree was snapped with more damage to roofs. The tornado continued off to the northeast, producing a significant corridor of tree damage based on drone imagery from MEMA. The tornado crossed Highway 45 before damaging a church and a few long chicken houses. The metal roof was peeled off most of the chicken houses with one chicken house partially destroyed. More tree damage and roof damage occurred along both Buckatunna Mount Zion and Cane Mill Roads. Very sporadic damage was noted along Denham Buckatunna Creek Road. The tornado may have extended to the northeast beyond the tree line, however, the area was inaccessible due to Buckatunna Creek. Future adjustments to the track are possible given that some of the track was inaccessible due to rivers and densely forested areas. Update 2/24/2025: Adjusted tornado path length to extend northeast through Denham Progress Road thanks to Sentinel satellite imagery that became available. The tornado continued sporadic tree damage to the northeast and there was even a single chicken farm that was partially destroyed visible on the imagery. The tornado lifted just after hitting this chicken farm as any evidence of tree or structure damage becomes non-existent. Only other change was to increase the path width to 550 yards based on the Sentinel imagery.

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 00:34 UTC and running to 04:26 UTC.

Issued (UTC)	Expired	Product	Office
00:34 UTC	04:26 UTC	Tornado Watch	MOB
02:36 UTC	03:30 UTC	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB
03:03 UTC	03:30 UTC	Tornado Warning	MOB
03:08 UTC	04:15 UTC	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB
03:24 UTC	04:30 UTC	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MOB
03:36 UTC	04:00 UTC	Tornado Warning	MOB

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 00:58 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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Dec 28, 5:44 PM CST, 3 hours 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 28, 5:44 PM CST, 3 hours 49 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
544 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

...New AVIATION...

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 544 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

Convection is anticipated to develop across the area ahead of a
squall line which pushes from west to east across the area from
mid evening into the late night hours, with a cold front following
very close behind. Severe storms are likely especially along and
west of I-65. Mostly MVFR ceilings at the beginning of the period
drop to IFR/MVFR this evening then improve to MVFR then VFR in
the wake of the squall line/cold front. Southeast winds 10-15
knots switch to the southwest, then northwest as front moves
through. /29

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 347 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024/

..New NEAR TERM, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE...

NEAR TERM...
(Now through Sunday Night)
Issued at 347 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

Forecast philosophy remains unchanged for the rest of this afternoon
with a conditional threat of discrete supercell development across
southeastern Mississippi into southwestern Alabama late this
afternoon into the evening hours. Slow destabilization and gradual
moisture return continues across the region in the wake of morning
convection. Convection across the marine area has waned and ample
moisture transport northward should begin before long, particularly
as warm air advection ramps up in conjunction with the intensifying
low level jet. Latest KMOB and KHDC VWP indicates the low level jet
is already beginning to strengthen as hodographs have been enlarging
and becoming increasingly curved, yielding stronger low level shear
as the afternoon has progressed. Our initial shortwave has moved
northeast of the area with most convection currently shifting into
east-central MS and west-central AL. Latest visible satellite
imagery continues to show a scattered to broken cloud deck across
the region, but largely devoid of any cumulus owing to the limited
instability for the time being. As mentioned, moisture transport
northward should begin soon and anticipation is for a much richer
theta-e airmass associated with that to start progressing quickly
across the CWA within the next few hours utilizing the latest WoFS
guidance. Once this occurs, the threat for severe storms will ramp
up but remain conditional on the development and maturation of semi-
discrete to discrete supercell thunderstorms over southeastern
Mississippi into far southwestern Alabama. Gradual height falls
across the area should allow for storms to slowly develop, with most
nascent thunderstorm activity likely needing several storm mergers
to mature and deepen appreciably. This is reflected well by the WoFS
with a handful of WoFS ensemble members depicting isolated mature,
discrete supercells beginning to move across southeastern
Mississippi in the next few hours. Any storm that matures will have
the potential to produce damaging winds in excess of 70mph, large
hail to golf ball size, and tornadoes (some of which could be strong
EF2+ and/or long track).

