EF3 tornado in Attala County, Mississippi

The tornado began in the vicinity of State Highway 12, east southeast of Durant. The tornado moved roughly east-northeast, initially producing damage of EF1 intensity to trees, and damaging the roof of at least one home. As the tornado approached State Highway 19, it intensified and began causing extensive tree damage, snapping and uprooting hundreds of trees. After crossing Highway 19, it caused extensive damage to a church conference center, heavily damaging the roof of the main church building and causing major damage to several camp buildings. In this area, the tornado also caused significant roof damage to several homes and destroyed a number of outbuildings. From here, the tornado continued east northeast, continuing to cause major tree damage as it crossed state Highway 35 at Hesterville. As a wide, strong tornado moving through a heavily forested area, this tornado was a major destroyer of timber, snapping or uprooting thousands of trees. The tornado eventually weakened and dissipated to the north of Ethel. There were two injuries north northeast of the Sallis Community. Additionally, several vehicles were damaged near Sallis. Maximum winds were around 145 mph.

A potent storm system brought a prolonged outbreak of severe thunderstorms to the Lower Mississippi Valley region from the afternoon hours of New Years Eve lasting through the morning hours of New Years Day. This rare combination of high instability and wind shear is mainly what supported the large outbreak that included multiple strong tornadoes. National Weather Service storm survey teams found 11 total tornadoes that occurred during this event. Of the 11, two were EF-3 and two were EF-2. Six were EF-1 with one EF-0. Damaging straight line winds also brought down numerous trees and large limbs across the area. Large hail also occurred during the event with reports ranging from quarter to golf ball size. In addition, flash flooding was a significant issue across the area. Roads were flooded in several locations, some vehicles were submerged in flood waters, and a few evacuations took place as a result of rising flood waters.