Jackson, Mississippi

Weather Forecast Office

April 2-3, 2017 Severe Weather and Flood Event

April 2-3, 2017 Severe Weather and Flood Event

Event Summary

A large storm system brought a large encompassing severe weather and flooding event across a large portion of the ArkLaMiss region. A fast moving trough moved down into the desert southwest into west Texas by Sunday morning. This helped a warm front gradually lift back to the north through the afternoon. This brought increasing moisture and instability across our western areas by early to mid Sunday afternoon. A strongly unstable and sheared atmosphere supported severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. A total of 5 tornadoes developed across portions of northeast Louisiana during the afternoon hours, with 3 EF1s and 2 EF2 (strong) tornadoes across northeast Louisiana. Three injuries occurred throughout the afternoon hours but thankfully no fatalities occurred. A squall line continued into the northwest Delta by mid-late afternoon, leading to a 69mph wind gust at the Greenville Airport. As the upper trough quickly moved northeast, the low pressure slowly became stronger over central Plains, leading to the cold front moving towards the area by late Sunday night to early Monday morning. This brought another round of severe weather across the region, with many severe storms, including damaging winds and another tornado (EF1) occurring just after midnight in south-central Mississippi.

In addition, anomalous amounts of moisture in the atmosphere were being brought in advance of the cold front, leading to extremely torrential rainfall. Training of rain over the region led to widespread rainfall totals of 3-10 inches, with up to 6-10 inches in the Interstate 20 corridor by Monday morning. This led to massive flash flooding in Warren County near Vicksburg, portions of Hinds County and especially Rankin and Scott County. In Rankin County, many locations flooded, including Laurel Park Apartments, Castlewoods subdivision, Mill Creek area, and Williams Road in Florence. This led to many widespread evacuations and water rescues across the Interstate 20 corridor. Sadly, one fatality occurred just off of Highway 469 in Florence where a car was swept off the road into a creek. All of the rain and storms moved out of the region by mid-morning before the cold front moved through by mid-afternoon.

Tornado Track Map

Northeast Louisiana Tornado Track Map

Local Storm Reports
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Precipitation Summary

Rainfall Across the Region: April 2-3, 2017

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Rainfall Totals

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Click on the location in the table for additional maps and details below.

Location	Start/ End Time	Event Type	Fatalities/ Injuries	Path Length	Path Width
Caldwell/Franklin/Richland parishes 8 ESE Columbia to 6 WSW Baskin	4:17 PM - 4:46 PM	EF-1 Tornado 110 mph	none	13.23 miles	7/10 mile
La Salle/Catahoula parishes 6 NE Jena to 10 NNW Harrisburg	4:28 PM - 4:42 PM	EF-2 Tornado 115 mph	Injuries: 1	13.79 miles	1/2 mile
Richland Parish 6 SW Mangham to 3 SSW Mangham	4:48 PM - 4:53 PM	EF-1 Tornado 105 mph	none	3.69 miles	300 yards
Richland Parish 2 W Baskin to 2 NE Mangham	4:49 PM - 4:59 PM	EF-1 Tornado 105 mph	none	4.86 miles	1/2 mile
Franklin Parish 3 NW Gilbert to 5 E Winnsboro	5:09 PM - 5:22 PM	EF-2 Tornado 115 mph	Injuries: 2	5.83 miles	0.35 mile
Tensas and Madison parishes 13 NE Gilbert to 14 ENE Winnsboro	5:41 PM - 5:44 PM	EF-0 Tornado 80 mph	none	1.4 miles	100 yards
Franklin and Lincoln counties 11 W Brookhaven to 4 SSE Wesson	12:57 AM - 1:22 AM	EF-1 Tornado 110 mph	none	17.48 miles	0.6 mile

Franklin/Richland Parish EF-1 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary

