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Storm Events Database
Event Details:
| Event | Tornado |
| -- Scale | EF2 |
| -- Length | 7.28 Miles |
| -- Width | 300 Yards |
| State | MISSISSIPPI |
| County/Area | FORREST |
| WFO | JAN |
| Report Source | NWS Storm Survey |
| NCEI Data Source | CSV |
| Begin Date | 2012-12-25 15:55 CST-6 |
| Begin Location | 4WSW FRUITLAND PARK |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 30.9067/-89.2375 |
| End Date | 2012-12-25 16:05 CST-6 |
| End Location | 4E MAXIE |
| End Lat/Lon | 30.9687/-89.1381 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 4/0 |
| Property Damage | 200.00K |
| Crop Damage | 0.00K |
| Episode Narrative | A regional severe weather outbreak unfolded during Christmas Day 2012 as a result of an anomalously strong and southward positioned trough axis over the southern plains and lower Mississippi River valley. Very strong cyclonically curved winds in the mid-levels of the atmosphere near 115 mph and a rapidly deepening surface low over Louisiana and Mississippi aided in strong low-level wind shear and destabilization for severe thunderstorm development. Early Christmas morning, a large elevated rain and thunderstorm shield overspread the entire ArkLaMiss region. A warm front pushed north through southern Louisiana and Mississippi through late morning and through the afternoon while a quickly advancing cold front and developing squall line were occurring across portions of Texas and Louisiana. A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watch was issued for all of southern Louisiana and Mississippi late Christmas morning for the expected potency of the rotating thunderstorms. Supercells began to develop ahead of the squall line across southern Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama south of the warm front during the afternoon. With such ample wind and speed shear, strong tornadoes developed that afternoon. The most notable tornadoes in NWS Jackson's area were two EF2 tornadoes in Lawrence and southern Forrest counties that destroyed several mobile homes and campers, snapped power poles, and uprooted or snapped hundreds of trees. Luckily, no fatalities occurred in association with the tornadoes. The tornado damage in Forrest County was part of a 61 mile long tornado that began in Pearl River County Mississippi, where EF-3 damage occurred, and ended in western Greene County. Numerous trees were reported down across much of central Mississippi from the advancing squall line and its damaging straight-line winds. Flash flooding also occurred across many areas leading to road closures. The severe weather and cold front finally cleared Mississippi by early Christmas evening. |
| Event Narrative | Numerous soft and hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted. Multiple power poles were snapped. Two double wide mobile homes were completely destroyed, a pickup truck was rolled, and a single-wide mobile home suffered major damage. Large oaks were uprooted and a travel trailer was demolished by a falling tree. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 130 mph in Forrest County. This is the continuation of a longer tornado that started in Pearl River County at 3:10pm. This tornado was at it's strongest in Pearl River County with estimated wind speeds of 140 mph, which is EF-3 strength. The tornado finally ended in Greene County at 4:34pm. The total path length was 60.8 miles. |
Event Map:
Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 13 | 838.00K | 0.00K | |||||||
| FLORA | MADISON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 12:30 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| LUCKNEY | RANKIN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:22 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LUCKNEY | RANKIN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:22 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 15.00K | 0.00K |
| VICKSBURG | WARREN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:24 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| PORT GIBSON | CLAIBORNE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| KINGSTON | ADAMS CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:45 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| VICKSBURG | WARREN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 13:45 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| CHURCH HILL | JEFFERSON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| NATCHEZ | ADAMS CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| EDWARDS | HINDS CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:17 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 2 | 55.00K | 0.00K |
| ROXIE | FRANKLIN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| BARLOW | COPIAH CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| MADISON STATION | MADISON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:42 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| RIDGELAND | MADISON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:45 | CST-6 | Lightning | 0 | 0 | 200.00K | 0.00K | |
| VICKSBURG | WARREN CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 14:45 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K | |
| WEST JACKSON | HINDS CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:10 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 10.00K | 0.00K | |
| HAZLEHURST | COPIAH CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:15 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| THOMASTOWN | LEAKE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:20 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| BRAXTON | SIMPSON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:25 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| LAMBERTS STORE | LAWRENCE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:35 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 7 | 200.00K | 0.00K |
| ARLINGTON | NESHOBA CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:45 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 5.00K | 0.00K |
| PINOLA | SIMPSON CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:45 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| HARPERVILLE | SCOTT CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| FRUITLAND PARK | FORREST CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 15:55 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF2 | 0 | 4 | 200.00K | 0.00K |
| LAKE | SCOTT CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 1.00K | 0.00K |
| OVETT | JONES CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:09 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00K | 0.00K |
| ENTERPRISE | CLARKE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:25 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 3.00K | 0.00K |
| SAVOY | LAUDERDALE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:35 | CST-6 | Tornado | EF0 | 0 | 0 | 55.00K | 0.00K |
| OKATIBBEE | LAUDERDALE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:36 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 15.00K | 0.00K |
| NEW HOPE | LOWNDES CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 16:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 50 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 2.00K | 0.00K |
| BAILEY | LAUDERDALE CO. | MS | 12/25/2012 | 17:35 | CST-6 | Flash Flood | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |
| Totals: | 0 | 13 | 838.00K | 0.00K |
