Bow Echo highlights the severe weather event April 2, 2009 (Mississippi)

April 4, 1:03 PMJackson Weather ExaminerJohnny Kelly

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Bow echo intensifying as it enters into Northeast Mississippi

 Severe weather season remained fairly active on Thursday April 2, across the state with over 100 reports of severe weather including numerous hail and wind damage reports.

The National Weather Service Offices out of New Orleans and Memphis have confirmed 4 tornadoes in North and South Mississippi thus far, which brings the total up to 15 confirmed in the state since March 25th.  (11 days)

Two EF 0 tornadoes were confirmed in South Mississippi, one each in Hancock and Jackson Counties and two EF 1 tornadoes were confirmed in Northeast Mississippi, one each in Chickasaw and Monroe counties in Northeast Mississippi.

The Northeast Mississippi tornadoes were associated with a very impressive line of storms that swept across North Mississippi.

These storms would highlight the severe weather event on Thursday.

What is called a bow echo formed across North Mississippi and progressed quickly to the east just north of Highway 82, knocking down trees and and powerlines along its path.

So what is a Bow Echo?

 A bow echo is a cluster or line of storms that bows out in the center in a shape like an archer's bow or backwards C, which is an indication of very strong winds ahead.

The winds could reach speeds above 100 mph and can last for hours and for hundrens of miles, creating widespread wind damage.

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Bow Echo Orgin

The formation of bow echoes begin when strong mid-level winds, just above the surface, rush into the back of the cluster or line of thunderstorms.

The rain then drags these high winds to the ground. This is called a downburst.

When the winds hit the ground, they have nowhere to go but out.

They spread along the earth's surface, forcing a portion of the line of thunderstorms to accelerate forward, causing that bow shaped appearance.

 Areas of circulation can also develop at either end of the bow echo, which sometimes can lead to tornadoes, as was the case in Monroe and Chickasaw Counties.

Wind damage reports began to come in to the Jackson and Memphis National Weather Service Offices as the line began organizing in Northwest Mississippi around 430pm on Thursday afternoon. Jackson NWS storm reports, Memphis NWS storm reports, New Orleans NWS storm reports                

The bow echo would reach its maximum intensity over Northeast Mississippi with widespread wind damage and tornadoes between 7pm and 830pm.

Winds over 60 mph are measured as the storms tracked to the east.

 Well over 2,000 people lost power as this line of storms swept across North Mississippi.

 As the tail end of the bow echo approached Starkville, MS, many got out and took pictures of a shelf cloud that formed on the leading edge of the storms.