This tornado touched down just to the west in Caldwell Parish before crossing into western Franklin Parish. A tornadic debris signature (TDS) was noted from the KULM radar. The tornado was quite wide at this point, nearly 1200 yards or three-quarters of a mile. It crossed Highway 4, snapping numerous trees in the path and tearing tin off the roof of a home. The tornado continued north-northeast back into Caldwell Parish. Wooded area prevented further access to this region but damage was seen through the distance. The TDS was still noted from the KULM radar through this area. The tornado continued north-northeast, moving back into Richland Parish, crossing LR Hatton Road, before crossing into a wooded area and the Franklin-Richland Parish line. The tornado continued north-northeast over Maple Ridge Road, Sligo Road and Goldmine Road. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted all through this area. The tornado then crossed LA Highway 135, where a couple of trees were snapped, before lifting shortly after crossing the road.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	110 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	none
Damage Path Length:	13.23 miles
Maximum Path Width:	7/10 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	8 ESE Columbia 4:17 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	6 WSW Baskin 4:46 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Monroe radar, courtesy of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, show the storm at 4:27 pm as it crossed into far western Franklin Parish. The image on the left shows 0.7° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.7° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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La Salle/Catahoula Parish EF-2 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
This tornado started in La Salle Parish and crossed over into Catahoula Parish near Grady Road where it snapped and uprooted an extensive amount of softwood and hardwood trees. This tornado also caused roof damage to a few homes in the area. This tornado continued northeast and caused some structural damage to a church, a home and a couple of other buildings in the Aimwell community. The tornado also flipped a mobile home, where the one injury occurred. This tornado also snapped and uprooted a numerous amount of trees in this area also. This tornado continued northeast through a logging area just west of Fire Tower Road, snapping numerous trees and also caused some damage to some hunting club homes. The tornado continued northeast along Spring Ridge Road and Catahoula Church Road, snapping more trees along the way. The tornado ended near the intersection of Catahoula Church Road and Highway 124, snapping a couple of more trees.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	115 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	Injuries: 1
Damage Path Length:	13.79 miles
Maximum Path Width:	1/2 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	6 NE Jena 4:28 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	10 NNW Harrisburg 4:42 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Fort Polk, LA Doppler radar show the storm at 4:33 pm as the tornado moved between Aimwell and Enterprise. The image on the left shows 0.5° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.5° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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Southern Richland Parish EF-1 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
This tornado touched down along Parish Road 576 close to the intersection of Parish Road 135. Several trees were uprooted and snapped. At the intersection, a metal building was damaged and a cyclone fence was taken out. The tornado continued along Parish Road 576 and downed and snapped numerous trees. The tornado crossed Little Creek and then Parish Road 622 where it began to weaken. It then crossed Bill Taylor Road where a couple more trees were damaged and some minor roof damage occurred to a home and shed. The tornado dissipated at Middle Road where some limbs were broken. Max winds were estimated around 105 mph.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	105 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	none
Damage Path Length:	3.69 miles
Maximum Path Width:	300 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	6 SW Mangham 4:48 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	3 SSW Mangham 4:53 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Monroe radar, courtesy of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, show the storm at 4:49 pm as it tracked southwest of Mangham. The image on the left shows 0.7° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.7° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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Mangham EF-1 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
This tornado started off of Newlight Road in Richland Parish where it snapped a few large branches. The tornado continued north along Newlight Road where it continued to snap trees along the way. The tornado turned northeast towards Highway 425 where it snapped a power pole along with a few more trees. The tornado continued northeast across Sayre Lake Road snapping trees. This tornado continued northeast to Punchard Road where it destroyed a mobile home and also snapped more trees. The tornado continued across the intersection of Punchard Road and LA Highway 132 where it took the shingles off of a mobile home. The tornado ended just north of LA Highway 132, snapping a couple of more trees.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	105 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	none
Damage Path Length:	4.86 miles
Maximum Path Width:	1/2 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	2 W Baskin 4:49 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	2 NE Mangham 4:59 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Monroe radar, courtesy of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, show the storm at 4:53 pm as the tornado approached US Highway 425 just south of Mangham. The image on the left shows 0.7° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.7° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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Franklin Parish EF-2 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
The tornado began along Willie Hall Road, where it caused some uprooted trees and minor roof damage to a shed. The tornado continued northeast and reached its strongest and widest as it crossed Ellis Lane. Here it snapped several trees and cause some shingle damage to a couple of roofs. It is also on this road where it caused EF2 type damage to two homes. One was a home that was built on some blocks that was totally destroyed, as well as a horse trailer flipped. It was in this location where one of the injuries occurred to a woman in the home. Next door, a mobile home was tossed about 10 feet from its original location. A couple of power poles were also broken in this location. The tornado continued northeast and caused additional tree damage, with snapped hardwood trees. A home along Lishman Road sustained roof damage and a small trailer was tossed, as well as additional tree damage. As the tornado tracked across Louisiana Highway 4, it broke a couple of power poles.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	115 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	Injuries: 2
Damage Path Length:	5.83 miles
Maximum Path Width:	0.35 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	3 NW Gilbert 5:09 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	5 E Winnsboro 5:22 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Monroe radar, courtesy of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, show the storm at 5:19 pm as the tornado passed between Winnsboro and Gilbert, east of the Chase community. The image on the left shows 0.7° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.7° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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NW Tensas/SW Madison Parish EF-0 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
This brief weak tornado touched down in the wildlife management area just off Big Lake Road. A few trees and large limbs were snapped. Flooded roads prevented further access to Sharky Road. A tornadic debris signature (TDS) was noted from the KULM radar as the tornado crossed Sharky Road and the path was continued to that point in southwest Madison Parish.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-0
Estimated Maximum Wind:	80 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	none
Damage Path Length:	1.4 miles
Maximum Path Width:	100 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	13 NE Gilbert 5:41 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	14 ENE Winnsboro 5:44 pm

Radar Imagery
These images from the Monroe radar, courtesy of the University of Louisiana-Monroe, show the storm at 5:43 pm as the tornado moved into far southwest Madison Parish. The image on the left shows 0.7° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.7° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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E Franklin/N Lincoln County EF-1 Tornado

Click on map above to see entire damage point notation and damage pictures at select points.

Track Summary
As the squall line moved east, a tornado touched down near Lela Smith Road and Calcote Road in eastern Franklin County. The tornado continued east-northeast and was uprooting trees along the path. It then crossed into Lincoln County, where it crossed Zetus Road and Toy Drive. Some minor roof damage ccurred to a mobile home in this area where a metal roof covering was blown off. The tornado then crossed Arthur Drive, Jackson Liberty Drive, California Road and Oakwood Lane. Numerous trees were uprooted along the path, with minor roof damage occurring to a barn and multiple homes with roof and siding damage. The tornado was at its strongest with 110 mph winds as it crossed Oakwood Lane, where multiple trees were snapped and uprooted, a tree fell on a home and at least 6 utility poles were snapped. It continued northeast, crossing Oil Field Lane, Sams Road, Lyndie Road and MS Highway 550. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted and minor damage to skirting and roofs occurred to buildings and homes along the path. It then crossed near Weeks Lane, Dunn-Ratcliff Lane, Old Red Star Drive and Cade Lane where the tornado widened. More trees were snapped and uprooted and minor shingle and roof damage occurred all in this area before crossing Interstate 55. The tornado then crossed New Sight Drive, US Highway 51, Old US Highway 51 and Tarver Trail. The tornado was near its widest at this or just before this point as many numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a mobile home had skirting damage and numerous homes sustained minor-moderate roof damage due to loss of roofing material. The tornado turned slightly east near this point and continued east-northeast before crossing Lake Lincoln Drive and Furrs Mill Drive, snapping and uprooting trees along the path before lifting shortly after crossing Furrs Mill Drive.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	110 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	none
Damage Path Length:	17.48 miles
Maximum Path Width:	0.6 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	11 W Brookhaven 12:57 am
Approximate End Point/Time:	4 SSE Wesson 1:22 am

Radar Imagery
These images from the Brandon, MS Doppler radar show the storm at 1:13 am as the tornado moved north of Brookhaven. The image on the left shows 0.5° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.5° storm relative velocity data. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

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