Power Outage in Columbus, MS

A line of severe thunderstorms moved into northeast Mississippi on the evening of May 6th. The storms quickly weakened as they moved into the area, however, a strong outflow boundary resulted in a swath of damaging winds across Columbus resulting in the downing of several trees and power lines.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved into northeast Mississippi on the evening of May 6th. The storms quickly weakened as they moved into the area, however, a strong outflow boundary resulted in a swath of damaging winds across Columbus resulting in the downing of several trees and power lines.

Light accumulations of snow during the afternoon transitioned to freezing rain by the evening. Total ice accumulations in trees and on power lines were up to around 0.25 inches.

A mixture of freezing rain and sleet fell across the county. Accumulations of one quarter of an inch of ice across the county resulted in several trees and power lines being brought down. In addition, accumulation of up to three quarters of an inch of sleet occurred.

A few trees were blown down near the Columbus Air Force Base, including one which fell onto a power line near Mike Parra Road and US Highway 45.

A few trees were blown down near the Columbus Air Force Base, including one which fell onto a power line near Mike Parra Road and US Highway 45.

A tree was blown down on power lines along Highway 69 between Columbus and New Hope.

Power poles were snapped along US Highway 45 near 18th Avenue. A tree was blown down on a house on Magnolia Circle. A large tree branch was blown down on 31st Avenue east of MacArthur Drive. Another tree was blown down on Willowbrook Road.

Power poles were snapped along US Highway 45 near 18th Avenue. A tree was blown down on a house on Magnolia Circle. A large tree branch was blown down on 31st Avenue east of MacArthur Drive. Another tree was blown down on Willowbrook Road.

Power lines were blown down along 7th Street.

The tornado developed along the southwest edge of Columbus, MS near 1st Street, noted by broken small hardwood tree limbs and uprooted hardwood trees, which fell a top of a Voting Precinct single-story home. Minor roof damage to a nearby two story home also occurred. As the tornado tracked northeast across the eastern side of downtown Columbus, MS, it became evident that the storm had grown in strength a bit as streets became littered with uprooted and snapped hardwood and softwood trees, many of which had fallen on homes, causing significant roof damage. As the tornado moved along 9th street and College Street, damage was noted on top of a cell tower, where portions of the metal structure was evidently bent. By the time the tornado reached 12th Street and 4th Avenue, more extensive damage was noted by way of a brick fence along a single family home getting almost completely destroyed and additional snapped and uprooted hardwood trees. Wooden power lines were snapped near or at its base at 12th Street and 4th Avenue, where portions of the roof was loss at the nearby Canterbury Townhouses. Littered downed and snapped trees falling on top of homes persisted along the northeast side of downtown Columbus, and southward facing homes along Railroad Street had windows that were blown out. As the tornado continued along its northeast path, it intersected the Hunt Intermediate School along 10th Avenue and 20th Street resulting in significant damage to the roof, and blown out windows along the second floor. Across the street, the Park and Rec Center and Activities Center composed of metal and tin were blown in/collapsed on its entry side. Damage continued along Tuscaloosa Road by way of fence damage along the outskirts of a Loves Truck Stop and snapped softwood and hardwood trees behind the Loves Truck Stop. The First Pentecostal Church along Tuscaloosa Road had half of its tin roof blown off, and thus resulted in damage done to the inside of its worship area. At the intersection of Tuscaloosa Road and Conway Road, several manufactured buildings had most of its exterior walls and roofs caved in. The one fatality occurred at the intersection of Tuscaloosa Road and Gardner Street, where a structural sound brick building collapsed and the majority of the exterior walls were destroyed. This tornado began to weaken as it neared the Alabama state line, as several softwood medium size tree limbs and snapped softwood trees occurred north of Highway 50. This tornado lifted just as it crossed state lines into Alabama. Maximum estimated winds were 137 mph.

A tree was blown down across a power line in New Hope.

Six trees and some power lines were down.

Powerlines were blown down.

This tornado began along Highway 182 and snapped softwood and hardwood trees as it tracked to the north-northeast along Phillips Hill Road. One large tree fell onto a house and destroyed the house. The tornado then track across Mill Road and caused roof damage to a home. The tornado reached its strongest intensity of EF1 rating near the intersection of Mill Road and West Mill Road. Here there was roof damage to another home, broken power poles and several trees snapped. As the tornado near Highway 82, it caused damage to a scoreboard at a local park. It crossed Highway 82, snapping a few trees. The tornado continued over Elise Lane and Jamac Road. It then crossed Tabernacle Road, Bell Circle and Honeysuckle Drive before crossing Highway 50, Gunshoot Road and near Pleasant Hill Road, knocking down trees along the path. It lifted shortly after crossing Gunshoot Road. The maximum estimated wind speed for this tornado was 110 mph.

