Update: Extensive hail damage being assessed across central Mississippi, Jackson metro
A strong storm system moving across Mississippi produced numerous reports of damaging hail and destructive winds, leaving at least three people injured on Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported large hail up to softball-size hit parts of the Jackson metro area and other parts of the state Monday afternoon with widespread damage to vehicles, homes and buildings.
Emergency manager officials estimated that hundreds of vehicles were damaged across parts of Warren, Hinds, Rankin and Scott counties.
Large hail up to at least half-dollar-size has been reported across more than two dozen other counties including Claiborne, Adams, Amite, Pike, Walthall, Smith, Jasper, Covington, Lawrence, Franklin, Kemper, Lincoln, Marion, Monroe, Chickasaw, Jones, Newton, Simpson, Leake, Lowndes and Washington.
An NWS employee confirmed hail reached softball-size in Clinton with a measurement of 4.25 inches in diameter. Two people were injured as large hail shattered the windows of their vehicle, according to emergency officials.
In the immediate Jackson area, numerous reports of damaging golfball-size hail pelted the capital city.
General Sales Manager David Rinehart of Paul Moak Honda in Jackson said 250 vehicles were damaged at their dealership. Many of the vehicles have broken windows and windshields. David Hall, General Sales Manager of nearby Herrin-Gear dealership, said every car on their 20 acres of lots are damaged, WLBT-TV reported.
Strong winds associated with severe storms also caused significant damage across more than a dozen counties including Webster, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Clay, Grenada, Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Monroe, Rankin, Tallahatchie, Tishomingo, Union and Warren, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
One person was injured when a tree fell onto a home on Gowall Drive in Warren County, according to the NWS.
The Columbus Air Force Base recorded winds up 77 mph as a severe storm passed over the area with numerous trees and power lines reported down.
WTVA-TV reported portions of the roof was blown off the Department of Human Services building in Tupelo.
Emergency manager officials also reported a 20-foot section of the roof was blown off the Justice Court Building in West Point and a shop building in Grenada.
Three severe thunderstorm watches were issued for much of the state for the possibility of damaging winds and hail earlier in the day.
An unusually warm and moist airmass with temperatures near 80 degrees, coupled with very cold temperatures aloft, aided in the development of a line of strong to severe of storms with damaging winds and hail along a cold front that pushed across the region Monday afternoon.
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