EF3 Tornado — Kemper, Mississippi

2022-03-22 · near Rio, Kemper, Mississippi

Event narrative

This tornado began in a wooded area southwest of Zion Hampton Road. The tornado snapped and uprooted hardwood and softwood trees as it tracked northeast across West Zion Road. It then intensified and caused a swath of EF-2 tree damage that extended from Zion Road near Chisolm Cemetary Road to Chisolm Harbrook Road and Highway 495 South and continuing to the north of Damascus. A large number of trees sustained considerable damage along this swath with several stands of mature trees completely leveled. A home was shifted off of its foundation and a mobile home was destroyed from a fallen tree near the intersection of Chisolm Cemetary Road and Zion Road. The tornado began to intensify as it neared Curtis Fulton Road. Here, the tornado destroyed an anchored shed with metal framing. The most intense damage was located along Smith-Galloway Road. Here, the tornado destroyed a four month old manufactured home. All of the anchoring straps of the home were either snapped or pulled out of the ground, including the anchors themselves. Indications are that the home was likely thrown approximately 100 yards into a stand of trees behind the home. The tornado continued to cause significant tree damage as it crossed a field. The tornado reached its peak intensity of EF3, with 145mph winds, as it destroyed a family home. In addition a horse trailer was also tossed from across the street and significant numbers of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped, including another stand of mature pines that was flattened. The tornado continued to the northeast and weakened by the time it reached Vick Jackson Road. Here, it uprooted several pine trees. The tornado lifted before it reached Old Jackson Road to the southwest of Moscow.

Wider weather episode

A strong storm system moved through the Lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday March 22nd. An associated line of severe thunderstorms quickly raced across Mississippi during the day resulting in widespread wind damage and numerous tornadoes.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1012391. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.