The Intense Mississippi Tornadoes of March 24, 2023

Rapid Organization

As night began to fall, the cluster of thunderstorms approached the Mississippi River. At the same time, they encountered an area of strengthening winds in the lower portion of the atmosphere known as a low level jet. It was at this time the cluster of ragged storms quickly evolved into to a well-organized supercell thunderstorm. Almost immediately, this supercell developed a mesocyclone - a deep rotating updraft. Image courtesy @meteoroloquads on Twitter

Tornado Develops

As the storm crossed the Mississippi River, radar continued to detect increasing rotation, and NWS meteorologists issued a Tornado Warning for the storm at 7:45 PM. Twelve minutes later, a tornado began near Grant Road in Issaquena County, snapping trees and damaging two barns. Around the same time, NWS Jackson meteorologists became so concerned by the intensity of rotation being detected by radar, the warning was upgraded to state "This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!"

Debris Lofted

At 802 PM, NWS Jackson radar began to detect lofted debris, mostly from trees at the time, as the tornado crossed from Issaquena County into Sharkey County. Within just a matter of minutes as the tornado rapidly intensified, this debris signature extended over 4 miles above the Earth's surface.

Tornado Emergency/Violent Damage Begins

At 804 PM, NWS Jackson meteorologists further upgraded the Tornado Warning to include the most urgent language possible. "TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR ROLLING FORK AND ANGUILLA" "...a large, extremely dangerous, and potentially deadly tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW!" "TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC"

At this time, the tornado was in the process of intensifying as it moved across a wooded area south of Bear Lake Road. A very high percentage of trees were snapped, with at least one tree and root ball and several large tree pieces fully displaced into the downstream fields. Several power transmission poles were downed, and the first houses were damaged along Bear Lake Road. Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Tornado Approaches Rolling Fork

At 8:05 PM, around 15 houses were completely demolished along Pinkins Road. The metal undercarriage of multiple mobile homes were separated, bent, and tossed over 150 yards from the home site, with debris scattered away. One car became wrapped in utility lines as it was rolled and bounced nearly 100 yards. Another vehicle was tossed against a tree which was partially debarked. Other trees, especially along the east end of the road were stubbed and partially debarked. One person in a mobile or manufactured home along this road sustained severe injuries during the tornado and passed away about four weeks later.

Direct Hit

As the tornado moved into the southwest side of Rolling Fork, the tornadic wind field was broad, encompassing the area from Race Street, where damage occurred to the Sharkey Issaquena Hospital, to Bear Lake Road, where several utility poles were snapped. The corridor of greatest damage on the west side of the city, rated high end EF3, extended from 7th Street between Martin Avenue and Joor Avenue to 3rd Street between Southern Avenue and Lewis Avenue. In this area, multiple homes were destroyed with most exterior walls downed. Two deaths occurred along 7th Street when a trailer truck was tossed approximately 70 to 80 yards into a home. Several additional people were trapped in their homes and/or injured. Additional debarking of trees occurred in this area. Minor weakening occurred as the tornado moved toward the center of the city, though EF2 damage was still common. As the tornado approached Deer Creek, the fire station, Rolling Fork Elementary School, and South Delta High School all sustained roof and other exterior damage. Tornado image courtesy Max Olson (Not For Redistribution)

Tornado Reintensifies

Around 8:07 PM, the tornado once again reached EF4 intensity as it moved through the downtown area and toward the eastern side of the city. A home and a duplex between Sharkey Street and Worthington Avenue were entirely demolished, with the foundation of the duplex partially swept of its debris. Large metal buildings at an agricultural business at the intersection of East Street and West Avenue were destroyed. A Masonic lodge was leveled and the Double Quick/Church's Chicken building was heavily damaged. One person died in a mobile home that was destroyed on Worthington Avenue.

Continuing across the Rolling Fork Creek, the tornado damaged or destroyed several buildings along McLaurin Street and China Street. A large water tower (pictured here) east of Hicks Avenue was downed. Additional EF4 damage occurred as the tornado crossed Walnut Street, with multiple homes and businesses having all or most walls blown away. One building had two tractor trailer trucks tossed onto it. An additional fatality occurred at a mobile home that was destroyed on Sidney Alexander Street north of Walnut Street.

Downtown Rolling Fork

In the downtown area, the roof was removed from the Rolling Fork Post Office building, and heavy damage occurred at Rolling Fork City Hall and the Rolling Fork Police Department. The Sharkey County Courthouse received damage to the roof and some windows, with the cupola removed.

