NWS Jackson, MS - April 15, 2011 Severe Weather Outbreak

Clinton/Jackson Tornado

Click on Map Below to Zoom In/Out and Damage Notation

Event Summary

This tornado began along Airport Road to the southwest of Clinton and moved northeast across Interstate 20, US Highway 80, Interstate 220, and Interstate 55 before lifting near the intersection of Old Canton Road and Pear Orchard Road in southeast Ridgeland.

The most intense damage occurred in Clinton and western Jackson. In these areas, numerous homes and businesses were damaged and destroyed both by the tornado wind and from falling trees, cars were flipped and smashed, thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted, and numerous power lines and power poles were downed or snapped. The basis for the EF-3 rating was houses that were destroyed in neighborhoods just southwest of US Highway 80 and just south of Clinton Blvd in Clinton. The tornado maintained EF-2 and EF-1 strength as it moved through western Jackson. However, once it crossed Interstate 55, the tornado weakened to EF-0 and low end EF-1 damage.

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-3
Estimated Maximum Wind:	140 mph
Fatalities/Injuries:	10 injuries
Damage Path Length:	17 miles
Maximum Path Width:	3/10 mile
Approximate Start Point/Time:	4.5 SW Clinton 10:51am
Approximate End Point/Time:	2 SE Ridgeland 11:17am

Radar Imagery
These images from the Brandon, MS doppler radar show the tornadic thunderstorm at 10:57am as the tornado was crossing I-20 near Clinton. The image on the left shows 0.5° base reflectivity data, and the image on the right shows 0.5° storm relative velocity data. Note the very tight velocity couplet, indicative of a tornado signature just south of downtown Clinton. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

On the subsequent radar volume scan, a debris ball became evident in the base reflectivity data. In this radar image from 11:02am, the debris ball is seen just east of Clinton, moving toward I-220 and the west side of Jackson. A very tight cyclonic circulation remains evident in the storm-relative velocity data, seen on the right. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

The tornado tracked across western and northern portions of the city of Jackson. This radar image from 11:11am shows the radar-indicated tornado signature approaching State Street in North Jackson. Click on the thumbnail below for a higher resolution image.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office