NOUS44 KJAN 280208 PNSJAN ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074- 281800- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Jackson MS 908 PM CDT Mon Mar 27 2023 ...NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 3/24/2023 TORNADO EVENT... .Update...Preliminary survey details have been added for both tornadoes. Initial ground assessments along the tornado paths have been completed. Additional information is now being assessed, including aerial imagery from satellite and UAS. Locations with the most severe damage along the paths are now being reviewed. Follow up surveys are possible, and updates to survey results are also possible in the coming days. We would like to express special thanks to the PERiLS Project and NSSL for their ongoing assistance and expertise with this survey process. .Rolling Fork-Silver City Tornado... Rating: EF4 Estimated Peak Wind: 170 mph Path Length /statute/: 59.4 miles Path Width /maximum/: 3/4 mile Fatalities: 16 Injuries: Unknown Start Date: 3/24/2023 Start Time: 7:57 PM CDT Start Location: 4 SE Mayersville / Issaquena County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 32.8414 / -90.9993 End Date: 3/24/2023 End Time: 9:08 PM CDT End Location: 8 ESE Cruger / Holmes County / MS End Lat/Lon: 33.2636 / -90.1126 Survey Summary: This long track, violent tornado began over northern Issaquena County near Grant Rd, downing multiple trees and damaging two older outbuildings. The tornado continued northeastward, producing tree damage as it crossed the Steele Bayou Canal then into Sharkey County. At this point, the tornado began to increase in size and intensity, and there was evidence of multiple vortices at multiple points along the path in Sharkey County. A very high percentage of trees were snapped along the path through a wooded area south of Bear Lake Rd. On the western outskirts of the city of Rolling Fork, homes began to be impacted with significant roof damage along Bear Lake Rd. Several tall wooden utility poles were snapped along Bear Lake Rd and MS Highway 826. The first indications of EF3 to EF4 damage occurred along Pinkins Rd, where each structure along the dead end road, including several manufactured homes and a site built home, was demolished. Structures on the west end of the road were scattered radially southeastward, and structures on the east end of the road were scattered northward. Additionally, debarking was observed on several hardwood trees, with only stubs of the main branches of some trees remaining. Across MS 826 and along Fleetwood Rd, an older metal building was swept away, a small home was destroyed and numerous manufactured homes were destroyed. As the tornado moved into the western side of Rolling Fork, the tornadic wind field was broad, encompassing the area from Race St, where exterior damage occurred to the Sharkey Issaquena Hospital, to Bear Lake Rd on the south end. The corridor of greatest damage on the west side of the city, up to EF3, extended from 7th St between Martin Ave and Joor Ave to 3rd St between Southern Ave and Lewis Ave to S 1st St near Wright Ave. In this area, multiple homes lost most exterior walls, several more lost roofs and some walls, and even more received at least minor damage. Additional debarking of trees was noted near the center of the path. After the tornado crossed Deer Creek into the eastern side of Rolling Fork, some intensification occurred, with additional EF4 damage noted. Two homes, one along Sharkey St and one along Collette Ave, had all walls collapsed. A lodge on Parkway Ave was demolished, but there was evidence the structure was compromised by flying debris. Large metal buildings at an agriculture business at the intersection of East St and West Ave were destroyed. Further south along the periphery of the tornado, roof damage occurred at the fire station and at Rolling Fork Elementary School and South Delta High School. The tornado then crossed Rolling Fork Creek, damaging and destroying several structures along McLaurin St and China St. A water tower east of Hicks Ave was downed, though it appeared to be compromised near the base by impacts from flying debris. The roof was removed from the Rolling Fork US Post Office, portions of Rolling Fork City Hall, and portions of the Rolling Fork Police Department. The Sharkey County Courthouse received damage to the roof and some windows, with the cupola removed. Homes and businesses were destroyed along Walnut St, with all or most walls downed. With two of the businesses, the structure was compromised by tossed vehicles or a metal door on the side of the building. Another area of EF4 damage was along Mulberry St and Hunt St, where additional homes and businesses had all