F3 tornado in Rankin County, Mississippi

This tornado developed just SE of Florence between US Highway 49 and State Highway 469. For the first 3 miles, the tornado steadily gained strength and downed many trees and power lines. At this time the intensity was F1 and F2. As the tornado approached the community of Monterey its intensity increased. The most significant damage occurred along a 2 mile path a few miles SE and E of Monterey. Thomasville Road and E Monterey Road were the hardest hit. Here the tornado destroyed or significantly damaged nearly 3 dozen homes, a dozen mobile homes and caused 6 injuries. The tornado continued to move to the NE and moved through the Richland Creek bottom. As it continued NE toward the south side of Brandon, the tornado weakened. The path crossed Star Road and then State Highway 18. Where it crossed Highway 18, the tornado damaged the new Brandon High School, which was under construction, and demolished several construction trailers. The damage to the school comprised of a portion of the roof blown off and windows blown out. The tornado continued to weaken, downing more trees, as it crossed Shiloh Road, Interstate 20 and US Highway 80 where it dissipated. This tornado did cause significant timber damage, mainly between Monterey and where it cross Interstate 20. Several thousand trees were snapped, uprooted or damaged by this wide and long track strong tornado.