Confirmed Tornado in Eastern Mississippi, Will Affect Alabama Soon
Storms over eastern Mississippi have become severe this afternoon. A couple have even become tornadic with confirmed tornado damage in the Rose Hill area southwest of Meridian. A significant tornado debris signature was observed on radar and spotters confirmed there was a large and extremely dangerous tornado on the ground.
This storm is passing just west of Meridian at this time. It still has a tornado warning on it. It will pass into northern Sumter County and southern Pickens Counties in West Alabama between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m.
Another tornadic cell is just behind the first one, near Paulding MS. It could affect Sumter County later as well.
A quick check of sever weather parameters in that area shows that CAPE values are above 500 j/kg and there is significant low level shear on the order of 350 m2/s2 for surface – 1 km helicity. This is certainly conducive to the formation of tornadoes.
To the north in Mississippi, severe severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect for North Central Mississippi. A severe storm is poised to move into Starkville in the next 10 minutes. The NWS Jackson is upgraded that warning to a tornado warning now.
A tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for West Central Alabama.
Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather