National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Smithville, MS EF-5 Tornado

 

Tornado Track Maps:

Here is the map for the entire tornado track:

/images/meg/events/2011/aprtor11/tracks/Monroe_Smithville_Itawamba_Apr27.jpg

 

Here is the map for the local portion of the tornado track:

/images/meg/events/2011/aprtor11/tracks/Smithville_zoom.jpg

 

Survey Results:

 

...PRELIMINARY EF-5 DAMAGE TORNADO IN MONROE AND ITAWAMBA COUNTIES IN MISSISSIPPI...
* BASED UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION OF SATELLITE IMAGERY WHICH DEPICTED TREE
  SCARS /KNOCKED DOWN BY THE TORNADO/ AND OTHER GROUND SURVEY EVIDENCE...
  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN MEMPHIS IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS CONNECTED THE SMITHVILLE 
  MS AND SHOTTSVILLE AL TORNADO DAMAGE SEGMENTS. THIS PUBLIC INFORMATION 
  STATEMENT PROVIDES UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE SECTION OF THE SEGMENT FROM
  SMITHVILLE MS TO NEAR SHOTTSVILLE AL.
* COUNTY/COUNTIES: MONROE...ITAWAMBA
* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: SMITHVILLE AT 344 PM CDT ON APRIL 27 2011
* BEGINNING POINT: 34.0455, -88.44497
* ENDING POINT: 34.3129, -87.9231
* RATING: EF-5
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 205 MPH
* PATH LENGTH: 35.1 MILES /CONTINUES INTO SHOTTSVILLE ALABAMA SEGMENT/
* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 3/4 MILE /WIDENED TO MATCH SHOTTSVILLE TORNADO SEGMENT/
* FATALITIES: 15
* INJURIES: 40
* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: 18 HOMES DESTROYED...2 BUSINESSES /POST OFFICE AND
  POLICE STATION/ DESTROYED...8 HOMES WITH MAJOR DAMAGE...7 BUSINESSES
  WITH MAJOR DAMAGE...44 HOMES WITH MINOR DAMAGE...AND WATER SYSTEM DESTROYED.
  MOST TREES EITHER SNAPPED OR TWISTED AND DEBARKED. MOST THE HOMES DESTROYED
  WERE WELL BUILT...TWO STORIES...LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD AND BOLTED DOWN TO
  THEIR FOUNDATIONS. AN 1965 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK PARKED IN FRONT ONE OF THE
  DESTROYED HOMES HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. ALL APPLIANCES AND PLUMBING FIXTURES IN
  THE MOST EXTREME DAMAGE PATH WERE SHREDDED OR MISSING.

 

Click here to see the portion of the track in the area served by NWS Birmingham, AL.


 

 

Radar Images: 

Tornado began just southwest of Smithville, MS at 3:42 pm Tornado began just southwest of Smithville, MS at 3:42 pm
Tornado just after striking Smithville, MS. Debris ball is becoming visible due to debris in the air from Smithville. Tornado just after striking Smithville, MS. Debris ball is becoming visible due to debris in the air from Smithville.
Debris ball clearly evident. Tornadic Circulation clearly visible near New Salem, MS.