Downburst winds associated with a severe thunderstorm blew down a few power poles and caused shingle damage to roofs near Carson Road.

Trees and powerlines were blown down in the southeast part of the county.

Trees and powerlines were blown down in the southeast part of the county.

A power pole was blown down along Ridge Road. A tree was also blown down near the intersection of Military Road and 4th Avenue.

A power pole was blown down along Ridge Road. A tree was also blown down near the intersection of Military Road and 4th Avenue.

The tornado began southeast of Columbus on Frisco Road. Here, there were a few trees snapped and limb debris. The tornado continued northeast crossing Hughes Road and Hildreth Road, snapping and downing trees along the path. As it crossed Hughes Road, it peeled back the roof of a shed. The tornado began to get wider as it moved across Hildreth Road. The tornado continued through a wooded area north of Hildreth Road until crossing Bryant Road. Here a fence was blown down and higher damage occurred at the dead end. Many trees were blown down along the end of the road and shingle damaged occurred to a few homes. Large trees were downed off to the north of the road in the wooded area. It began to show signs of becoming a multiple vortex tornado, as there seemed to be two distinct corridors of damage. The tornado continued northeast before crossing Highway 69 where many trees were snapped, bringing down a powerline and snapping a powerpole. The tornado continued northeast before crossing New Hope Road and Petersburg Road. Along in this area the tornado was very wide, over a quarter mile, and caused numerous trees to be downed. A few trees were on homes, especially along Petersburg Road, where numerous homes had shingle damage, a tree fell on a home and minor damage occurred to a shed. The tornado continued northeast before crossing Pritchard Lane, continuing to show signs of a multi-vortex tornado. Numerous trees were downed along the road and minor roof damage occurred to a shed. The tornado then crossed Lake Lowndes Road where many trees were snapped and a few powerlines were blown down. It was in this area and crossing into the Lakeover subdivision on Lakeover Drive where the highest damage occurred with high end EF1 damage with winds reaching around 110 mph. Numerous trees were blown down, with some falling into homes, and numerous had shingle damage. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Lake Lowndes Road and Ernest Drive. Many large trees were blown down and roof was peeled back on a shed on Ernest Drive. The tornado crossed Old Yorkville Road, continuing to take down numerous trees along the path and taking down a powerpole. The tornado then crossed into an open field before moving into a wooded area. The tornado continued before crossing State Line Road at the Mississippi-Alabama border, where a powerpole was snapped and numerous trees were uprooted. The tornado began to turn more to the north-northeast after crossing the state line into Alabama and crossed Robin Road, where multiple trees were downed, blocking the railroad tracks. It continued north-northeast and crossed Eagle Road, where numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. The tornado continued across County Road 30 and Pine Wood Circle, snapping and uprooting many trees. The tornado dissipated just after crossing Highway 82. It was rated an EF-1 with estimated maximum winds of 110 mph. The damage path length was 5.8 miles (7.9 miles total). The maximum path width was 600 yards.

The tornado began southeast of Columbus on Frisco Road. Here, there were a few trees snapped and limb debris. The tornado continued northeast crossing Hughes Road and Hildreth Road, snapping and downing trees along the path. As it crossed Hughes Road, it peeled back the roof of a shed. The tornado began to get wider as it moved across Hildreth Road. The tornado continued through a wooded area north of Hildreth Road until crossing Bryant Road. Here a fence was blown down and higher damage occurred at the dead end. Many trees were blown down along the end of the road and shingle damaged occurred to a few homes. Large trees were downed off to the north of the road in the wooded area. It began to show signs of becoming a multiple vortex tornado, as there seemed to be two distinct corridors of damage. The tornado continued northeast before crossing Highway 69 where many trees were snapped, bringing down a powerline and snapping a powerpole. The tornado continued northeast before crossing New Hope Road and Petersburg Road. Along in this area the tornado was very wide, over a quarter mile, and caused numerous trees to be downed. A few trees were on homes, especially along Petersburg Road, where numerous homes had shingle damage, a tree fell on a home and minor damage occurred to a shed. The tornado continued northeast before crossing Pritchard Lane, continuing to show signs of a multi-vortex tornado. Numerous trees were downed along the road and minor roof damage occurred to a shed. The tornado then crossed Lake Lowndes Road where many trees were snapped and a few powerlines were blown down. It was in this area and crossing into the Lakeover subdivision on Lakeover Drive where the highest damage occurred with high end EF1 damage with winds reaching around 110 mph. Numerous trees were blown down, with some falling into homes, and numerous had shingle damage. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Lake Lowndes Road and Ernest Drive. Many large trees were blown down and roof was peeled back on a shed on Ernest Drive. The tornado crossed Old Yorkville Road, continuing to take down numerous trees along the path and taking down a powerpole. The tornado then crossed into an open field before moving into a wooded area. The tornado continued before crossing State Line Road at the Mississippi-Alabama border, where a powerpole was snapped and numerous trees were uprooted. The tornado began to turn more to the north-northeast after crossing the state line into Alabama and crossed Robin Road, where multiple trees were downed, blocking the railroad tracks. It continued north-northeast and crossed Eagle Road, where numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. The tornado continued across County Road 30 and Pine Wood Circle, snapping and uprooting many trees. The tornado dissipated just after crossing Highway 82. It was rated an EF-1 with estimated maximum winds of 110 mph. The damage path length was 5.8 miles (7.9 miles total). The maximum path width was 600 yards.

