Thunderstorm Wind — Lawrence, Mississippi

2024-05-13 · near Topeka, Lawrence, Mississippi

Event narrative

An intense downburst caused a swath of significant wind damage beginning north of Jayess between China Grove Road and Holmesville Road. This downburst intensified quickly as it approached and crossed Holmesville Road and peaked along Conn-Rutherford and Conn Lane. Extensive tree damage was noted with thousands of uprooted or snapped trees. Sheds were destroyed, and several homes were damaged from fallen trees, sheds being blown into them, or by the wind directly. Numerous power lines and poles were down. A couple of large grain silos were damaged, and three smaller ones were rolled across a field for 200 to 300 yds. A travel trailer was rolled. One resident was trapped in a trailer on Robert Tynes Road. Peaks winds were estimated to be 105 mph in this area. As the downburst moved ESE, it weakened some but was still significant (winds 75-90 mph) as it crossed Topeka-Jayess Road and along Bismark Road before dissipation near MS Highway 44. The swath of significant damage was approximately 2.5 miles wide and 5 miles long.

Wider weather episode

Severe thunderstorms moved across the state of Mississippi and produced damaging wind gusts, a few brief tornadoes, and heavy rainfall. Several swaths of wind produced significant damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.4100, -90.2100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1194637. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.