NWS Jackson, MS Severe Weather April 24-25, 2003 Brandon Tornado

April 24, 2003 - Brandon F3 tornado

Brandon track map

THE FIRST OF TWO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY CREWS THAT WERE DISPATCHED THIS MORNING TO ASSESS ONE OF THE STORMS THAT OCCURRED ON THURSDAY IN CENTRAL RANKIN COUNTY HAS COMPLETED ITS SURVEY.THE SURVEY CREW DISCOVERED A STRONG TORNADO PATH THAT STARTED AROUND 953 PM CDT, 1.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DOWNTOWN BRANDON, MS. THE TORNADO MOVED NORTHEAST TRAVELING THROUGH THE CENTER OF BRANDON AND MOVING TO 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF PELEHATCHIE BEFORE LIFTING AROUND 1011 PM CDT. THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES AND AT ITS WIDEST POINT WAS ABOUT 600 YARDS WIDE. THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY OF THE TORNADO ON THE FUJITA SCALE WAS RATED AS F3 (ESTIMATED WINDS 158 TO 206 MPH)ALONG THE PATH OF THIS THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF TREES UPROOTED AND/OR SNAPPED OFF. NUMEROUS HOMES AND BUILDING WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. WHILE THIS WAS A STRONG TORNADO THAT CUT RIGHT THROUGH A MAJOR METRO AREA ON SIX INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NONE OF THOSE WERE SERIOUS. NO FATALITIES OCCURRED EITHER.