"The Blues" Highway

The tornado began to reach its peak intensity as it approached US Highway 61 near Walnut Street. Multiple homes were destroyed along Mulberry Street, some with all walls knocked down. On Walnut Street, the Green Apple store was destroyed, with most of the debris swept from the foundation. The Family Dollar store was also destroyed, with much of the foundation swept clean and debris rowed along the tornado path. Two deaths occurred at this location. Additional businesses along the Highway 61 corridor were damaged or destroyed. Among the most heavily damaged were Service Lumber Company, Chuck's Dairy Bar, Farm Bureau Insurance, El Mariachi Restaurant, and Britton Furniture. In at least two of these businesses, people were trapped by fallen debris and/or injured. One person died in a vehicle that was traveling southbound on US 61 and was tossed off the highway and ended up near the Service Lumber Company.

In the mobile/manufactured home community behind Chuck's Dairy Bar, all of the approximately 30 to 35 homes were destroyed, with much of the debris rowed 300-400 yards downstream along the tornado path into the nearby fields and a tree line. Tragically, six people lost their lives at this location.

Sunrise image courtesy of David Day, Vicksburg Daily News,  www.vicksburgnews.com 

Debris Granularization

The tornado remained strong to violent as it continued northeast of Rolling Fork across mainly open fields. Through these fields, aerial imagery revealed multiple areas of ground scarring. The tornado crossed Matthews Road near a catfish farm, where several utility poles were snapped near the ground and covered in 1 to 2 inches of mud. Some of the poles were tossed into nearby ponds. Prolific tree damage occurred along Sandy Bayou, with a few buildings along the outer edges of the path damaged and a tractor trailer flipped.

Another area of EF4 damage was observed from Widow Bayou and E River Road northeastward through Dogwood Road and Linsey Road. Through this corridor, extraordinary hardwood tree damage occurred with most trees completely mangled and debarking noted. There was additional evidence of trees or large parts of trees being tossed or dragged a short distance.

Notably, in the field between Dogwood Road and Linsey Road, the tornado rowed a narrow path of granularized debris (a mixture of tornadic debris that has been reduced to small particles) consisting mainly of tree pieces with a consistency near that of mulch. (pictured here)

Tree damage continued across Keith Road and Charlie Pitt Road as the tornado approached MS Highway 14.

Image courtesy Melissa Wagner, CIWRO/NSSL SCOURS Project

Highway 14

The tornado reached MS Highway 14 east of Anguilla at 8:22 PM. At this location a frame home was completely destroyed and several power poles were snapped. Tree damage was extensive with large areas mowed down. Nearby, a mobile home was rolled into nearby trees.

The tornado crossed into Humphreys County at 8:25 PM. Along Prudent Road, most of the roof was taken off of a home and the garage collapsed along with a portion of the front porch. One vehicle was flipped and another was moved. A metal workshop was destroyed and structural beams were bent. Several power poles were snapped and thrown a couple hundred feet into a nearby field.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Seven Mile Road

As the tornado approached Seven Mile Road, intensity increased. Several metal buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed with structural beams bent. Grain bins had sides collapsed and the tops blown off. A small brick home was completely destroyed with all of the exterior walls collapsed. The home next door had a large portion of the roof removed and part of a wall had collapsed. Debris from the home was thrown several hundred feet into a nearby field. Vehicles were moved out of the garage and a large grain storage cart was thrown into the field as well.

Midnight Sky

At 8:31 PM, the tornado passed very near the Midnight community. For several miles, the tornado traveled along MS Highway 149 where large areas of hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted. Multiple center pivot irrigation systems were flipped. A mobile home was completely destroyed when it was rolled into a nearby field. A portion of the roof was blown off a school. Several homes and a large metal building received significant roof damage, and at least one home had decking material partially removed. A second metal building was completely destroyed with large structural posts bent.

Image courtesy Brett Adair, Live Storms Media (Not For Redistribution)

Tragedy in Silver City

At 8:37 PM, the tornado reached Silver City. As the tornado entered the west side of town along MS Highway 149, an apartment complex was heavily damaged. Several buildings had sections of the roof removed and one building had portions of the western walls partially collapsed. A fatality occurred in one of the single story apartment buildings.

In the nearby neighborhood, numerous homes had roof damage. At least two frame homes were destroyed where one or more exterior walls collapsed. A large number of old hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted.

