2010 — Apr 24, Tornado, Central MS (deaths Choctaw, Holmes, Yazoo Counties)-10
— 10 Bauerlien. “Mississippi Digs Out From Storm,” Wall Street Journal, Apr 25, 2010.
— 5 Choctaw County, French Camp area, 12:28-12:50 CST April 24 EF3 tornado.[1]
— 1 Holmes County. NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 188.
— 4 Yazoo County, near Yazoo City. EF4 Tornado hits mobile homes 10:53-11:33 CST.[2]
Narrative Information
Bauerlien: “The track of the Saturday storm, the most destructive tornado in the U.S. so far this year, ran about 170 miles from Issaquena County at the state’s western border with Louisiana to Monroe County along the northeastern border with Alabama. “It sliced Mississippi in half,” said Greg Carbin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. The tornado tore roofs from buildings, flipped cars, felled trees and demolished hundreds of homes. Victims included three children, aged three months, 9 and 14 in rural Choctaw County.
“Gov. Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency in 17 counties and said he expected several severely damaged counties to qualify for federal disaster aid.
“The storm was part of a severe weather system that dumped rain and hail and spawned tornados across the Southeast on Saturday….” (Bauerlien. “Mississippi Digs Out From Storm,” Wall Street Journal, Apr 25, 2010.)
NCDC: “Yazoo County, 5 WSW Enola, 3 NNW Fordyke…The tornado moved out of extreme southeast Sharkey County and into west central Yazoo County and gained intensity as it tracked northeast. The tornado caused significant home damage northwest of Satartia, and again as it crossed Highway 3 near the Crupp Community. The tornado then moved through a rural area southwest of Yazoo City, causing major damage or destruction of a number of homes, as well as intense tree damage. As the tornado approached the intersection of US Highway 49 and Highway 16, on the south side of Yazoo City, it reached its widest point and maximum intensity. Here the rating peaked at EF4 with maximum winds around 170 mph. The tornado had a maximum width of 1.75 miles. Several buildings, including a church and several businesses, were totally destroyed. The tornado continued moving through residential areas on the southeast side of Yazoo City, heavily damaging or destroying numerous homes. The tornado continued northeast through rural northeastern Yazoo County before it tracked into Holmes County. A total of four fatalities occurred in Yazoo County. All of the fatalities were individuals who were in mobile homes.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 187.)
NCDC (continuing from previous page): “Holmes County, 2 ESE Zeiglerville, 3 E Durant… 11:33 CST 11:57 CST…Tornado (EF4). The tornado continued northeast into rural southern Holmes County, causing intense tree damage and damaging or destroying a number of rural residences. The damage across this area was in the EF3 range. As the tornado moved by the Franklin Community, in rural Holmes county, it again reached EF4 intensity. It completely destroyed two brick homes and heavily damaged or destroyed a number of other homes. The tornado then crossed Interstate 55, causing significant tree damage and blowing a number of vehicles off the road. As the tornado approached the area just south of Durant and crossed US Highway 51, it narrowed and reached one of its weakest points. One fatality occurred in Holmes County.” (National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 188.)
NCDC: “Choctaw County 2 ESE French Camp, 4 ESE Reform…. The tornado moved into Choctaw County and crossed Black Road around 128 pm. Here, minor damage occurred to a brick home. Tree damage in this area was more substantial and was in the upper EF2 range. Thousands of trees were uprooted and snapped. Many trees were also splintered in this area. The tornado then crossed Highway 413, just east of French Camp. The tornado reached high end EF3 intensity at this point and produced significant structural damage to a number of structures. Wind
speeds ranged from 155 to 165 mph at this location. Three well built brick homes were nearly flattened with only 1 outer wall left standing. Other well built structures sustained major damage to the roof. The Crossroads Grocery was destroyed as the cinder-block structure collapsed on itself. Several vehicles were thrown in this area including at semi-truck. A cell tower was snapped in half. The intense damage continued along the track across Stuart-Weir Road and White Road. Several more structures were severely damaged or destroyed in this area along with significant devastation to timber. Along Pisgah and Dotson Roads, some of the most severe damage occurred and this was the location of the 5 fatalities. Here, dozens of mobile homes and conventional foundation homes were destroyed. Multiple vehicles were thrown with a few landing in trees. The widest part of the tornado was in this general area where it was 1.07 miles wide. The EF3 intensity damage occurred for about 4 miles. The tornado weakened as it tracked toward the Chester Community and crossed Weir-Salem Road and Chester-Mills Road. Here the damage was mostly tree damage with a dozen of homes or so receiving minor to major damage. Some homes had a small portion of roof torn off or shingles peeled away. One well built home was shifted off the foundation with a portion of the back of the home collapsed. Again, timber damage was significant with a large area of pine forest heavily damaged. EF2 damaged was noted there. The tornado continued through Chester and toward Highway 9 and Highway 15. Here mainly EF1 tree damage occurred. The only exception was at and just to the east of the intersection with Highway 9 and Highway 790. Here some low end EF2 tree damage was noted. The tornado then crossed Highway 15 and continued just along and to the south of Macedonia Road. EF1 tree damage occurred in this area as well. The tornado continued into Oktibbeha County just east of the Reform-Sturgis Road.” (National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 189.)
Sources
Bauerlien, Valerie. “Mississippi Digs Out From Storm,” Wall Street Journal, Apr 25, 2010. At: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703441404575206400321106166.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010. Asheville, NC: NCDC, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, NOAA. Accessed 6-14-2015 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-4640CB9D-59D4-447E-8290-E8FC353D5F86.pdf
[1] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 189.
[2] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2010, p. 187.