The National Weather Service in Jackson has issued a damage survey for the Dec. 27-28, 2024, tornado event in Mississippi.

A total of 17 tornadoes are documented from the event to date, but incomplete surveys account for at least an additional three tornadoes, bringing the total to 20 so far.

NWS anticipates several additional days of surveying in order to investigate the remaining reports of possible tornado damage. 

NWS survey teams have so far confirmed and documented 17 tornadoes, including one EF-2, 10 EF-1, and six EF-0 tornadoes so far.

Franklin County

On Saturday, an EF-3 tornado touched down in southern Franklin County at 3:13 p.m. near Middleton Creek Road and moved northeast. Broad and sporadic wind damage in the area suggests the tornado was still consolidating in this area. 

As the tornado crossed Berryton Road, it had reached EF-3 intensity and destroyed the O’Zion Baptist Church there. Most walls were collapsed, but two people took shelter in

the bathroom and were unharmed. Documents from the church including bank statements and canceled checks were found as far away as Brandon to the northeast. Several homes in the area were also damaged including roof damage to a home, and an unanchored mobile home which was rolled once. Both residents of the mobile home were injured, but had sought safety in the bathroom of the home after receiving the Tornado Warning alert on their phones. 

The tornado continued northeast and caused tree and power line damage along its path. It crossed through the McCall Creek and Lucien areas at US Hwy. 84 where a modular home lost significant portions of its roof. As the tornado crossed into Lincoln County, it collapsed an electrical transmission line tower. The tornado continued northeast across multiple roads through northwest Lincoln County and continued to damage trees, power lines, and homes. It dissipated just north of Pleasant Ridge Road, having traveled 28.29 miles with a maximum width of 1,500 yards, ending at 3:57 p.m. The storm had a peak wind of 135 mph.

East Lincoln

An EF-1 tornado touched down on Melvin Mason Road at 5:42 p.m. Saturday where it snapped small tree branches. It then intensified as it tracked northeast and snapped and uprooted numerous trees. There was also minor damage to the roof of a home and shed. It continued to uproot trees before it dissipated on Harmony Drive in Bogue Chitto at 5:50 p.m. The tornado traveled 5.3 miles with a maximum width of 400 yards, and an estimated peak wind of 110 mph.

Loyd Star 

An EF-1 tornado touched down Saturday near Jackson Liberty Drive near Loyd Star at 6:33 p.m. where it uprooted several trees. It then tracked east and uprooted several more trees and dissipated near James Drive at 6:36 p.m. It traveled 3.04 miles, with a max width of 300 yards and estimated peak wind of 87 mph.

Crystal Springs 

Saturday at 6:36 p.m., an EF-1 tornado touched down just west of Crystal Springs where it snapped trees, one of which fell onto and damaged a home. It then continued to uproot and snap numerous trees and cause other minor damage to homes as it tracked northeastward. It crossed into southern Hinds County just east of US Hwy. 51 and continued to damage trees in the southern part of Terry. It dissipated at 6:51 p.m. after crossing Rosemary Road in Terry. With an estimated peak wind of 105 mph, the tornado traveled 13.06 miles and had a maximum width of 1,500 yards.

Copiah County

An EF-1 tornado touched down Saturday at 6:38 p.m. just west of Interstate 55 near Martinsville where it caused minor tree damage. It intensified and uprooted several trees as it tracked along Cline Road. It then continued to track northeast over Dixie Garden Road and caused minor tree damage. It snapped trees as it crossed US Hwy. 51 and then dissipated just after Martinsville Road at 6:43 p.m., having traveled 2.74 miles with a max width of 500 yards and an estimated max wind speed of 95 mph.

Simpson County

An EF-1 tornado touched down along Walt Lee Road at 6:24 p.m. Saturday and moved north-northeast on the western side of Pinola. It snapped and uprooted trees along its path. It crossed MS Hwy. 472 and MS Hwy. 28, and this lifted as it crossed Jupiter Road at 6:32 p.m. It had an estimated peak wind of 105 mph, a max width of 350 yards, and traveled 4.33 miles.

Other tornadoes

• EF0, Poverty Point Reservoir, Richland Parish, Louisiana — Saturday, 4:19-4:20 p.m., est. peak wind 80 mph; path 0.96 miles; max width 130 yards; An EF-0 tornado touched down north of Poverty Point Reservoir in the Black Bear Golf Club. Large tree limbs were downed from several hardwood trees. The garage down from a golf cart storage building, which faced south, was partially blown outward. Golf course employees also mentioned furniture on the golf course had also been thrown and displaced. Special thanks to the forecasters of NWS Shreveport for assisting with this tornado survey. 

• EF0, Transylvania, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana — Saturday, 4:49-4:51 p.m., est. peak wind 85 mph; path 2.05 miles; max width 300 yards; An EF-0 tornado touched down south of Transylvania. It began just north of Louisiana Highway 580 north of the Alsatia community and moved east across US Hwy 65 before it turned to the north. Most of the damage consisted of large limbs downed from hardwood trees, some of which blocked railroad tracks paralleling US Hwy. 65. One house near the intersection of Fletcher Loop and George Hart Road sustained significant shingle loss, but the wooden beams and plywood remained intact. The tornado appears to have dissipated before it crossed the Mississippi River.

