Power Outage in Pickens, MS

This tornado touched down in the Vaughan community near Bennett Road and tracked generally northeast to Pickens and then into southwest Attala County. Initial damage was numerous snapped and uprooted trees and a few power lines down. The tornado grew in size and became a bit stronger as it tracked along and just north of Pepper Wilson Road. In addition to the tree damage, several outbuildings were damaged along with a dozen or so houses sustaining some degree of roof damage. The tornado crossed I-55 then basically traveled along Vaughan Road as it approached the south side of Pickens. All along this portion of the path, hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted and several power poles were leaning. Closer to Pickens, the tornado intensified and reached EF2. Significant tree damage was noted just to the south of the road. One large metal storage shed was destroyed along with several power lines and poles down. The tornado stayed just south of downtown Pickens and crossed US Highway 51 where many more trees were uprooted and snapped along with a large section of power lines down. At the natural gas pumping station, a large metal building had some of the walls pulled out. The tornado then moved into the Big Black River bottom, clipping portions of Holmes County and into southwest Attala County, where tree damage continued as was reported by the property owner. The tornado then moved out of the river bottom area and destroyed a large hay barn and then snapped 6 power poles along County Road 4002. Significant tree damage also occurred here to a grove of hardwood trees. An EF2 rating was given for this part of the path as well. The tornado continued northeast and crossed a few locations along Highway 14. A few homes sustained roof damage here along with power lines down and numerous trees damaged. The tornado made a more eastward jog then dissipated along Highway 14. Max sustained winds were 112 mph. Total path length 18.83 miles. Max width was 900 yards in both Yazoo and Attala counties.

This strong tornado started several miles west of Pickens off Highway 432 and tracked Northeast for roughly 23 miles. The tornado impacted areas west of Goodman, Holmes County State Park and a direct hit on the town of Durant. The tornado was very wide and was roughly 1.2 miles wide at its widest point. Across the entire path, thousands of trees were damaged/uprooted/snapped. Hundreds of power poles and power lines were down as well. The large majority of structures that were damaged were indicated by minor to moderate roof damage with singles/siding torn off to partial loss of decking. Multiple structures were more heavily damaged by trees falling on them. Some of the more significant tree and structural damage occurred along Courts Road, Salem Road, Ebenezer Pickens Road and Jordan Road. Four mobile homes were destroyed along Jordan Road, including a new, well secured, mobile home. Significant tree damage also occurred along Highway 51 and along State Park Road just west of Highway 51. The town of Durant took a direct hit. Many buildings and homes sustained minor to moderate roof damage. A few less sound structures were destroyed. Numerous power lines were also down. The tornado continued a bit further to the northeast before dissipating. The total path length was 23.4 miles.

The tornado started with a narrow path of scattered downed trees near Shady Lane Road. The damage intensified as it approached Highway 17. Here tree damage became much more intense with hundreds of trees snapped and uprooted. One home had a portion of its roof ripped off. The tornado intensified and reached its maximum intensity and width between Highway 17 and U.S. Highway 51. Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted, some of them hardwoods that were snapped off except for a few large limbs and partially debarked. Several mobile homes were obliterated and two homes of wood frame and concrete block construction had nearly all of the outer walls collapsed along with total roof removal. Large missiles were generated, including a pickup truck that was thrown nearly 150 yards. On the east side of U.S. Highway 51, three high tension steel power poles were snapped off near the base. As the tornado continued east-northeast and moved into Attala County, the path narrowed and damage became limited to tree damage before dissipation just inside the Attala County line. The total path length across both Holmes and Attala Counties was 10 miles with a EF3 Enhanced Fujita Scale rating. Maximum winds were around 140 mph.