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F1 tornado in Jones County, Mississippi

Tornado March 15, 2002 · Jones County, Mississippi

F1
Rating
1.0 mi
Path length
300 yd
Path width
$3.2M
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 300 yards (0.17 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

What the National Weather Service wrote

A tornado formed about three miles northwest of Laurel or between the cities of Laurel and Soso in northwest Jones County. The tornado moved northeast 1 mile, before dissipating two miles northwest of the Laurel. West Jones County High School and Middle School sustained significant, structural damage. Most of the roof had collapsed along with other, structural damage which made the facility inhabitable. Damage costs to the school alone exceeded 2.5 million dollars per one county official. One home and one mobile home were also destroyed. Otherwise, ten to twelve homes sustained major damage along with several trees that were uprooted by the tornado.

Began near Laurel (31.7333, -89.1667).

Other tornadoes from the same storm system

1 more tornado the National Weather Service filed under this storm episode.

F1 Hinds County

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5282570. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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