EF1 Tornado — Pike, Mississippi

2024-06-04 · near Osyka, Pike, Mississippi

Event narrative

The EF-1 tornado embedded in a QLCS that started near Gillsburg, entered Pike County from Amite County near where Trinity Creek enters into Pike County. The tornado continued to snap and uproot trees just north of the Osyka as it traveled eastward, tracking across I-55 near the Osyka interstate exit. The tornado lifted near Centerville Rd and Charlie Rhodus Rd, where sporadic uproots were noted. Peak winds were 95 mph.

Wider weather episode

The start of what would eventually be a very potent Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) began around midnight on June 4th in central Oklahoma. A cluster of thunderstorms became outflow dominant with the convection chasing the outflow boundary southeastward. The MCS had weakened quite a bit as it moved into northwest Louisiana. However, strong daytime heating and pooling moisture ahead of this was waiting for it in southern Mississippi. Those warm temps and high dewpoints increased surface and mid level instability that would support very strong updrafts. Although shear was relatively low, it was sufficient to support severe weather. About the time the MCS reached the Mississippi River, it began to rapidly intensify into a well organized system. As it moved through the area, it produced wide spread wind damage and four tornadoes. No injuries or fatalities reported with these tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.0200, -90.5400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1193355. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.