EF-1 Tornado in George County, MS

EF-1 George County Tornado
March 31, 2020

Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on April 12th, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.

Public Information Statement...UPDATED
National Weather Service Mobile AL
603 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2020

...NWS Damage Survey For 03/31/20 Tornado Event...

.An EF-1 Tornado was surveyed in George County Mississippi...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    95-100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  8.15 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   50 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             03/31/2020
Start Time:             9:30 AM CDT
Start Location:         4 miles SE of Benndale, Mississippi
Start Lat/Lon:          30.84/-88.75

End Date:               03/31/2020
End Time:               9:42 AM CDT
End Location:           6.5 miles S of Lucedale, Mississippi
End Lat/Lon:            30.81/-88.61

Summary:

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.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

Note:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.

Acknowledgements: Page created by Joe Maniscalco (Forecaster). Updated by Michael Mugrage (Forecaster).

LAST UPDATED: March 2024