• EF1, Reservoir Lena, Rankin and Leake counties — Saturday, 7:07-7:43 p.m., est. peak wind 100 mph; path 33.73 miles; max width 880 yards; An EF-1 tornado developed in the Dogwood Festival area of Flowood where it caused minor damage and downed small trees at businesses along Lakeland Dr. It strengthened as it moved northeastward, downing many trees and large tree limbs – many of which caused substantial structural damage to homes. Additionally, the tornado caused lighter direct damage to roofs and siding along the path. Several neighborhoods between Lakeland Dr and Spillway Rd and along the east end of Spillway Rd were impacted. Scattered damage occurred at athletic fields on the east end of Pelahatchie Bay, then the tornado downed five utility poles as it crossed MS Hwy. 25 at Pelahatchie Creek. Further east, shingles were removed from several houses in neighborhoods south of Holly Bush Rd, with continued tree damage. It then crossed Clark Stables Rd, Stump Ridge Rd, and MS Hwy 43 before it moved across the Leesburg area. Debris was scattered downwind into a field along Mary Crapps Rd, with considerable tree damage continuing as the tornado moved into northwestern Scott Co. In the area south of Ludlow multiple sheds, outbuildings, and chicken houses sustained damage. Along MS Hwy 483, a manufactured home sustained major roof damage with debris scattered downwind into nearby trees. The tornado continued across the northern portion of the Bienville National Forest before it crossed into southern Leake Co near Lena. A small antenna at the Lena Fire Dept was collapsed, and part of a shed along MS Hwy 500 on the east side of town was blown away. Damage continues eastward into Leake County, and this survey is still ongoing.

• EF0, Heater, Smith County — Saturday, 7:44-7:45 p.m.; est. peak wind, 85 mph; path length 0.56 miles; max width 75 yards; An EF-0 tornado touched down just west of County Road 539 and crossed the road moving east. A few pine trees were downed in a narrow corridor along this road.

• EF1, Pineville, Smith County — Saturday, 7:46-7:59 p.m.; est. peak wind 90 mph; path length 13.18 miles, max width 0 yards; An EF-1 tornado began southwest of Burns where it downed pine trees and moved east-northeast. The tornado crossed MS Highway 35 and carried northeastward through portions of the Leaf River bottom before it impacted areas north of Pineville. Trees were downed along County Road 504 with portions of a chicken house damaged with tin panels strewn along County Road 501-4. The tornado then moved northeast along Tally Road where a shed was largely destroyed and large branches were downed. The tornado dissipated along Harris Road with minor vegetative debris noted.

• EF0, Stringer, Bay Springs, Jasper County — est. peak wind 85 mph; 0.99-mile path; 50 yards max path width; An EF-0 tornado touched down west of MS Highway 17 were it caused a narrow corridor of convergently felled pine trees. The tornado moved eastward just north of County Road 17253. The tornado was brief – only on the ground for around a minute and less than 1 mile. It dissipated along County Road 1725 where a few downed limbs and narrow swath of leaf litter were observed.

• EF0, Gordy Road, Newton County — est. peak wind 70 mph; 0.65-mile path; 50 yards max width; An EF-0 tornado touched down along Gordy Road south and of Moffett Road where it damaged a barn and continued east. The tornado caused minor tree damage and lifted after crossing County Road 505.

• EF1, Newton-Calhoun Road, Newton County — est. peak wind 95 mph; 4.61-mile path; max width 700 yards; An EF-1 tornado touched down near the intersection of MS Highway 15 and Newton Calhoun Road and caused damage to mostly trees as it moved northeast. Many trees were uprooted or snapped along the path, and several barns and farm outbuildings were damaged. The tornado dissipated after it crossed Peavy Road.

• EF0, Hickory, Newton County — est. peak wind 80 mph; 0.49-mile path; max width 165 yards; An EF-0 tornado touched down on the west side of Hickory and crossed US Highway 80 moving northeast. A few buildings were damaged, and minor tree damage occurred. The tornado lifted after it crossed MS Highway 503.

• EF1, Chunky, Newton County — est. peak wind 90 mph; 2.58-mile path; max width 650 yards; An EF-1 tornado touched down west of Mount Pleasant Church Road and moved north of Chunky. A home lost its roof, a shed was damaged, and numerous trees were damaged or uprooted along its track. The tornado crossed Interstate 20 near mile marker 121 and then dissipated after it crossed Chunky Duffee Road.

• Naval Air Station, Meridian, Lauderdale County — est. peak wind 105 mph; 9.21-mile path; max width 630 yards; An EF-1 tornado touched down near the intersection of Lizelia Road and Ponta Hills Road and uprooted or snapped trees as it moved north-northeast. As it approached the Meridian Naval Air Station, the tornado took a more northeastward movement and crossed the central portion of the Air Station. Several buildings were damaged, including one which suffered extensive roof damage, partial collapse of the brick veneer, broken windows, and subsequent interior water damage. The fire station doors were blown in, and some vehicles were damaged. The tornado turned more to the east as it moved off the Air Station and dissipated after it crossed Clarke Road.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0, 65-85 mph; EF1, 86-110 mph; EF2, 111-136 mph; EF3, 136-165 mph; EF4, 166-200 mph; EF5, greater than 200 mph.

The following areas require further investigation as of Dec. 31: areas in northeast Louisiana especially from Winnsboro to Tallulah; areas in northeast Mississippi including Starkville and West Point over to Columbus; areas in western Mississippi including Rolling Fork, Edwards, Claiborne County, and surrounding areas; southeast Mississippi including a potential tornado from the morning of Dec. 27; and completion of several ongoing surveys from central and east-central Mississippi including Mendenhall, Lena, Bay Springs, and surrounding areas. 

The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.