We continue to destabilize into this evening and overnight hours
with 1,000 to 2,000j/kg of SBCAPE and MLCAPE coinciding with ample
deep layer shear of 40 to 50 knots and resultant low level SRH
values exceeding 200 to 300 m2/s2 (locally up to 400). This
environment will be more than enough to foster intense thunderstorm
development with discrete supercell thunderstorms possible in
advance of a robust QLCS. The higher end tornado threat will be
contingent on the presence of discrete supercells.
Any discrete storm will be capable of long track, strong EF2+
tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds in excess of 70mph. The
QLCS itself will likely begin affecting our southeastern Mississippi
counties mid to late evening, progressing across southwestern into
south-central Alabama during the early to mid overnight hours (11pm -
 6am CST). This is also the timeline for when the greatest forcing
and right entrance region of the upper level jet pushes across the
area. It's possible this QLCS moves across the area quicker than
modeled as that is a common bias on most the CAMs with mature squall
lines, but this timeframe encompasses the peak threat for any severe
weather until exiting the forecast area. The greatest threat for
severe weather will remain west of the I-65 corridor where an
enhanced and moderate risk for severe weather exists. East of
here, forcing begins to lift out and overall dynamics temper
somewhat as the line gets east of the I-65 corridor. This may help
diminish the severe threat somewhat, albeit still a slight risk.
MM/25

Sunday starts with an eastward moving cold front over the forecast
area, with showers and thunderstorms over eastern-most portions of
the forecast area. Guidance is advertising this rain moving east of
the forecast area by 18z/12noon, with a drier airmass spreading over
the forecast area as surface high pressure passes quickly over the
area. Looking at the model thickness values, the airmass is not
appreciably cooler as drier, with precipitable h20 values dropping
to around 0.5" by Monday morning.

Temperatures remain above seasonal values with the minimal influx of
cooler air. High temperatures Sunday range from around 70 northwest
of I-65, low to mid 70s southeast. The drier airmass and weak
surface winds Sunday night help low temperatures to drop into the
mid to upper 40s, with low 50s along the coast.

Swell impinging on area beaches will ease Sunday, with the risk if
rip currents dropping to moderate by the end of the day Sunday.
/16

SHORT TERM and LONG TERM...
(Monday through Saturday) Issued at XXXXXX

Aloft, we appear to remain in the westerlies with a series of
embedded impulses passing east over the southern states. The
first brings a short duration diffluent pattern in the height
field across the region Monday night. The second propagates east
atop the area Wednesday and the third swings through Friday.
Monday, a strong wave of frontal surface low pressure pushes east
out of the plains and across the OH River Valley Tuesday to up
across the New England States Wednesday. As the low passes by to
our north, a cold front makes passage later in the day Tuesday.
Environmental moisture is lacking with PWAT values mostly below,
to well below an inch, so forecasters are not anticipating any
rain with the mid week frontal passage. By Friday though, there
may be a small chance of light rain showers breaking out over
portions of the coastal zones as a reinforcing cold front
approaches the deep south.

The first half of the upcoming week starts off unseasonably warm
for late December. Following the mid to late week frontal
passages, highs trend cooler to open up the beginning of the new
year. Lows will plunge into the 30s for Thursday through Saturday
mornings. A few mid to upper 20s possible along and north of Hwy
84. /10

LONG TERM...
(Wednesday through Saturday)
Issued at 347 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

Aloft, we appear to remain in the westerlies with a series of
embedded impulses passing east over the southern states. The
first brings a short duration diffluent pattern in the height
field across the region Monday night. The second propagates east
atop the area Wednesday and the third swings through Friday.
Monday, a strong wave of frontal surface low pressure pushes east
out of the plains and across the OH River Valley Tuesday to up
across the New England States Wednesday. As the low passes by to
our north, a cold front makes passage later in the day Tuesday.
Environmental moisture is lacking with PWAT values mostly below,
to well below an inch, so forecasters are not anticipating any
rain with the mid week frontal passage. By Friday though, there
may be a small chance of light rain showers breaking out over
portions of the coastal zones as a reinforcing cold front
approaches the deep south.

The first half of the upcoming week starts off unseasonably warm
for late December. Following the mid to late week frontal
passages, highs trend cooler to open up the beginning of the new
year. Lows will plunge into the 30s for Thursday through Saturday
mornings. A few mid to upper 20s possible along and north of Hwy
84. /10

MARINE...
Issued at 347 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

Observations over the open Gulf indicate moderate to strong
southeasterly flow to Small Craft Advisory which is in effect
until daybreak Sunday morning. Squall line of storms makes passage
tonight over the coastal waters. Some of the storms severe. Cold
front makes passage Sunday morning and brings a wind shift and end
to rain. A moderate southwest flow sets up early Tuesday morning
ahead of next front approaching the area. Seas build slightly due
to an increase in southwesterly fetch. Following mid week frontal
passage and high pressure building into the deep south, a
moderate offshore flow evolves Wednesday and Thursday. /10