walls collapsed, Several other structures had roofs removed and some walls collapsed as far north as Lindsay St and Magnolia St. As the tornado approached US 61, several businesses were impacted, especially in the area between Walnut St and Rosenwald Ave. Several of these businesses were metal building systems that were nearly or completely destroyed. A few were brick structures with most or all walls collapsed, leaving piles of debris on or near the slab. Around 30 mobile or manufactured homes at the Chuck's Dairy Bar property were destroyed. A considerable amount of debris was visible in aerial imagery along the path scattered downwind in fields east northeast of the city. The tornado remained strong to violent as it continued northeast of Rolling Fork across mainly open fields. It crossed Matthews Rd near a catfish farm, where several utility poles were snapped near the ground and covered in 1 to 2 inches of mud. Ground survey teams were unable to determine the location of the tops of some of the snapped poles. Prolific tree damage occurred along Sandy Bayou, with a few buildings along the outer edges of the path damaged and a tractor trailer flipped. Another area of EF4 damage was observed from Widow Bayou and E River Rd northeastward through Dogwood Rd and Linsey Rd. Through this corridor, extreme hardwood tree damage occurred with most trees completely mangled and debarking noted. There was some evidence of trees being tossed or dragged at least a short distance. Several utility poles were snapped, with some tossed a short distance. A manufactured home off Dogwood Rd was blown away, with a school bus from the property tossed into nearby trees. Aerial imagery of this area revealed ground scouring and cycloidal marks in the field between Dogwood Rd and Linsey Rd. Tree damage continued across Keith Rd and Charlie Pitt Rd as the tornado approached MS Highway 14. East of Anguilla along Highway 14, a frame home was completely destroyed. Near the home, several power poles were snapped or broken. Tree damage was extensive with large areas mowed down. A tenth of a mile east, a mobile home was rolled into nearby trees. Along Prudent Rd, most of the roof was taken off of a home, where the garage collapsed along with a portion of the front porch. One vehicle was flipped and another was moved. A metal workshop was destroyed and structural beams were bent. Along the road, several power poles were snapped and thrown a couple hundred feet into a nearby field. As the tornado approached and crossed Seven Mile Rd, intensity increased. Here, several metal buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed with structural beams bent. Grain bins had sides collapsed and the tops blown off. A small brick home was completely destroyed with all of the exterior walls collapsed. The home next door had a large portion of the roof removed and part of a wall had collapsed. Debris from the home was thrown several hundred feet into a nearby field. Vehicles were moved out of the garage and a large grain storage cart was thrown into the field as well. For several miles, the tornado traveled along Highway 149 moving toward Silver City where large areas of hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted. Multiple center pivot irrigation systems were flipped. A mobile home was completely destroyed when it was rolled into a nearby field. A portion of the roof was blown off a school. A community along the same road had several homes with significant roof damage, at least one home had decking material partially removed. Several homes and a large metal building were severely damaged when portions of the roof were blown off. A second metal building was completely destroyed with large structural posts bent. As the tornado came into Silver City from the west along Highway 149, an apartment complex was heavily damaged where each building had extensive shingle damage. Several buildings had sections of the roof removed and one building had portions of the western walls partially collapsed. In the nearby neighborhood, numerous homes had large portions of shingles removed. At least two frame homes were destroyed where one or more exterior walls collapsed. A large number of old hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted. As the storm moved east toward Highway 49W, more trees were snapped and uprooted. Several homes and a church near the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 49W had areas of the roof damaged or removed. Four mobile homes were completely destroyed. Nearly every home sustained roof damage, where sections of the roof were removed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a few of which fell on homes. The rating in