..STORM SURVEYS AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS STILL UNDERWAY ACROSS THE
MID SOUTH...
...TORNADOES ARE LISTED IN ORDER OF STRENGTH AND THEN TIME...
THE NATIONAL SERVICE IN MEMPHIS IS IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING
DAMAGE FROM A HISTORIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK THAT SPANNED SEVERAL
DAYS BEGINNING LATE LAST WEEK THROUGH WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011. THIS
SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK RESULTED IN DOZENS OF INJURIES AND NUMEROUS
FATALITIES. CREWS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISPATCHED OVER THE NEXT
SEVERAL DAYS TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS EAST ARKANSAS...WEST
TENNESSEE...NORTH MISSISSIPPI AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL TO SURVEY
DAMAGE AS THE RESULT OF SUSPECTED TORNADOES...FLOODING...AND
POSSIBLE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. SURVEY CREWS WILL INVESTIGATE
AS MANY AS 10 SUSPECTED TORNADO TRACKS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE
CONTINUOUS AND MAY BEGIN OR END IN SURROUNDING COUNTY WARNING AREAS.
WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR MEDIA PARTNERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS
AND SURROUNDING FORECAST OFFICES TO BUILD A THOROUGH PICTURE OF THIS
EVENT.
DUE TO THE SCOPE OF THIS TRAGICALLY HISTORIC EVENT...SURVEYS MAY
TAKE A WEEK OR MORE TO COMPLETE. WE WILL RELEASE INFORMATION BY
UPDATING OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS AS SURVEY CREWS REPORT
BACK TO US. CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE LATEST.
&&
...DAY THREE SURVEY PLANS...
PRELIMINARY SURVEY PLANS FOR SATURDAY APRIL 30 INCLUDE:
TEAM ONE: PRIORITY #1: ONE POSSIBLE TORNADO TRACK IN
CRAIGHEAD/MISSISSIPPI CO. ARKANSAS
&&
...PRELIMINARY RARE EF-5 TORNADO IN MONROE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
AFTER A REVIEW OF THE DAMAGE PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THURSDAY/S GROUND
SURVEY AND CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL EXPERTS...THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS UPGRADED THE SMITHVILLE TORNADO
RATING TO EF-5 DAMAGE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATING FOR TORNADO
DAMAGE AND THE FIRST EF-5 OR F-5 IN MISSISSIPPI SINCE THE
CANDLESTICK PARK TORNADO NEAR JACKSON ON MARCH 3RD 1966.
* COUNTY: MONROE
* LOCATION: SMITHVILLE
* TIME OF EVENT: 344 PM EDT ON APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.0517, -88.4236
* ENDING POINT: 34.0731, -88.3814
* RATING: EF-5
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 205 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 2.82 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
* FATALITIES: 14
* INJURIES: 40
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: 18 HOMES DESTROYED...2 BUSINESSES /POST
OFFICE AND POLICE STATION/ DESTROYED...8 HOMES WITH MAJOR
DAMAGE...7 BUSINESSES WITH MAJOR DAMAGE...44 HOMES WITH MINOR
DAMAGE...AND WATER SYSTEM DESTROYED. MOST TREES EITHER SNAPPED
OR TWISTED AND DEBARKED. MOST THE HOMES DESTROYED WERE WELL
BUILT...TWO STORIES...LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD AND BOLTED DOWN TO
THEIR FOUNDATIONS. AN 1965 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK PARKED IN FRONT
ONE OF THE DESTROYED HOMES HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. ALL APPLIANCES
AND PLUMBING FIXTURES IN THE MOST EXTREME DAMAGE PATH SHREDDED
OR MISSING.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-3 TORNADO IN CHICKASAW AND MONROE COUNTIES
IN MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTIES: CHICKASAW AND MONROE
* LOCATION: COUNTY RD 69 IN CHICKASAW CO TO HIGHWAY 6 IN BIGBEE.
* TIME: 304 PM ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 33.8053, -89.0678
* ENDING POINT: 34.0161, -88.5192
* RATING: EF-3
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 150 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 34.7 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 3/4 MILE
* FATALITIES: 7
* INJURIES: 7
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: 15 TO 20 HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED...
HUNDREDS OF TREES SNAPPED AND/OR DEBARKED...POWER LINES DOWN.
FATALITIES AND INJURIES OCCURRED NEAR HOUSTON AND NEW WREN.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-3 TORNADO IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTY: LAFAYETTE
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: DAMAGE BEGAN SOUTH OF OXFORD AT 139 PM
CDT WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.2084, -89.5653
* ENDING POINT: 34.3299, -89.3785
* RATING: EF-3
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 140 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 13.6 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 1/4 MILE
* FATALITIES: NONE
* INJURIES: 2
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: A NUMBER OF HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES WERE
DAMAGED ALONG THE PATH OF THE TORNADO.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-2 TORNADO IN TISHOMINGO COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTY: TISHOMINGO
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: BELMONT AT 348 AM ON APRIL 27 2011.