As the storm moved east toward US Highway 49W, more trees were snapped and uprooted. Several homes and a church near the intersection of MS Highway 149 and US Highway 49W had areas of the roof damaged or removed. Four mobile homes were completely destroyed. One person died when a mobile home was tossed into a house, and a child died in one of the mobile homes that was destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a few of which fell on homes. The rating in the Silver City area ranged from EF1-EF2.

Image courtesy Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop D

Highway 12

East of Silver City, the tornado crossed the Yazoo River then spent several miles over mostly open fields then wooded areas before crossing MS Highway 12 east of Belzoni at 8:49 PM. Several trees were snapped and uprooted in this area, and radar continued to detect lofted debris along the tornado's path.

Holmes County

The tornado crossed into Holmes County at 8:52 PM. Northwest and north of Tchula, there was substantial tree damage with swaths of snapped and uprooted trees. Several center pivot irrigation systems were overturned and grain bins were flipped or destroyed. The tornado crossed US 49E at 9:00 PM.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

A New Tornado Develops

Even as the original tornado dissipated at 9:08 PM, the mesocyclone within the parent supercell thunderstorm remained very strong as the storm moved into southern Carroll County. It was merely a matter of minutes before a new tornado developed in a wooded area southwest of Black Hawk at 9:12 PM. The tornado strengthened quickly, uprooting and snapping numerous trees. Aerial imagery indicated major tree damage of EF2 intensity.

Black Hawk

The tornado continued northeast, reaching the Black Hawk community at 9:15 PM. In this area numerous residential structures were damaged, including 2 homes that were destroyed with both losing outer walls and another with collapsed brick on the exterior and the interior slab exposed. Large farming equipment was also blown over on the side.

The tornado reached EF3 intensity, around 155mph, where Black Hawk Independent Church, Historic Blackhawk School and a parsonage were completely destroyed. Both the school and church had stood for nearly 100 years. The church steeple was gone with the bell thrown out and not seen by the survey team. The slab to the church remained intact with a few exterior walls standing. A nearby well building made of cinder block masonry stood mostly untouched outside of minor damage to the roof and doorway.

The tornado continued producing widespread tree damage and some structural damage as it crossed MS Highway 17.

Forest Devastation

East of Black Hawk, the tornado tracked across a heavily wooded area of southern Carroll County, at times paralleling County Roads 218 and 144 where a few mobile homes, sheds, and camp houses were damaged or destroyed. It then continued eastward across County Roads 211 and 53, Spring Lake, and Waters Lake. A home along Spring Lake Road was shifted off its piers and destroyed. In this area, the tornado was an estimated one half to three quarters of a mile wide.

Tree damage in this corridor was prolific, with the Mississippi Forestry Commission estimating over 3,000 acres of forest with an estimated value of over $5.4 million damaged or destroyed in Carroll County alone.

Before image courtesy ESRI. After image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Tragedy on Highway 35

The tornado remained strong as it crossed Enon Road, where damage occurred to a home. At 9:26 PM, it crossed MS Highway 35, tossing a mobile home into a nearby wooded area some 50 yards away. Three fatalities occurred at this location. An 18 wheeler tractor trailer was also blown over on the side, and widespread tree damage continued. Just to the northeast, satellite imagery indicates another structure had major damage, with the majority of it destroyed. The tornado then crossed County Road 278 and County Road 61, with additional intense tree damage in the area.

I-55 Crossing

The tornado was nearly a half mile wide as it crossed Gum Branch Road and Interstate 55 at 9:31 PM, continuing to down numerous trees. The roof of a church on Gum Branch Road was damaged.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Tornado Enters South Winona

The tornado entered the south side of Winona at 9:33 PM, crossing US Highway 51 and Stafford Wells Road. Several metal buildings along US 51 were damaged or destroyed. The tornado passed just south of the Winona-Montgomery County Airport.

Intensification near Highway 407

On the southeast side of Winona, the tornado regained EF3 intensity as it approached MS Highway 407. Here, several homes were heavily damaged, including one with collapsed exterior walls on Hidden Hollow. Additional tree damage occurred as the tornado paralleled Poor House Road.

Highway 82

The tornado maintained EF2 to EF3 intensity as it crossed Highway 82 around 9:36 PM, destroying a home on Hathcock Road, and downing numerous power lines.

Image courtesy Brad Arnold, not for redistribution

Concrete Lifted

As the tornado tracked north of Highway 82 and approached Bethlehem Community Road, the concrete foundation of a small outbuilding failed and was lifted upward and pivoted 15 to 20 feet. There were no signs of the foundation dragging along the ground, so it is believed the entire structure, including the foundation, was moved before the walls and roof ultimately failed and were blown away, leaving the concrete foundation behind.

