Easter tornado strikes featured two monster twisters in Mississippi, weather service reports

Two of the nine known tornadoes that ripped through Mississippi Easter Sunday were monster storms, the National Weather Service reported Wednesday, the largest being at least 2 miles wide, with winds of more than 166 mph, cutting a path more than 67 miles long.

“To put the ‘at least 2 mile width’ into perspective, the widest tornado ever surveyed was the May 31, 2013, tornado near El Reno, OK at 2.6 miles wide,” the National Weather Service wrote in an update.

The two monster, long-track tornadoes, one estimated to be an EF4, the other an EF-3, were on the ground for more than an hour each. One tore a path of destruction for more than 82 miles, the other more than 67 miles.

The last known death toll was 12, with dozens more injured, some critically.

The National Weather Service’s Jackson office released preliminary data on nine of the Easter Sunday tornadoes.

NWS forecasters say survey crews are still out working and what is below are only estimates which may change over time.

Here are the preliminary stats:

Humphreys County: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph
Path Length /statute/: 4.12 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 440.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 5 minutes

Yazoo County: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph
Path Length /statute/: 7.42 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 250.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 10 minutes

Sallis (Attala County): EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 92 mph
Path Length /statute/: 2.55 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 500.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 3 minutes

Choctaw County: EF0
Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
Path Length /statute/: 3.06 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 150.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 4 minutes

North Macon (Noxubee County): EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 125 mph
Path Length /statute/: 8.69 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1100.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 10 minutes

Bigbee Valley (Noxubee County): EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 88 mph
Path Length /statute/: 3.91 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 375.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 6 minutes

Lawrence/Marion/Jeff Davis counties: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph
Path Length /statute/: 14.54 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1320.0 yards
Fatalities: 2
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 19 minutes

Tornado tossed and destroyed a mobile home, causing two fatalities.
Tornado started in Walthall County (which is tracked by the National Weather Service’s New Orleans office. Combined, the total path length from the start point in Walthall County to the end in Jefferson Davis County was approximately 21.2 miles.

Jefferson Davis to Clarke County: EF4
Estimated Peak Wind: N/A
Path Length /statute/: 67.77 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 3520.0 yards (2 miles)
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 1 hour, 17 minutes

Lawrence to Jasper County: EF3
Path Length /statute/: 82.61 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 1800.0 yards (1 mile)
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
On ground for approximately 1 hour, 31 minutes

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories.

EF0…Weak……65 TO 85 mph
EF1…Weak……86 TO 110 mph
EF2…Strong….111 TO 135 mph
EF3…Strong….136 TO 165 mph
EF4…Violent…166 TO 200 mph
EF5…Violent…Above 200 mph

SportsPlus

News

Mississippi plays pivotal role in new Netflix series about rivalry between Elvis impersonators that ends in national spotlight

News

Mississippi teen shoots another teen during CBD vape juice transaction

News

Drug dealer’s escape from custody ends with quick arrest, marks fourth escape for Mississippi courthouse in 2024

News

U.S. Supreme Court opens way for execution of Mississippi man convicted of killing infant son

News

Monday evening house fire claims life of Mississippi woman

News

Woman wanted as part of Canadian ‘criminal organization’ arrested outside rural Mississippi dollar store parking lot

News

Overseas construction equipment manufacturer bringing 300 jobs, 1 million square foot facility to Mississippi

News

11-year-old boy dies after vehicle driven by 16-year-old overturns on rural Mississippi road

News

Police: Vehicle owner shoots, kills juvenile during reported burglary at Mississippi laundromat

News

Six people killed in early morning wrong-way crash on Mississippi interstate

News

Mississippi’s first TopGolf venue announces December Grand Opening

News

17 months and counting … Mississippi Crime Lab delay threatens prosecution, release of attempted murder suspect

News

Trial set to begin two years after disappearance (and alleged murder) of University of Mississippi student

News

Mississippi officials searching for clues after body found in burned vehicle

News

Mississippi artist celebrates 25 years of Holiday Studio Sale and Open House — an event which attracts art lovers from across state, region

News

Mississippi siblings sentenced for arranging murder of stepfather in order to get life insurance payments

News

Largest Mississippi distillery under construction. You might be surprised where this $23 million project with 57 new jobs will be located.

News

MOO-ve over fine dining. Mississippi men choose this fast food favorite for first date outings on a budget

News

Pedestrian killed after being struck by two vehicles on Mississippi highway Thanksgiving morning

News

Upside-down American flag at Mississippi courthouse creates confusion. Officials assure there is no reason for alarm.

News

Man on the run for 2 days arrested for murder of 2 people, including wife who had filed protective order

News

Police: Mississippi woman used car as a weapon during gas station dispute

News

Mississippi police searching for ‘armed and dangerous’ double murder suspect who opened fire on victims inside house

News

Hunters find skeletal remains in Mississippi national forest