Easter Sunday Mississippi Tornadoes
April 17th, 2022
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on April 17th, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.
The storm survey team preliminarily found that 2 EF-2 tornadoes and 1 EF-1 tornado occurred during this event. Two of the tornadoes occurred in Perry County, MS - one tornado in Beaumont was rated an EF-2 and the other tornado near Richton was rated an EF-1. A third tornado occurred near Avera, MS (Greene County). One injury was reported with the Avera tornado.
The data provided on this page are considered preliminary as we continue to analyze all available data. We will add more information to this page and social media as it becomes available. We thank you in advance for your patience.
Beaumont Tornado (Perry County, MS)
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 755 PM CDT Mon Apr 18 2022 ...NWS Damage Survey for 04/17/2022 Tornado Event... ..Beaumont Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.6683 miles Path Width /maximum/: 275.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/17/2022 Start Time: 08:52 PM CDT Start Location: 1 WNW Beaumont / Perry County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.1805 / -88.9366 End Date: 04/17/2022 End Time: 08:54 PM CDT End Location: 1 ENE Beaumont / Perry County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.1716 / -88.9112 Survey Summary: A bowing segment of storms produced a tornado beginning along Highway 198 near Isabelle Loop just northwest of downtown Beaumont. The tornado traveled along the tracks of the Canadian National Railroad, uprooting a tree which fell onto a manufactured home in its wake. By this time, the tornado had strengthened to an EF-2 and entered a lumber mill and caused extensive damage to two large metal buildings. One of the buildings collapsed on itself, likely due to it being only partially enclosed. Nearby power poles were damaged, with one snapped clean at its base. Damage was rated near expected bounds given the age and construction of the metal buildings which lined up to the snapped utility pole. The tornado quickly weakened somewhat (to an EF-1), and continued southeast along the railroad tracks due to the motion of the parent bowing segment. As it moved along, it caused a decent amount of tree destruction to numerous hardwood and softwood trees. As the tornado crossed Bolton Avenue and MS-15, it restrengthened briefly into an EF-2 and snapped many hardwoods and softwoods as well as uprooting several trees. It also damaged the roof of a nearby small home and the roof of a church. A shed or carport on the church property was also destroyed. More trees were damaged as the tornado continued to move southeast and also destroyed a large shed/unattached garage. The tornado then moved east, parallel to 1st Street, where it likely lifted and dissipated; however, the survey team was not able to access this area as the street was closed due to down power poles and continued tree damage. && 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...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Beaumont community in Perry County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the EF-2 tornado.
Richton Tornado (Perry County, MS)
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 955 AM CDT Wed Apr 20 2022 ...NWS Damage Survey for 04/17/2022 Richton MS Tornado Event... ..Richton MS... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.26 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/17/2022 Start Time: 08:19 PM CDT Start Location: 2 W Richton / Perry County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.3579 / -88.9778 End Date: 04/17/2022 End Time: 08:20 PM CDT End Location: 2 WNW Richton / Perry County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.3584 / -88.9734 Survey Summary: A brief tornado began along Highway 42 west of Richton destroying a barn and heavily damaging another barn as it quickly reached peak intensity. An open door structure and older construction supported a lower bound estimate to the damage. The tornado continued to the east northeast where several trees and large branches were snapped. A clear convergence path was noted in the damage just south of Highway 42. A carport was picked up and deposited a couple hundred yards down path in power lines. The tornado then weakened as it likely crossed Highway 42 with a few large branches snapped and a couple uproots noticed. Some shingle damage was also noted to a nearby home before the tornado lifted. && 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...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Avera Tornado (Greene County, MS)
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
755 PM CDT Mon Apr 18 2022
...NWS Damage Survey for 04/17/2022 Tornado Event...
..Avera Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.7706 miles Path Width /maximum/: 400.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 04/17/2022 Start Time: 09:02 PM CDT Start Location: 1 S Avera / Greene County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.2869 / -88.7427 End Date: 04/17/2022 End Time: 09:06 PM CDT End Location: 2 SE Avera / Greene County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.273 / -88.7176 Survey Summary: A QLCS produced a tornado off of Highway 63 and Lovewell Road south of the town of Avera, initially snapping and uprooting trees. One of the trees fell onto a vehicle near a manufactured home. As the tornado moved southeast it strengthened into an EF-2, snapping and decimating many large hardwood oak trees. The degree of damage to these trees were enough to support a higher end intensity estimate. A large tree limb from one of these oak trees was turned into a projectile and injured a woman when it pierced the side of the aforementioned manufactured home. The tornado proceeded southeast, continuing to destroy hardwood trees in its wake. It passed through an open field before coming upon more trees and a small manufactured home. It snapped and uprooted many of these trees (both soft and hardwood), with two falling onto the manufactured home. The tornado then likely weakened to an EF-1 and continued southeastward, almost parallel to Highway 63. It lifted and dissipated just before it reached Avera Road, but not before tossing a large grain holder and tearing off metal portions of a nearby barn roof. Debris from this roofing was seen strewn out over the field. && 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...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Avera community in Greene County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the EF-2 tornado.
Additional Information
NWS Local Write-Ups and Webpages:
NWS Jackson, MS
Acknowledgements: Page created by Christina Leach (Forecaster) and Morgan Barry (Forecaster). Updated by Michael Mugrage (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATE: March 2024
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