Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF4
-- Length 28.76
-- Width 1050
State MISSISSIPPI
County/Area CLARKE
WFO JAN
Begin Date 04/27/2011 17:26:00 CST-6
Begin Range 4
Begin Azimuth WNW
Begin Location WAUTUBBEE
Begin Lat/Lon 32.14/-88.92
End Date 04/27/2011 18:10:00 CST-6
End Range 1
End Azimuth ESE
End Location HURRICANE CREEK
End Lat/Lon 32.21/-88.43
Deaths Direct/Indirect 4/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 14/0
Property Damage 900.00K
Crop Damage 800.00K
Episode Narrative A historic outbreak of tornadoes across the Ark-La-Miss began late on Tuesday, April 26th continuing into the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 27th. The event ramped up again during the early afternoon of April 27th continuing into the early evening. The activity on April 26th began as supercell thunderstorms producing large hail and tornadoes across northeast Texas and portions of Arkansas before evolving into a squall line as it moved east. This line of storms had multiple stages of evolution and moved across several states before dissipating. This line was very efficient in producing wind damage as it pushed east. More impressively, this line was responsible for 23 of the 32 tornadoes that occurred across the Ark-La-Miss during this event. Of those 23, 12 were rated as strong (EF2, EF3) tornadoes and had fairly long path lengths.

The atmosphere reloaded quickly Wednesday morning and became increasingly favorable for more severe storms by early afternoon. The driving force for the activity Wednesday afternoon was a potent shortwave and deep surface low that intensified during the day. The winds in the mid levels of the atmosphere increased to 80-100 mph helping to deepen the surface low further, which in turn caused the low level winds to become stronger. The wind shear caused by the turning of the winds from south near the surface to westerly aloft was at rare levels for late April over the Deep South. In addition, an abundance of low level moisture returned to the area in wake of the morning complex. Sunny skies during the morning interacted with the high levels of low level moisture eventually leading to a very unstable air mass by early afternoon. The result was an extremely rare mix of instability and wind shear. These ingredients, along with lift from a potent upper disturbance, ultimately led to the historic tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011.

By early afternoon, several discrete supercell thunderstorms were developing across central and eastern Mississippi. It did not take long for these storms to take on ���classic��� supercell structures and begin producing tornadoes. The first tornado of the afternoon started in Neshoba County on the north side of Philadelphia. This tornado ended up producing EF-5 damage and tracked for 29 miles across Neshoba, Kemper, Winston and Noxubee Counties. Through the rest of the afteroon multiple tornadoes developed, stemming from multiple supercell storms. Nearly all of the storms produced tornadoes, with many of them long track and significant. The other violent tornado to impact the Jackson, MS forecast area occurred across Smith, Jasper, and Clarke Counties. This tornado continued into Alabama and had a total path length of 124 miles across both states.

Loss of life during this historic event was staggering. Unfortunately, 321 people lost their lives making this the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The March 18, 1925 Tri-State tornado outbreak is first with 747 fatalities. This marks the first EF-5 tornado in Mississippi since the Candlestick Park tornado on May 3, 1966, and this marks the first time since statistics have been kept that two EF-5 tornadoes have been recorded on the same day in Mississippi, with the tornado in Smithville also rated as EF-5. Incredibly, 4 tornadoes had path lengths over 100 miles across the southern states during this event, and all 4 of these were rated either EF-4 or EF-5.
Event Narrative This tornado started by downing some trees just southeast of Raleigh, near and across Highway 18. As the tornado moved northeast along Bailey Road and crossed County Road 130, it intensified and produced high end EF-1 damage, snapping and uprooting trees, taking shingles off roofs, and blowing skirting out from mobile homes. The tornado continued to strengthen as it moved northeast, and along County Roads 136, 107, and 105, it produced damage indicative of high end EF-2. A few mobile homes were destroyed and several homes and buildings sustained significant roof damage, along with extensive tree damage. Along County Road 105, a mobile home was picked up by the tornado, bounced along the ground a couple of times, and was then thrown into woods across the road, with debris scattered for at least a mile downstream, including the frame of the mobile home. The occupant of the mobile home was the first fatality of this tornado. The tornado continued northeast, and reached its most intense and widest point in the Smith County portion of the tornado just before crossing the county line at County Road 103. Here, in the central core of the tornado there was an area of completely mowed down pine trees in which everyone was snapped and many were denuded, and two frame homes had the roofs and exterior walls completely destroyed with extensive damage to interior walls. In addition, many power poles were snapped, a mobile home was annihilated, and a large shop building was completely destroyed. The damage here was rated high end EF-3 with maximum estimated winds of 160 mph.

The tornado remained intense as it crossed into Jasper County and moved across County Road 13, causing very impressive tree damage with nearly every pine tree snapped and extensive evidence of denuding and debarking. Power poles were also snapped. The tornado produced similar type damage as it crossed County Road 16. The tornado then produced its first area of EF-4 damage just northwest of Louin along County Road 164. Here, the tornado struck an area with several mobile homes and one frame home. The frame home was completely destroyed, with most interior walls down and some of the foundation pushed clean. Several mobile homes in the area, including two double wides which the residents said were well strapped down, were completely destroyed with the debris and frames blown great distances. In fact, all of the debris was so dispersed and mixed that it was impossible for the surveyors to reconstruct the positions of the mobile homes and house without explanations from the residents. Two people were killed in a mobile home at this spot; however, several other people abandoned their mobile homes after hearing warnings to shelter in a nearby brick home, and were certainly saved from serious injury or death.

