As a part of Tornado Awareness Month, the Jackson Weather Examiner will review severe storms that affected the state throughout the month of November.

On this date -November 24th:

This date marks the peak of severe weather during the month of November.

Numerous tornadoes and high winds were reported from 2 major outbreaks on this date with 6 people killed and over 120 injured.  The tornadoes were often strong with several F-3 to F-4 tornadoes. In addition to being strong, several tornadoes were long tracked with paths of over 20 miles!

In 2001, at least 20 tornadoes were confirmed along with several reports of high winds.

A violent 880 yard wide, F-4 tornado touched down in Madison County and tracked 12 miles, severely damaging and or destroying numerous brick homes.  Several houses in the subdivision in the direct path of the tornado were blown off of their foundations. One 25 year old woman was killed, and a pregnant woman was critically injured as the tornado destroyed their houses. The baby of the pregnant woman was delivered at the hospital and died shortly after birth.  In addition to the two deaths, a total of 21 people were injured. Damage in the county included 47 houses and seven mobile homes destroyed, 37 houses and three mobile homes with major damage, and 67 houses and three mobile homes with minor damage.

A 300 yard wide,  F-2 tornado tracked 27 miles across Quitman County into Panola County.  Two women were killed when the tornado destroyed their homes. Numerous buildings were destroyed in the county. A cotton plant was damaged just west of the town of Belen. Over 100 homes were damaged or destroyed. In addition to the 2 fatalities, 16 people were injured.

 After the tornado moved into Quitman County, the tornado tracked an additional 8 miles into Tate County.  One girl was killed when the mobile home where she was staying was destroyed. A cluster of homes and a Baptist church were destroyed. In all 35 homes damaged or destroyed with 1 killed and 12 injured.

A 300 yard wide, F-2 tornado tracked 6 miles in De Soto County, destroying 19 homes and damaging 119 others.  Nine people were injured.

A 400 yard wide, F-3 tornado tracked 5 miles across Humphreys County, destroying three houses, six businesses, one church and several grain silos and a farm headquarters.  Twenty houses, four businesses, and one church sustained major damage. Five people were injured.

A 880 yard wide, F-4 tornado tracked 26 miles across Washington and Bolivar Counties, injuring 12 people in Washington County and 36 in Bolivar County.

 A total of six houses, five mobile homes, and two businesses were totally destroyed with extensive damage to 34 houses and six businesses. Minor damage occurred to over 30 houses and several mobile homes in Washington County.  

In Bolivar County, the tornado destroyed 10 houses, 2 mobile homes, and 4 businesses. Extensive damage occurred to 21 houses, one mobile home, and one business.  Minor damage occurred to over 20 houses and around 20 mobile homes. The tornado caused extensive damage to the Bolivar County Detention Center, and hit an electric power substation. The substation was totally destroyed it. At the substation, the tornado blew over a transformer that weighed approximately 25 tons, and slid another transformer sideways three feet.

In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was also reported in several counties.  Baseball sized hail damaged numerous houses and automobiles in the Pocahontas area of Hinds County.  Numerous houses sustained major roof damage from golf-ball sized hail in the Greystone subdivision in Madison County.

In 2004, at least 25 tornadoes and high winds were reported across the state.

A 600 yard wide, F-3 tornado tracked 21 miles across Winston County into Neshoba County, destroying  four large chicken houses and one home.  One person was killed and 2 people were injured.  Three vehicles were moved with two of them landing on top of tree debris and the other thrown into a ditch. 

A 600 yard wide, F-2 tornado tracked 38 miles across Smith, Jasper, and Newton Counties, injuring 4 people.  Seven residential homes sustained major damage along with eleven with minor damage.  Eight chicken houses were destroyed with five more sustained major damage in Jasper County.  Thirteen chicken houses were destroyed and six others were damaged in Smith County. Three mobile homes and one residential home were destroyed along with five other homes with major damage.

Tornado Counties: Bolivar, Claiborne, Clarke, Coahoma, Copiah, DeSoto, Greene, Harrison, Hinds, Humphreys, Jasper, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Perry, Quitman, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Sunflower, Tate, Washington, Wayne, Winston

High Wind Counties:  Adams, Alcorn, Amite, Covington, Forrest, Itawamba, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Lowndes, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Rankin, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Wilkinson

Mississippi Storm History: [November 4th--November 5th --November 6th--November 7th--November 8th--November 9th--November 10th--November 11th--November 12th--November 13th--November 14-15--November 16th--November 17th--November 18th--November 19th--November 20th--November 21st--November 22nd--November 23rd]