Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF1
-- Length 1.23 Miles
-- Width 200 Yards
State MISSISSIPPI
County/Area SMITH
WFO JAN
Begin Date 03/26/2009 00:54:00 CST-6
Begin Range 4
Begin Azimuth WNW
Begin Location COHAY
Begin Lat/Lon 31.95/-89.65
End Date 03/26/2009 00:57:00 CST-6
End Range 3
End Azimuth NW
End Location COHAY
End Lat/Lon 31.95/-89.64
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 15.00K
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative A round of severe thunderstorms, containing tornadoes and damaging straight line winds, occurred Wednesday night, March 25, into early Thursday morning, March 26. These storms developed as a strong upper level disturbance encountered an unstable environment over the lower Mississippi Valley. A squall line of showers and thunderstorms pushed rapidly eastward across the area. One supercell storm formed ahead of the main line and produced a strong tornado which hit the town of Magee.

Eight tornadoes were confirmed from this event. Of the 8 tornadoes, 1 was rated EF3, 1 was rated EF2, 4 were rated EF1, and 2 were rated EF0. Numerous other locations experienced damaging straight line winds in excess of 60-70 mph. The worst damage occurred from a tornado which laid a 17.5 mile long track across Simpson and Smith counties. This storm was rated as EF3 with estimated 150 mph maximum winds near Magee. A second strong tornado, rated EF2 with 125 mph winds, effected Jones County near Soso.
Event Narrative The tornado first touched down just north of Mount Zion Road in southwest Simpson County and continued northeast through the northwest side of Magee and then across the Smith County line before lifting near South County Road 503. Along the path, 60 homes were damaged or destroyed. A large, well-built church was destroyed. A warehouse was significantly damaged and a radio tower was snapped. Hundreds of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted. The highest winds occurred at the church and nearby houses and trees just southwest of Magee along and just off Highway 28. Maximum winds were around 150 mph.

The EF3 rating was in Simpson County while the highest rated damage in Smith County was EF1. Total path length across both counties was near 18 miles.


All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 0 27 10.395M 400.00K
CARTHAGE ADAMS CO. MS 03/25/2009 02:40 CST-6 Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
OKATIBBEE LAUDERDALE CO. MS 03/25/2009 09:59 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
DIXIE PINE FORREST CO. MS 03/25/2009 11:40 CST-6 Flash Flood 0 0 200.00K 0.00K
WESTSIDE CLAIBORNE CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:18 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 2.00K 0.00K
GRANGE HALL WARREN CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:24 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 40.00K 0.00K
YAZOO CITY BARRIER A YAZOO CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:31 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
MT MORIAH HINDS CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:44 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 70.00K 0.00K
BENTON YAZOO CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:51 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 58 kts. EG 0 0 3.00K 0.00K
CAYUGA HINDS CO. MS 03/25/2009 22:56 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BROWNSVILLE HINDS CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:00 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 65.00K 0.00K
SIBLEY ADAMS CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:05 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 62 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
MC NAIR JEFFERSON CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:08 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 1.00K 0.00K
ROCKY HILL MADISON CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:13 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
CLINTON HINDS CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:15 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 1.00K 0.00K
MANSDALE MADISON CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:17 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 300.00K 0.00K
MADISON MADISON CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:20 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 55.00K 0.00K
MADISON MADISON CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:24 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 83 kts. EG 0 0 500.00K 0.00K
ROXIE FRANKLIN CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
GALLATIN COPIAH CO. MS 03/25/2009 23:41 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 12.00K 0.00K
ARLINGTON LINCOLN CO. MS 03/26/2009 00:11 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 83 kts. EG 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
THAYER LINCOLN CO. MS 03/26/2009 00:19 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 83 kts. EG 0 0 600.00K 0.00K
LAMBERTS STORE LAWRENCE CO. MS 03/26/2009 00:34 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 74 kts. EG 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
JAYNESVILLE SIMPSON CO. MS 03/26/2009 00:36 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 25 5.000M 0.00K
COHAY SMITH CO. MS 03/26/2009 00:54 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
HEBRON JEFFERSON DAVIS CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:00 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 75 kts. EG 0 0 75.00K 0.00K
TRAXLER SMITH CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:01 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
PRENTISS JEFFERSON DAVIS CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:01 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 58 kts. EG 0 0 8.00K 0.00K
PROSPECT NEWTON CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:07 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MONTROSE JASPER CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:31 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 1 2.000M 150.00K
REDDOCH JONES CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:43 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 1 800.00K 150.00K
ROSE HILL NEWTON CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:52 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 15.00K 100.00K
MOSS JASPER CO. MS 03/26/2009 01:56 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 8.00K 0.00K
TUCKERS CROSSING JONES CO. MS 03/26/2009 02:17 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 80.00K 0.00K
INCREASE LAUDERDALE CO. MS 03/26/2009 02:28 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 67 kts. EG 0 0 20.00K 0.00K
Totals: 0 27 10.395M 400.00K