After crossing Highway 15, the tornado weakened and narrowed somewhat. As it crossed County Road 23, it produced EF-2 damage, destroying two mobile homes and causing extensive tree and powerline damage. The tornado then produced a relatively narrow path of EF-1 tree and powerline damage for several miles, until reintensifying near Rose Hill. As the tornado crossed Highway 18 southeast of Rose Hill, it removed most of the roof of a frame home and caused heavy damage to the exterior walls, took a large section of roof off another frame home, completely destroyed a large tied down mobile home, and caused extensive tree damage. This damage was rated at the low end of EF-3. After causing this damage, the tornado weakened again, causing mainly EF-1 type tree damage until it reached the Clarke County line, with the last point inside the county line on County Road 22 rated as EF-0, with just a few trees and limbs down.

The tornado then continued into Clarke County and reintensified somewhat, causing tree and powerline damage as it crossed Interstate 59 and US Highway 11. The tornado then became much more intense as it moved along the south side of the town of Enterprise. A number of homes and mobile homes were heavily damaged or destroyed along County Road 320 and State Highway 513. This damage was rated as high EF-2 to low end EF-3. As the tornado passed along a two mile stretch of State Highway 519 east of Enterprise, it heavily damaged several frame homes and caused extensive tree damage. One spot here was the other area of EF-4 damage produced by this tornado. A new construction frame home was completely leveled with the debris swept off the foundation. Residents in the area reported that the house was nearly completed. Based on these reports and the extent of other nearby, primarily tree, damage, this damage is being rated EF-4 with maximum winds of 175 mph. Other damage in this general area was rated as high end EF-2 or low end EF-3.

The tornado weakened slightly again as it crossed US Highway 45 and State Highway 145, and then caused high end EF-2 and low end EF-3 damage at County Roads 456 and 457. Here, several strapped down double wide mobile homes were destroyed with debris strewn over long distances. Nearby residents reported that one of the mobile homes was occupied by 11 persons at the time of the tornado, and that this was the location where 4 people were killed. Another resident of a nearby mobile home was critically injured. From here, the tornado passed east northeast, just north of the Energy and Snell communities, causing EF-2 damage to a number of frame homes along with extensive tree and powerline damage. The tornado crossed Highway 514 northeast of Snell, still causing extensive tree damage and significant roof damage to several large frame homes, before moving across the state line into Choctaw County, Alabama. The tornado continued into Alabama for 59 miles, bringing the total path length to 124 miles.


Event Fatality Details

Type Age Gender Fatality Location
Death 74 Female Mobile/Trailer Home
Death 64 Male Mobile/Trailer Home
Death 44 Male Mobile/Trailer Home
Death 24 Male Mobile/Trailer Home