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile      60  73  47  69  57  71  41  61 / 100  10   0   0   0   0   0   0
Pensacola   64  74  50  69  60  71  44  61 /  90  20   0   0  10   0   0   0
Destin      66  75  55  70  63  74  47  63 /  90  40   0   0  10   0   0   0
Evergreen   61  72  44  71  52  70  39  58 /  90  20   0   0   0   0   0   0
Waynesboro  57  69  44  70  53  66  38  58 / 100   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
Camden      59  69  44  69  53  66  38  55 /  90  10   0   0  10   0   0   0
Crestview   63  76  46  72  53  74  40  62 /  90  40   0   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Coastal Flood Advisory until 7 PM CST this evening for ALZ263-
     264.

     High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for ALZ265-266.

     High Surf Advisory until noon CST Sunday for ALZ265-266.

FL...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for FLZ202-204-
     206.

     High Surf Advisory until noon CST Sunday for FLZ202-204-206.

MS...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM CST Sunday for GMZ650-655-670-
     675.

&&

This product is also available on the web at:
www.weather.gov/mob

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 28, 6:27 PM CST, 3 hours 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
627 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

ALZ263-265-290115-
Mobile Coastal AL-Mobile Central AL-
627 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MOBILE COUNTY
THROUGH 715 PM CST...

At 626 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles southeast of Petit Bois Island, or 16 miles southwest of
Dauphin Island, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Coden, Alabama Port, Grand Bay, Bayou La Batre, and Dauphin Island.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3033 8840 3034 8840 3035 8839 3038 8841
      3039 8841 3038 8840 3053 8840 3053 8807
      3034 8809 3023 8806 3022 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 202DEG 28KT 3012 8834

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

MM

Special weather statement, Dec 28, 8:18 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
818 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

ALZ262-264-FLZ201-290300-
Baldwin Central AL-Baldwin Inland AL-Escambia Inland FL-
818 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL BALDWIN AND NORTHWESTERN
ESCAMBIA COUNTIES THROUGH 900 PM CST...

At 817 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Loxley, moving northeast at 30 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...
Daphne, Spanish Fort, Robertsdale, Silverhill, Loxley, and Stapleton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CST for southwestern
Alabama...and northwestern Florida.

&&

LAT...LON 3055 8766 3054 8778 3060 8795 3083 8786
      3089 8762 3087 8750 3078 8737
TIME...MOT...LOC 0217Z 219DEG 25KT 3062 8777

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Black

Special weather statement, Dec 28, 9:00 PM CST, 33 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
900 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

ALZ262-264-FLZ201-290345-
Baldwin Central AL-Baldwin Inland AL-Escambia Inland FL-
900 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL BALDWIN AND
NORTHWESTERN ESCAMBIA COUNTIES THROUGH 945 PM CST...

At 900 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles east of Stapleton, or 12 miles southeast of Bay Minette, moving
northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Bratt and Flomaton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CST for south central
and southwestern Alabama...and northwestern Florida.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 8768 3085 8765 3100 8758 3100 8726
      3070 8758
TIME...MOT...LOC 0300Z 211DEG 22KT 3078 8760

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

RD

Special weather statement, Dec 28, 9:17 PM CST, 16 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
917 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

MSZ075-076-078-079-290415-
Stone MS-Perry MS-Greene MS-George MS-
917 PM CST Sat Dec 28 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WESTERN GEORGE...PERRY...WESTERN
GREENE AND STONE COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 PM CST...

At 917 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 5 miles north of New Augusta to 4 miles east of
Brooklyn to 3 miles west of Perkinston to 13 miles southeast of
Poplarville. Movement was east at 30 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...
Lucedale, Beaumont, New Augusta, Perkinston, McHenry, Wiggins,
Leakesville, and McLain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CST for southeastern
Mississippi.

&&

LAT...LON 3090 8934 3091 8933 3091 8914 3119 8915
      3135 8911 3134 8859 3108 8854 3073 8864
      3074 8888 3068 8889 3068 8924 3065 8924
      3065 8934
TIME...MOT...LOC 0317Z 277DEG 25KT 3128 8906 3105 8911 3079 8920 3071
8936

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Black

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), 00:00Z

3.6 hours before the tornado, 166 km from the path. December 29, 2024.

