Mississippi Tornadoes

For the second weekend in a row, Mississippi has seen it's fair share of tornadoes. On April 24, 2010 multiple tornadoes were seen across Mississippi. As many would know, we lost 10 people due to what had been discovered as one tornado. The biggest one was in Yazoo City, MS with winds up to 160 mph and 1.75 miles across at its peak, and was the ninth deadliest tornado. It had left a trail for 149.25 miles. The Tallulah, Louisiana tornado finally dissipated in Sturgis, Mississippi. A tornado tracker for the 149 mile tornado will help you see exactly how far it went.

The Candlestick Park F-5 traveling 203 miles is the record for a Mississippi tornado. It happened on March 3, 1966. In February 21, 1971, 58 people had died prior to 1900 which was the record for the time. The most deadliest tornado in Mississippi occurred on May 6, 1840 with 317 dead. See how much we have changed in the way we forecast and alert people for tornadoes and sever weather.

Another famous tornado was in Tupelo, MS going all the way to Gainsville, Georgia. It happened on April 6, 1936. It was also an F-5 in Tupelo, and then an F-4 in Gainsville. It is said that letters from Gainsville were blown up to 67 miles away in Anderson, South Carolina. Another way that this was to become a famous tornado was because Elvis Presley happened to be a survivor of the 1936 Tupelo tornado. A partial list of about 82 that had died in the 1936 Tupelo tornado is available. However, more than a 100 were killed from the storm.

After the April 23-24, 2010 outbreak that had killed 10 in Mississippi, we are seeing even more tornadoes across Northern Mississippi.

After a tornado in Abbeville, MS hit, Phyliss Sabbatini was killed at age 45. It is located north of Oxford, MS on Sat. May 1, 2010. WTVA has taken down the post about three, but I did find one at the local newspaper saying that 4 were dead in Mississippi tornadoes. Several reports of tornadoes came across Union, Prentiss and Alcorn counties that I know of. It will take a few days to get all of the reports in on this weekend's round of tornadoes. As of today, Sunday, we are seeing bad weather again. Here is two radar maps at different times. The date and times are at the bottom. I doubt that we will have a tornado today somewhere, but the day is still here so the threat is here as well.

WTVA has reposted their news article. They are saying that three are dead in Mississippi.

During these horrible storms there was also a car accident due to heavy rains. Dustin Tyler Sloan of Saltillo, Ms (just north of Tupelo) was traveling on Hwy 78 (goes from Memphis to Alabama through Tupelo) when he wrecked into a bridge rail. He was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dustin was only 20 years old.

*Update*

After stormy weather on Sunday May 01, 2010, a 16 year old died when the car she was traveling in hit another car who was helping another one who had hydroplained earlier. Her name was Monique Braham of Shannon. The accident occured between the Main St. and Eason Boulevard. Read more here.

Also in the article, a man was pulled from rushing waters near Shiloh Rd. in Corinth, MS. His name has not been released as of yet.

BE SAFE!!