The tornado crossed Bethlehem Community Road near the intersection with Bethlehem Church Road, producing considerable tree damage as it damaged a home and additional outbuildings. It then continued eastward, crossing Hammond Road, then damaging a house and destroying an outbuilding off Robinson-Thompson Road.

A New Tornado Begins

At 10:38 PM, a new tornado began near County Roads 173 and 182 southwest of Egypt in far eastern Chickasaw County. It then traveled northeast across County Road 179, snapping and uprooting numerous trees.

Egypt

As the tornado passed near the Egypt community, it began to strengthen quickly after it crossed US Highway 45W at 10:40 PM and approached Egypt and Tumblin Roads. Several structures sustained significant damage, including the total destruction of a couple of single-wide manufactured homes. Numerous trees and utility poles were heavily damaged in the area and roof damage was noted on several homes. Several injuries were reported in this area.

"Large and Extremely Dangerous"

As the tornado continued northeast, warnings from National Weather Service Memphis described the tornado as "large and extremely dangerous" and a "PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION." Radar showed a debris ball - a focused area of higher reflectivity resulting from the radar beam reflecting off of debris being lofted by the tornado. There was also a tornadic debris signature, which is an indication of lofted debris via the radar detecting objects of mixed size.

The tornado crossed White Rock Road, producing widespread, significant tree damage and roof damage to several homes in the path. It strengthened further as it approached McAllister Road. Several homes in the area of McAllister and Herndon Roads suffered significant damage with missing roofs and collapsed walls. A single-wide manufactured home on Herndon Road was separated from its frame and completely destroyed, resulting in 2 fatalities and multiple significant injuries. Tree damage was severe with many hardwood trees snapped or uprooted.

New Wren

At 10:48 PM, the tornado produced additional home and widespread, significant tree damage as it passed along Whatley Road near the intersection with US Highway 45E south of New Wren. The tornado was near one mile wide at this point. One manufactured home was destroyed with debris blown 200 yards down to the highway. A church was destroyed and several homes suffered significant damage.

Several homes sustained severe damage along Little Coontail Road, including the complete destruction of multiple manufactured homes. A boat was tossed more than 50 yards and an SUV was thrown into a tree. Some of this damage along Highway 45 East and Little Coontail Road was rated EF3. Farther east along Coontail Road, damage to homes was less significant and was generally confined to minor roof damage. However, severe tree damage continued.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Tornado Emergency

At 10:50 PM, National Weather Service Memphis updated the warning to state "TORNADO EMERGENCY for NEW WREN AND AMORY. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION."

At this time, the tornado was moving through the wooded wetland areas along the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, where it crossed US 278.

Tornado Reaches Amory

The tornado began to move into the western side of the city of Amory around 10:53 PM, impacting the residential areas near Lt Col Herbert Drive, 11th Street, and Cemetery Road. Widespread, significant damage to homes and trees was observed all throughout the northern half of Amory. Several locations in Amory sustained damage rated as EF3, including around the city water treatment plant. Minor damage occurred as far south as the West Amory Elementary School. Countless trees and power poles were downed.

Tower Collapsed

A cell tower on the north side of the BNSF railroad tracks and south of Dill Street was collapsed by the tornado.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel

Main Street

The tornado remained strong as it passed the busy intersection of Main Street (MS Highway 25) and 10th Avenue (MS Highway 6) on the north side of Amory around 10:55 PM. Several homes and businesses in this area were damaged, including the Piggly Wiggly, the BlueSky gas station, Jack's restaurant, among many more. Around 115 businesses in Amory were damaged in the tornado.

North Amory

On the north side of the city, the tornado began to roughly parallel Highland Drive (MS Highway 25), with damage to numerous homes and businesses nearby. Damage in the EF2 range continued to occur.

Image courtesy the Geospatial Insurance Consortium/Vexcel.

Amory High School

The tornado remained strong as it moved across the Amory High School campus at 10:56 PM. The center of the tornado passed directly over several of the school's athletic facilities, causing significant damage. The tornado path continued across the Amory Golf Course before leaving the city limits.

An inspirational story transpired following the tornado. Though the high school's baseball team was forced to play the remainder of its season on the road, the team went on to win a state championship for the 2023 season.

Video courtesy Amory School District

Smithville Area

Around 11:01 PM, a few homes suffered significant roof damage to the south of Smithville near Parham Store Road and Williams Young Road, and widespread tree damage continued. The tornado path began to narrow as the storm moved into northern Monroe County with tree damage found along Highway 23 and State Line Road.