the Silver City area ranged from EF1-EF2. The tornado continued to track east where mostly tree damage occurred. In rural portions of Holmes County northeast of Tchula, there was substantial tree damage with swaths of snapped and uprooted trees. Several center pivot irrigation systems were overturned and grain bins were flipped or destroyed. The tornado continued to move northeast before dissipating in a wooded area north of Randall Road. .Black Hawk-Winona Tornado... Rating: EF3 Estimated Peak Wind: 155 mph Path Length /statute/: 29.2 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0.7 mile Fatalities: 3 Injuries: 5 Start Date: 3/24/2023 Start Time: 9:12 PM CDT Start Location: 11 E Cruger / Carroll County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 33.3128 / -90.0385 End Date: 3/24/2023 End Time: 9:37 PM CDT End Location: 5 NNW Kilmichael / Montgomery County / MS End Lat/Lon: 33.5098 / -89.5928 Survey Summary: This long track tornado began just southwest of Black Hawk in a wooded area with widespread tree damage, including snapped and uprooted trees. Satellite imagery indicates major tree damage of EF2 intensity. It continued northeast before crossing Highway 430, CR 235, and Highway 17. In this area, numerous residential structures were damaged, including 2 homes that were destroyed, with both losing outer walls and another with collapsed brick on the exterior with the interior slab exposed. Large farming equipment was also blown over on the side. No injuries were reported in this area. The tornado was strongest just northeast of here at EF3 intensity, around 155mph, where Black Hawk Independent Church, Historic Blackhawk School and parsonage were completely destroyed. Both the school and church had stood for nearly 100 years. The church steeple was gone with the bell thrown out and not seen by the survey team. The slab to the church remained intact with a few exterior walls standing. A nearby well building made of cinder block masonry stood mostly untouched outside of minor damage to the roof and doorway. The tornado then continued to the northeast before crossing Highway 17 where widespread tree damage and some structural damage continued. It then continued northeast, just north of Highway 243, before crossing Highway 218 and Nebo Rd, where widespread tree damage occurred. Some areas beyond this were inaccessible due to fallen trees. Satellite imagery indicates potential EF2 to EF3 tree damage in the nearby wooded area. The tornado crossed CR 144, CR 163, CR 211, Good Hope Rd and Spring Lake Rd between Burkhead Lake, Spring Lake and Water Lake. In this area, the tornado was an estimated one half to three quarters of a mile wide and caused EF2 to EF3 tree damage to the forested areas. Some damage was noted to structures along these inaccessible areas. It then crossed Enon Rd, where damage was noted to a home, and Highway 35, where widespread tree damage, major roof, and minor siding damage occurred to a mobile home. One mobile home just north of Highway 35 was thrown off the blocks and into a nearby wooded area some 50 yards away. In this location, 3 fatalities occurred. An 18 wheeler tractor trailer was also blown over on the side. Just to the northeast, satellite imagery indicates a structure had major damage, with the majority of it destroyed. The tornado then crossed CR 278 and CR 61, with minor tree damage, but the majority of the more intense tree damage as viewed within satellite imagery occurred in inaccessible areas just to the north. It then crossed Gum Branch Rd before crossing Interstate 55, where ground surveys and satellite imagery indicated the tornado was nearly a half mile wide. The tornado then crossed Highway 51, Stafford Wells Rd and Highway 407, where major roof damage occurred to residential homes consistent with EF2 intensity. The tornado then crossed Highway 82, where numerous power lines were downed, causing high end EF1 to low end EF2 damage. The tornado then crossed the intersection of Bethlehem Community Rd and Bethlehem Church Rd, where EF2 damage occurred. Three outbuildings were destroyed. A home had major roof damage, and another structure moved off the foundation. The tornado then crossed Hammond Rd, causing major tree damage in the wooded areas. The tornado then caused low end EF2 damage just south of Robinson- Thompson Rd, where an outbuilding was destroyed and a nearby 100 year old home had minor to moderate roof and siding damage but was left standing. The tornado lifted as it crossed Robinson-Thompson Rd. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: 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 events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ BP/DL/CE/LM/CR/DC/JM