Skew-T log-p

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.

Hodograph

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: 630 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -10 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 538 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 503 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 55 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 505 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 591 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.0
Supercell composite: 10.0
0-3 km lapse rate: 5.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Jackson, MS (KJAN), 12:00Z

8.4 hours after it, 166 km from the path. December 29, 2024.

Skew-T log-p

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.

Hodograph

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: 0 J/kg
Surface CAPE: 9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 552 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 51 kt
0-1 km bulk shear: 32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -45 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0
0-3 km lapse rate: 4.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Laurel (LUL), 60 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
01:35 UTC	67.3	64.6	160° 9 kt	14	1009.1
01:55 UTC	68	65.3	170° 9 kt	16	1009.5
02:15 UTC	68	65.7	160° 11 kt		1010.2
02:35 UTC	67	63.7	310° 18 kt		1011.9
02:55 UTC	60	59	290° 9 kt		1011.9	+RA BR
03:15 UTC	60	59	280° 8 kt		1012.5	-RA
03:35 UTC	60	58.5	310° 7 kt		1012.2	-RA
03:55 UTC	59.7	58	30° 3 kt		1011.2	RA
04:15 UTC	59.5	58.5	210° 3 kt		1011.2	RA
04:35 UTC	60	57.2	190° 3 kt		1010.8	+RA BR
04:55 UTC	59	58	110° 8 kt		1009.8	RA
05:15 UTC	59	58	110° 14 kt	18	1008.5	RA

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

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:33 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)	Report	Where	County	Remark
02:30 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	4 Nnw Macedonia	Jones, MS	Trees down.
02:37 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	Pachuta	Clarke, MS	Social media report of tree downed along Hwy 18 W, about mile and a half from Interstate 59.
02:50 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 W Quitman	Clarke, MS	Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 W Quitman. Numerous trees down including along Betty Circle and Long Boulevard, where a tree fell on a home.
02:50 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 W Quitman	Clarke, MS	Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 W Quitman. Numerous trees down including along Betty Circle and Long Boulevard, where a tree fell on a home. Powerlines downed near Clarke County Co-Op.
02:50 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	1 W Quitman	Clarke, MS	Numerous trees down.
02:54 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	Quitman	Clarke, MS	Social media video of downed powerlines on Bailey Avenue.
03:03 UTC	TORNADO	7 Nnw Mannassa	Clarke, MS	This EF-1 tornado began near the intersection of County Rd 140 and Highway 18. As it continued to move northeast, caused minor tree damage before intensifying as it crossed County Rd 450 where multiple softwood trees wer
03:33 UTC	TORNADO	1 Nw Chicora	Wayne, MS	* 4 INJ * The tornado began just west of Chicora River Road near the Chicora community and quickly moved across the K-M Nursery. Several greenhouses at the nursery were damaged with several trees uprooted or snapped
03:40 UTC	TSTM WND DMG	Buckatunna	Wayne, MS	Shingles off a roof, trees down, and a shed destroyed. Time and location estimated.

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

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2024 tornado in Mississippi Every tornado in Mississippi since 1950 Warnings in force in Mississippi now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of December 28, 2024