Power lines were blown down on the north side of Columbus.

A couple of trees were blown down between Caledonia and Columbus. Numerous trees were blown down and power outages occurred due to trees on powerlines a few miles east of Columbus. A few shingles were blown off of roofs too.

A tree was down on a power line just east of the intersection of Highway 182 and Lehmberg Road.

Trees and power lines were blown down county wide. Trees were also blown down on a couple of houses in Columbus.

This tornado destroyed a church along Highway 45 and caused significant damage to a well-constructed barn and several homes. Several power poles and hundreds of trees were snapped along the path of the storm. Maximum winds were around 130 mph.

This tornado destroyed a church along Highway 45 and caused significant damage to a well-constructed barn and several homes. Several power poles and hundreds of trees were snapped along the path of the storm. Maximum winds were around 130 mph.

Trees and power lines were blown down along Spivey Road.

A few power lines were down.

Fifteen trees were blown down across the northern portion of the county. Power outages occurred.

Several trees were blown down across the county. Power outages also occurred in Columbus and in a couple other spots around the county. A large tree was blown down across Schlater Road near Artesia.

Several trees and power lines were blown down around the county. One tree fell on a camper and windows were blown out of a business on Tuscaloosa Road.

A power pole was blown down on Highway 45 near Columbus. Power lines were blown down in Columbus.

Power lines were blown down in Columbus.

Power lines were blown down near Columbus Lake along Wilkins-Wise Road. Six trees were blown down and three power poles were snapped in Columbus.

Trees and power lines were blown down due to an outflow boundary.

A tree and a few power lines were blown down northwest of Columbus.

Some power lines were blown down.

A few trees and power lines were blown down.

Strong gradient wind gusts downed a few power lines in southeast Lowndes County.

A few trees and power lines were down.

A few trees and power lines were down.

Numerous trees were blown down along Highway 69 and on power lines, resulting in power outages.

A few trees and power lines were blown down.

Two trees had blown down along Main Street and one was blown down along New Hope Road. A power line was blown down off Yorkville Road.

Two trees had blown down along Main Street and one was blown down along New Hope Road. A power line was blown down off Yorkville Road.

Strong easterly winds developed as the back edge of the rain shield pushed east in response to a wake low and rapidly falling pressures. Wind gusts between 50 and 60 mph downed dozens of trees across Lowndes County. Some trees were down across area roads and power lines. One tree was on a house near Caledonia.

Numerous trees were down around the county with many across roads and some city streets. Power outages were scattered across the city of Columbus as well as in the county. This was due to gradient winds from a Wake Low passage. Winds were estimated around 50 mph.

A storm produced 70 mph winds across Columbus. Numerous trees were knocked down, power lines down, causing power outages. Four homes and a Shell gas station were damage by fallen trees. An apartment complex was evacuated after a fallen tree ruptured the gas line.

Lightning struck a power pole in Columbus.

Several trees and power lines were blown down around Columbus. A few trees were across roads in town.

Several trees and power lines were blown down around Columbus. A few trees were across roads in town.

A power line was blown down off Mike Perra Road and a tree was down off Stinson Creek Road.

Nearly three dozen trees and several power lines were blown down across the county by strong gradient winds behind a strong cold front. Numerous power outages resulted for several hours into the evening.

