EF2 tornado in Sunflower County, Mississippi

An EF-2 tornado touched down in northern Sunflower County on the grounds of Mississippi State Penitentiary. It caused minor damage on the penitentiary grounds before tracking northeast toward Rome. The tornado damaged or destroyed several homes and businesses in Rome including the Rome Post Office. It also snapped several wooden power poles along US 49W. The tornado lifted as it approached the Sunflower/Tallahatchie/Coahoma county line. The estimated peak wind was 115 mph.

A warm, moist airmass was in place across the region ahead of a potent January weather system. Ample wind energy also was present, which not only helped bring damaging winds with severe storms but also allowed for strong gradient winds to occur ahead of an eastward advancing squall line. Severe weather occurred in the early morning hours of January 11th and continued across the ArkLaMiss region before noon, resulting in widespread wind damage as well as some tornadoes.