EF1 tornado in Rankin County, Mississippi

This supercell tornado developed in southern Rankin County along the Rankin and Simpson County Line. The tornado touched down along Myers Road as a low end EF1 with winds around 90mph. Tree damage was observed with uprooting and snapping occurring in this region. The tornado then crossed Highway 49 and went into the Piney Woods School area, where high end EF0 damage around 70-85mph occurred. Some shingles were damaged to a home and tree damage continued. The tornado began a slight eastward turn before Clara Foote Road and St. Johns Road. The tornado remained similar intensity in this region before turning back northeast and causing minor damage to a shed outbuilding and small branches broken in the Cato area. The tornado lifted around Cato Road. The maximum estimated winds were 90 mph.

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred on May 4th. An initial round of supercell thunderstorms that morning brought several brief tornadoes to the area along with a few instances of damaging winds. The main round of storms occurred during the afternoon in the form of an intense line of storms. Widespread wind damage occurred with embedded swaths of significant damaging winds up to 80 mph. This resulted in numerous downed trees, power lines and infrastructure damage. Seven tornadoes also occurred within the squall line.