Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details

Event Hail
Magnitude 2.00 in.
State MISSISSIPPI
County/Area RANKIN
WFO JAN
Begin Date 04/27/2011 14:36:00 CST-6
Begin Range 2
Begin Azimuth W
Begin Location WHITES
Begin Lat/Lon 32.08/-90.23
End Date 04/27/2011 15:18:00 CST-6
End Range 3
End Azimuth ESE
End Location RUFUS
End Lat/Lon 32.16/-89.73
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 300.00K
Crop Damage 0.00K
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 A swath of large hail, at times in excess of 2 inches in diameter, began over southern Hinds County tracking to the east-northeast dropping golf ball size hail in Terry. The swath continued into Rankin County where hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter fell in Florence.


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
HOLLANDALE WASHINGTON CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:43 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 1.00K 0.00K
SUNFLOWER SUNFLOWER CO. MS 04/26/2011 23:43 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 3 300.00K 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
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
FRENCH CAMP CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:25 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 75.00K 250.00K
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
FRENCH CAMP CHOCTAW CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 68 kts. EG 1 0 400.00K 0.00K
FLORA MADISON CO. MS 04/27/2011 01:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 25.00K 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
TERRY HINDS CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 58 kts. EG 0 0 3.00K 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
FLORENCE RANKIN CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 53 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 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
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
BROOKSVILLE NOXUBEE CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:20 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
CRAWFORD LOWNDES CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:20 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 15.00K 0.00K
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
SPRING CREEK NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:35 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 60 kts. EG 0 0 90.00K 0.00K
BURNSIDE NESHOBA CO. MS 04/27/2011 02:35 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 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
HESTERVILLE ATTALA CO. MS 04/27/2011 14:47 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 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
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