EF2 tornado in Pike County, Mississippi

This tornado entered Pike County from Tangipahoa Parish near McNabb Creek Road. In general, it grew is width and strength during its entire track across the county. This was first observed near Pumping Station Road, evident by a growing number of damaged trees and a new tornado debris signature on KHDC radar imagery as the tornado progressed northeast into Progress, MS. It quickly grew in size from 150 yards to over a half mile wide and strength up to EF-2 as it moved southeast of Dykes Crossing, MS. By this point, the tornado was throwing debris over 20,000 feet into the air and was rotating violently on KHDC radar imagery. The roofs of multiple homes were uplifted and several mobile homes were destroyed. As the tornado was exiting Pike County and entering Watlhal County, high resolution satellite imagery showed near 100% treefall near the center of the tornado.

A potent weather system impacted the local area, producing a rare EF-4 tornado. Only a few tornadoes that strong have developed in the local forecast area. Just as impressive. an EF-3 tornado tracked barely a mile to the east of the EF-4 and only 45 minutes later. The environment needed for violent and long lived tornadoes, were in place right as a cold front approached from the west. Unfortunately, there were 4 fatalities with the tornadoes that did develop.