All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 12 52 18.073M 9.780M
ELDRIDGE BOLIVAR CO. MS 04/26/2011 17:41 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ROSEDALE BOLIVAR CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:15 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 12.00K 0.00K
TALLULA ISSAQUENA CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 60.00K 0.00K
ISSAQUENA SHARKEY CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:35 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
SUNFLOWER SUNFLOWER CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:43 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 3 300.00K 0.00K
HOLLANDALE WASHINGTON CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:43 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 1.00K 0.00K
ROLLING FORK SHARKEY CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:47 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ANCHORAGE HUMPHREYS CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:02 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 75 kts. EG 0 0 35.00K 0.00K
NORWAY YAZOO CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:12 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 20.00K 100.00K
SISLOFF JCT LEFLORE CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:18 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 30.00K
BEE LAKE HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:21 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 50.00K 100.00K
SIDON LEFLORE CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:24 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
SCOTLAND FORK YAZOO CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:25 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
GREENWOOD LEFLORE CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 260.00K 0.00K
VALLEY HILL CARROLL CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:31 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 63 kts. MG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
PICKENS HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:38 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 58 kts. EG 0 0 2.00K 0.00K
CARROLLTON CARROLL CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:40 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 70 kts. EG 0 0 300.00K 150.00K
OWENS WELLS HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:40 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 100.00K 400.00K
LEXINGTON HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:40 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 600.00K 600.00K
DAVIS MADISON CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:41 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HOLCOMB GRENADA CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:43 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 75.00K 0.00K
SALLIS ATTALA CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:51 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 550.00K 250.00K
DURANT HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:51 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
GRENADA GRENADA CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:56 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
WEST HOLMES CO. MS 04/27/2011 00:59 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
BEATTY CARROLL CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:00 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 5.00K 300.00K
BEATTY CARROLL CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:03 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
GORE SPGS GRENADA CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:06 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 60.00K 0.00K
POLAR CREEK MONTGOMERY CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:10 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 3.00K 0.00K
POLAR CREEK MONTGOMERY CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:17 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 350.00K 800.00K
ETHEL ATTALA CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:20 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
YAZOO CITY YAZOO CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:22 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
FRENCH CAMP CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:25 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 75.00K 250.00K
YAZOO CITY BARRIER A YAZOO CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:25 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 3.00K 0.00K
FRENCH CAMP CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:25 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 2 350.00K 400.00K
RURAL HILL WINSTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:29 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 85.00K 150.00K
CHESTER CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:29 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 5 500.00K 700.00K
FLORA MADISON CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
FRENCH CAMP CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 68 kts. EG 1 0 400.00K 0.00K
SHERWOOD CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:37 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
SAPA WEBSTER CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:39 CST-6 Tornado EF2 1 5 600.00K 600.00K
MATHISTON WEBSTER CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:43 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 15 3.000M 700.00K
RAYMOND HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:45 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
LOUISVLL WINSTON ARP WINSTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:47 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 60.00K 200.00K
UTICA HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:50 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
PINEBLUFF CLAY CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:54 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 900.00K 500.00K
WEST JACKSON HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:56 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 57 kts. EG 0 0 8.00K 0.00K
CARTHAGE LEAKE CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 125.00K 0.00K
VALUE RANKIN CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 300.00K 0.00K
STATE COLLEGE OKTIBBEHA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
FLORENCE RANKIN CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
TERRY HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 58 kts. EG 0 0 3.00K 0.00K
PELAHATCHIE RANKIN CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:16 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 57 kts. EG 0 0 3.00K 0.00K
EDINBURG LEAKE CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:17 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 8.00K 0.00K
CRAWFORD LOWNDES CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:20 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
BROOKSVILLE NOXUBEE CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:20 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
MORTON SCOTT CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:24 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 12.00K 0.00K
CRAWFORD LOWNDES CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:25 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
LILLIAN SCOTT CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:27 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 57 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
LONGINO NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:31 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BURNSIDE NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:35 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SPRING CREEK NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:35 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 90.00K 0.00K
FEARNS SPGS WINSTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:41 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CONEHATTA NEWTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:45 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
HOUSE NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:53 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
STRATTON NEWTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:54 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 12.00K 0.00K
WAHALAK KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:03 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
GALYX NOXUBEE CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:05 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 250.00K 500.00K
RALEIGH SMITH CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:05 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
DE KALB KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 1.00K 0.00K
SCHAMBERVILLE LAUDERDALE CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:15 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
COLLINSVILLE LAUDERDALE CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:17 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 65 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
PONTA LAUDERDALE CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:21 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. MG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
OAK GROVE KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:22 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
JACK COPIAH CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:27 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BAILEY LAUDERDALE CO. MS 04/27/2011 03:32 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 300.00K 0.00K
MOUND BAYOU BOLIVAR CO. MS 04/27/2011 11:19 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
PARCHMAN SUNFLOWER CO. MS 04/27/2011 11:33 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 30.00K 0.00K
CRAIGSIDE LEFLORE CO. MS 04/27/2011 12:34 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
WESTSIDE CLAIBORNE CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:13 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
LONGINO NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:30 CST-6 Tornado EF5 0 0 500.00K 0.00K
PRINCE CHAPEL KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:43 CST-6 Tornado EF5 3 6 100.00K 0.00K
FEARNS SPGS WINSTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:46 CST-6 Tornado EF5 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
MONTEVISTA WEBSTER CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:48 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 20.00K 0.00K
GHOLSON NOXUBEE CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:52 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 400.00K 0.00K
KELLIS STORE KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 13:55 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
CARPENTER COPIAH CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:10 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
JACK COPIAH CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:11 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 300.00K 0.00K
DABNEY XRDS HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:16 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 2 700.00K 0.00K
MACON MUNI ARPT NOXUBEE CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:18 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 200.00K 100.00K
DABNEY XRDS HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:23 CST-6 Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 200.00K 0.00K
WHITES RANKIN CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:36 CST-6 Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 300.00K 0.00K
EUPORA WEBSTER CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:37 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SCOOBA KEMPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:47 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 500.00K 300.00K
HESTERVILLE ATTALA CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:47 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
POLKVILLE SMITH CO. MS 04/27/2011 15:19 CST-6 Hail 2.75 in. 0 0 25.00K 0.00K
DANIEL SMITH CO. MS 04/27/2011 15:27 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 300.00K 400.00K
BETHEL NEWTON CO. MS 04/27/2011 16:08 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 0 1.000M 100.00K
RALEIGH SMITH CO. MS 04/27/2011 16:42 CST-6 Tornado EF3 1 0 500.00K 500.00K
HOOKSTON LAUDERDALE CO. MS 04/27/2011 16:45 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 100.00K 50.00K
HAMLET JASPER CO. MS 04/27/2011 16:55 CST-6 Tornado EF4 2 0 900.00K 800.00K
WAUTUBBEE CLARKE CO. MS 04/27/2011 17:26 CST-6 Tornado EF4 4 14 900.00K 800.00K
Totals: 12 52 18.073M 9.780M