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.4683, -88.2808
* ENDING POINT: 34.5559, -88.1572
* RATING: EF-2
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 125 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 9.29 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 150 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: NUMBER OF HOMES...BUSINESSES AND APARTMENTS
DAMAGED. A LARGE METAL STORAGE BUILDING WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-2 TORNADO IN HARDIN COUNTY TENNESSEE...
* COUNTY: HARDIN
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: COUNCE AT 510 PM ON APRIL 27 2011.
* BEGINNING POINT: 35.0248, -88.2735
* ENDING POINT: 35.0368, -88.2072
* RATING: EF-2
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 125 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 3.85 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 2 MINOR
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: HARDWARE STORE DESTROYED. NUMBER OF HOMES
DAMAGED.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-1 TORNADO IN CHICKASAW COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTY: CHICKASAW
* LOCATION: NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 8 AND HIGHWAY 147
NEAR TREBLOC
* TIME: 305 AM CDT WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 33.8133, -88.8492
* ENDING POINT: 33.8553, -88.8256
* RATING: EF-1
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 90 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 3.2 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* FATALITIES: NONE
* INJURIES: NONE
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: MINOR HOME DAMAGE...BARN DAMAGED AND TREES
UPROOTED NEAR HIGHWAYS 8 AND 47.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-0 TORNADO IN PHILLIPS CO. ARKANSAS AND COAHOMA CO.
MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTIES: PHILLIPS CO. ARKANSAS AND COAHOMA CO. MISSISSIPPI
* LOCATION: FERGUSON ARKANSAS ALONG HIGHWAY 44 TO COAHOMA
MISSISSIPPI ALONG OLD HIGHWAY 61 ROAD.
* TIME: 630 PM ON TUESDAY APRIL 26 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.137006, -90.984259
* ENDING POINT: 34.36675, -90.52245
* RATING: EF-0
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 80 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 17.8 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: CHURCH SUFFERED ROOF DAMAGE ABOUT THREE MILES
SOUTHWEST OF COAHOMA. TOPPLED OVER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS...
NUMEROUS TREES EITHER UPROOTED OR WITH SNAPPED LIMBS... SCATTERED
TELEPHONE POLES DOWN...AND A FEW DAMAGED ADVERTISEMENT AND ROAD
SIGNS.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-0 TORNADO IN PHILLIPS CO. ARKANSAS AND
COAHOMA...TUNICA COUNTIES IN MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTIES: PHILLIPS COUNTY ARKANSAS...COAHOMA AND TUNICA COUNTIES
IN MISSISSIPPI.
* LOCATION: 1 MILE NORTH OF ELAINE ARKANSAS ALONG HIGHWAY 44...TO
ONE MILE EAST OF HIGHWAY 61 NEAR LULA MISSISSIPPI.
* TIME: 615 PM ON APRIL 26TH
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.33479, -90.84075
* ENDING POINT: 34.46386, -90.379571
* RATING: EF-0
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 75 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 21.5 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 200 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: DAMAGE WAS MOST FELT IN THE TOWNS OF FRIARS
POINT AND COAHOMA MISSISSIPPI WHERE ROOFS OF HOMES WERE DAMAGED
AND ONE HOME WAS MOVED OFF ITS BLOCK FOUNDATION. CHURCH SUFFERED
ROOF DAMAGE A FEW MILES SOUTH OF LULA MISSISSIPPI. OTHER DAMAGE
OCCURRED WHEN A ROOF WAS A LARGE SECTION WAS PEELED OFF A
COMMERCIAL METAL STORAGE BUILDING NEAR FRIARS POINT. TOPPLED OVER
PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS...NUMEROUS TREES EITHER UPROOTED OR WITH
SNAPPED LIMBS... SCATTERED TELEPHONE POLES DOWN...AND A FEW
DAMAGED ADVERTISEMENT AND ROAD SIGNS.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-0 TORNADO IN PONTOTOC COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTY: PONTOTOC
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: ENDVILLE AT 257 PM ON APRIL 27 2011.
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.3202, -88.8848
* ENDING POINT: 34.3259, -88.8683
* RATING: EF-0
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 70 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 1.02 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 75 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: DAMAGE TO A COUPLE HOUSES WITH TREES DOWN.
&&
...PRELIMINARY EF-0 TORNADO IN ALCORN COUNTY MISSISSIPPI...
* COUNTY: ALCORN
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: RIENZI AT 250 PM ON APRIL 27 2011.
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.7709, -88.5147
* ENDING POINT: 34.7941, -88.4851
* RATING: EF-0
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 65 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 2.32 MILES
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 50 YARDS
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: 0
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: MINOR DAMAGE TO A COUPLE HOUSES WITH TREES
DOWN.
&&
A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF
ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR FOLLOW THE LINK AT THE
TOP OF OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/MEMPHIS. SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT
TO ALL EMERGENCY MANAGERS WHO HAVE ASSISTED THE OFFICE IN THESE
SURVEYS.