EF1 Tornado — George, Mississippi

2020-03-31 · near Benndale, George, Mississippi

Event narrative

The tornado formed just west of the Pascagoula River approximately 4 miles

southeast of Benndale. The tornado tore a metal roof from a house and uprooted

several large trees. The tornado continued east-southeast for approximately

8 miles. The tornado increased in intensity just to the east of the Pascagoula

River and struck another single family home and removed the roof. Numerous

large trees were both snapped and uprooted. Winds had increased to 95 mph in

this location and resulted in EF-1 damage. There was continued damage east

to several additional single family homes with additional roof damage and

tree damage. Numerous large hardwood trees were uprooted and at the tornadoes

strongest point winds approached 100 mph in an area near the intersection of

Park Drive and Basin Refuge Road. The tornado weakened further east and lifted

just to the west of Highway 63 along Phillips Road.

Additional straight line wind damage continued east-southeast from Highway 63

south of Lucedale to near the community of Agricola, where several trees were

uprooted and there was damage to outbuildings. Damaging winds were estimated

between 70 and 80 mph in these locations. There was no further wind damage

surveyed east of the Mississippi and Alabama state line.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure and trailing cold front moved across the southeastern states. A very warm and moist air mass developed ahead of this system and allowed strong to severe storms to develop. The thunderstorms produced an EF-1 tornado along with several reports of wind damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.8400, -88.7500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 880607. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.