76 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 28	8:22 AM CST	EF1	Beauregard Parish, LA	1.5	100			$5,000
December 28	10:35 AM CST	EF1	Waller, TX	10.9	150
December 28	12:05 PM CST	EF3	Montgomery, TX	10.3	1,675		10
December 28	12:53 PM CST	EF2	Brazoria, TX	8.9	300	1	5
December 28	1:37 PM CST	EF1	Galveston, TX	7.4	850
December 28	2:26 PM CST	EF3	Chambers, TX to LA	67.9	880		2	$500,000
December 28	2:55 PM CST	EF1	Amite, MS	3.1	50			$5,000
December 28	3:13 PM CST	EF3	Franklin, MS	26.0	1,500		4	$1.3 million
December 28	3:20 PM CST	EF1	Vernon Parish, LA	6.3	100			$5,000
December 28	3:27 PM CST	EF0	Vernon Parish, LA	3.3	50			$10,000
December 28	3:49 PM CST	EF1	Vernon Parish, LA	1.2	50			$5,000
December 28	4:16 PM CST	EF1	Madison Parish, LA	16.2	280			$250,000
December 28	4:19 PM CST	EF1	Richland Parish, LA	5.6	130			$30,000
December 28	4:28 PM CST	EF1	Madison Parish, LA	1.8	200			$5,000
December 28	4:49 PM CST	EF1	East Carroll Parish, LA to MS	17.9	300			$70,000
December 28	5:06 PM CST	EF1	Evangeline Parish, LA	15.4	200			$5,000
December 28	5:12 PM CST	EF1	Concordia Parish, LA	0.4	80			$10,000
December 28	5:17 PM CST	Unrated	Cameron Parish, LA	4.3	1
December 28	5:34 PM CST	EF1	Lincoln, MS	9.9	400			$25,000
December 28	5:37 PM CST	EF1	Jefferson, MS	9.3	750			$35,000
December 28	5:40 PM CST	EF0	Pointe Coupee Parish, LA	1.9	50			$1,000
December 28	5:42 PM CST	EF1	Wilkinson, MS	11.4	50			$5,000
December 28	5:46 PM CST	EF0	Wilkinson, MS	4.9	25			$2,000
December 28	5:54 PM CST	EF1	Claiborne, MS	4.9	300			$70,000
December 28	5:55 PM CST	EF1	Jefferson, MS	11.1	400			$45,000
December 28	5:58 PM CST	EF1	Warren, MS	4.5	500			$15,000
December 28	6:00 PM CST	EF0	Wilkinson, MS	3.6	75			$1,000
December 28	6:10 PM CST	EF0	Warren, MS	4.1	250			$17,000
December 28	6:19 PM CST	EF1	Hinds, MS	9.4	350			$10,000
December 28	6:24 PM CST	EF1	Simpson, MS	4.6	350			$15,000
December 28	6:25 PM CST	EF0	Lincoln, MS	2.7	315			$10,000
December 28	6:25 PM CST	EF1	Hinds, MS	23.6	570			$105,000
December 28	6:26 PM CST	EF1	Lincoln, MS	6.8	300			$30,000
December 28	6:28 PM CST	EF1	Yazoo, MS	1.2	250			$10,000
December 28	6:36 PM CST	EF1	Copiah, MS	13.0	1,500			$50,000
December 28	6:38 PM CST	EF1	Copiah, MS	2.7	500			$20,000
December 28	6:41 PM CST	EF1	Amite, MS	0.4	25			$3,000
December 28	6:42 PM CST	EF1	Amite, MS	8.6	100			$5,000
December 28	6:48 PM CST	EF1	Pike, MS	6.4	75			$10,000
December 28	6:49 PM CST	EF1	Copiah, MS	11.9	1,200			$62,000
December 28	6:51 PM CST	EF0	East Baton Rouge Parish, LA	2.8	50			$3,000
December 28	6:58 PM CST	EF1	Yazoo, MS	7.3	800			$35,000
December 28	7:04 PM CST	EF1	Rankin, MS	37.5	880			$1.7 million
December 28	7:15 PM CST	EF1	Jefferson Davis, MS	0.3	200			$35,000
December 28	7:17 PM CST	EF1	Simpson, MS	10.5	800			$500,000
December 28	7:39 PM CST	EF1	Smith, MS	3.4	200			$30,000
December 28	7:42 PM CST	EF0	Smith, MS	0.6	75			$3,000
December 28	7:46 PM CST	EF1	Smith, MS	13.0	700			$200,000
December 28	8:09 PM CST	EF0	Jasper, MS	1.0	50			$2,000
December 28	8:09 PM CST	EF0	Newton, MS	2.2	100			$5,000
December 28	8:12 PM CST	EF2	Jasper, MS	9.1	900			$500,000
December 28	8:18 PM CST	EF1	Newton, MS	4.5	700			$25,000
December 28	8:28 PM CST	EF0	Newton, MS	0.5	165			$5,000
December 28	8:34 PM CST	EF1	Newton, MS	2.6	650			$40,000
December 28	8:36 PM CST	EF1	Jasper, MS	11.8	500			$87,000
December 28	8:47 PM CST	EF1	Saint Tammany Parish, LA	1.2	50			$35,000
December 28	8:49 PM CST	EF1	Oktibbeha, MS	2.1	300			$80,000
December 28	8:56 PM CST	EF1	Clarke, MS	0.4	80			$15,000
December 28	8:59 PM CST	EF0	Clay, MS	4.6	200			$40,000
December 28	9:01 PM CST	EF1	Lauderdale, MS	9.0	630			$500,000

All 77 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.