The tornado started by damaging a home and shed along with some tree and power pole damage. Next, a shed was damaged and a combine harvester that was in the shed was thrown into some trees. After moving through a wooded area, the tornado moved into a neighborhood with new, well-built homes. Around 8 homes were damaged in this neighborhood, with around 5 of them being severely damaged. Roofs were ripped off, walls were collapsed, and a few were even moved off their foundations. The tornado moved through another wooded area and emerged into the Caledonia school complex. It was here that the tornado reached its maximum intensity. The press box and concession stand of the football stadium were destroyed, several medal power poles were bent over, and several trees were knocked down. Numerous vehicles were moved along the ground up to 100 yards, some were flipped over, some had multiple dents from gravel in the parking lot, and numerous windows were broken out. Five school buses were damaged, two of which were flipped over, and one of which was lifted up and ripped apart with the chassis landing in one of the buildings and the frame landing on top of a building. The school gymnasium and a Vocational Tech Building were nearly destroyed with several vehicles including the bus landing inside it. The tornado then left the school complex and moved across the south side of Caledonia. Around 6 homes experienced significant damage here, mainly to the roofs. A church was completely destroyed when the roof was lifted up and collapsed on the building. Another church nearby had minor roof damage. The tornado entered another wooded area causing damage to trees and then emerged along Caledonia-Vernon Road. The tornado moved along the road for several miles. Along this part of the path, numerous single family homes were severely damaged. The roofs were ripped off and the walls were collapsed on several homes. Numerous hard wood trees were snapped, several of which fell on cars and homes. A horse stable was completely destroyed and a high tension medal truss tower was snapped. Further along the road, several mobile homes were completely destroyed. One in particular had the body of the trailer blown downwind and the frame was dragged back along the ground in the opposite direction for around 25 yards. Several cars were moved for a distance around 50 yards at this location as well. The tornado then entered another wooded area causing some tree damage and then weakened before crossing the state line into Lamar County, Alabama. The total path length in Lowndes County was 8.7 miles with an EF3 Enhanced Fujita Scale rating. The total path length for the entire tornado, including each county, was 13.2 miles.||The school complex was occupied by over 2100 students and faculty at the time of the tornado. Yet, the Tornado Warning lead time of 41 minutes allowed the school to place students at the best possible locations. No injuries or fatalities occurred at the school. Also, a day care center with 15 children and faculty was severely damaged, but all 11 had taken cover in an underground storm shelter, so there were no injuries at that location either. In total, there were 15 injuries of which only 3 were considered serious. The 3 serious injuries occurred in the mobile home that was ripped apart with the body moving downwind and the frame in the opposite direction.

A couple of trees, several large limbs and a power pole were blown down just outside of Columbus.

A few trees and several large limbs took down a few power lines.

Numerous trees and many power lines were blown down from just north of town southward into the city of Columbus. Additionally, a significant amount of large limbs were also blown down.

Several trees and some power lines were blown down around Columbus.

A few trees and a power line were blown down.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down from Old Yorkville Road southward to Concord Road.

Several trees and power lines were blown down across the county.

A few trees and powerlines were blown down.

A few powerlines were blown down on the S side of town, W of highway 69 S.

Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down.

Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down.

Thunderstorm winds knocked down a couple of trees and a powerline.

A few trees were blown down on powerlines in the city.

Destructive, straight-line winds from a severe squall line knocked down several trees and power lines across northern portions of the county. FMQ-13 wind equipment at the Air Force Base measured winds gusting upwards to 100 mph. As a result of the extreme winds, several buildings in and around the AFB sustained damage. Finally, hail up to the size of quarters fell across the same area. The wind driven hail resulted in damage to numerous vehicles parked outside when the storm hit.

One traffic light blown down in town. Numerous trees and powerlines were knocked down onto city and county roads by damaging, straightline winds.

Several trees and power lines were blown down in the community of New Hope.

Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down.

Several trees and powerlines were blown down on Highways 12 and 82 in the Columbus area.

Several large limbs were blown down which caused some power lines to be knocked down.

A few trees and power lines were blown down.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Several buildings and vehicles sustained major damage.

Several trees and power lines were blown down.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down, and several houses received minor damage.

An intense squall line moved across Lowndes County and caused extensive damage across the northern half of the county. The most extensive damage occurred across two swaths. The first swath was from Columbus AFB to the Caledonia Community. The second was from just west and southwest of Columbus eastward to the Alabama state line.The first swath of damage downed numerous trees and power lines. Many homes sustained roof and shingle damage with a few homes sustaining minor structural damage. One home, which was under construction, was completely leveled. Most of this this damage occurred in and around the Caledonia Community.The second swath of damage started just southwest of Columbus and pushed east right through town and toward the Alabama state line. The damage began with several highway signs blown down along Highway 82. The winds grew stronger as the squall line neared town. Extensive damage occurred across the south side of town and point just to the east of town. Hundreds of trees were snapped or blown down with dozens of large trees uprooted. Many power lines and power poles were taken down as well. Nearly 25 roads were blocked from downed trees and power lines. Many homes sustained roof and shingle damage with several homes sustaining significant roof damage. Many sheds and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Five to ten homes had trees fall on them caused major damage. An apartment complex just east of town had extensive roof damage and a few trees on some of the buildings. Here, 3 injuries occurred.