2009 monthly weather highlights in Mississippi; snow, derechos, tornadoes, etc.

The end of 2009 is near, so it is time to look back at the weather events that highlighted each month, from snow to tornadoes, derechos, excessive rainfall, record heat, drought and even a wake low event.

Monthly Top Weather Events

January

This was a fairly calm month with the exception of one confirmed tornado that touched down in Smith County on January 3rd.  This was the first tornado of 2009 in the state.  Numerous trees blown down with roofs ripped off 3 chicken houses and minor damage to the roofs of homes with one window blown out.  There were no reports of injuries.  This 175 yard wide tornado was rated an EF-1 with a 1 mile track.

February

A stalled out frontal boundary along the Highway 82 corridor in Northern Mississippi led to excessive rainfall and flooding within a 24 hour period with rainfall totals ranging from 5 to 8 inches with radar estimates over 10 inches.

March

This month started with late winter snow but ended with spring severe storms.

On March 1st moderate snows fell across Northern Mississippi with snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches.

Several rounds of severe weather and heavy rain affected parts of the state from March 25th to March 28th, mainly across Central and Southern Mississippi with several tornadoes confirmed.  The worst damage occurred with a 17.5 mile long track tornado, which made national headlines in Simpson and Smith counties. This tornado was rated an EF3 with estimated 150 mph maximum winds near Magee.  Over 25 people were injured  with over 60 homes damaged or destroyed.  

Storms March 25th through March 28th produced over 10 tornadoes with estimated rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches across portions of East Central and Southern Mississippi.

April

April, historically the most active month for severe weather including tornadoes in Mississippi was fairly calm with several minor tornadoes confirmed in Southern Mississippi.  The most significant damage came from an EF-0 tornado in Jackson County on April 2nd, where several homes were damaged in the Pinehurst Subdivision, just outside of Ocean Springs. Fourteen homes received minor damage and 2 other homes had their roofs partially lifted off.

A rare wake low event occurred east of Interstate 55 and north of Interstate 20 on April 12th with numerous trees and power lines blown down.  

May

May was the most active month for tornadoes across the state in 2009 with 15 tornadoes confirmed.

On May 3rd, between 8 am and 1 pm, a significant derecho evolved and raced east across Southern Mississippi at 60 to 70 mph.   This large bowing squall line brought intense straight line winds and widespread damage across its path.  

Some of the wind speeds within this derecho ranged between 80 and 95 mph. There were numerous reports of trees down as well as downed power lines, which caused widespread power outages in many locations. Many structures were damaged by either fallen trees or just the wind itself.   Scattered reports of hail and a few tornadoes also occurred. One fatality occurred in Jones County as a tree fell through a woman’s mobile home.

June

June was marked by two significant derechos within days of each other and by a significant drought and heat wave across Southern and portions of Central Mississippi.   

The first significant derecho swept across Northern Mississippi and Southwestern Tennessee on June 12th, downing numerous trees and power lines with one EF-1 tornado confirmed in Olive Branch.  Over 80 wind reports  were sent in to the National Weather Service from Northern Mississippi with this line of storms.  The EF-1 tornado in Olive branch destroyed 4 homes and damaged numerous other homes.  Several schools and public buildings were also damaged including the Olive Branch Elementary, Middle and High Schools, the Chickasaw Elementary School, the Olive Branch Community Center and the Olive Branch City Shop. The Olive Branch Middle School alone suffered $500,000 in damage. One minor injury was reported with this tornado.

The second derecho, not as severe as the first, moved across the same areas in Northern Mississippi, downing more trees and power lines while intensifying as it headed into Alabama on the 14th on June.

It was one of the hottest and driest months of June on record across Southern and portions of Central Mississippi.  With very dry conditions in place, high temperatures were able to soar above 100 degrees for several days straight, breaking multiple records including an all-time record for the month of June in McComb of 103 degrees.

July

Early month severe drought conditions were dampened by excessive rains accompanied by a rare severe weather outbreak toward the end of the month.

The first half of July remained very dry with drought conditions expanding and covering over 50% of the state by mid month.

By the last week of July,  a stalled out frontal boundary would focus several bouts of heavy rainfall across the state leading the state from drought problems to flash flooding problems.  The state overall ended with well above average rainfall for the month after starting the month in moderate to abnormally dry conditions.

Severe weather in the form of damaging winds developed over Central Mississippi on July 30th and raced to the Northeast downing numerous trees and power lines with 2 rare tornadoes confirmed in the Northwest part of the state.  Over 100 homes were damaged and or destroyed.  Fortunately there were no reports of injuries.

August

A cold front ushered in record August 24th morning low temperatures across much of the state with temperatures in the mid and upper 50s.

September

This was one of the wettest months of September on record across Northern Mississippi with many areas receiving over 9 inches of rainfall.

October

The very wet conditions in September continued into the month of October with many locations across the state receiving record breaking rainfall for the 2nd month in a row!! 

The heavy rains took their toll on crops and the Mississippi State Fair.  The Mississippi State Fair recorded its 2nd lowest attendance in 15 years!   

Severe storms on October 9th produced a EF-1 tornado that killed a woman in Washington County, making it the first tornado death in Mississippi in 4 years!

November

Tropical Storm Warnings were issued for the Mississippi Gulf Coast in anticipation of Tropical Storm Ida.  The governor declared a State of Emergency as the storm neared the coast.   

Tropical Storm Ida made landfall on Dauphin Island, Alabama at 540 am CST on November 10th, impacting 40 roads with minor to moderate flooding in Jackson County.  There were also reports of downed trees from the gusty winds in Southeastern Mississippi.

December

One of earliest snowfalls ever recorded occurred on December 4th, with widespread snowfall totals of 1/2 to 2 inches across Central and Southern Mississippi.  Some isolated areas in Southern Mississippi received 3 to 5 inches of snowfall.

(Intellicast Radar Loop)

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