2011 Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado

EF5 tornado in 2011

2011 Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado

Clockwise from top: The tornado spotted travelling near the town of Philadelphia, Mississippi; tremendous ground scouring left behind by the tornado, with a large, debarked, and defoliated tree that was ripped out by its roots and thrown can also be seen in the background; damage swath of the tornado across eastern Mississippi

Meteorological history
Formed| April 27, 2011, 2:30 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated| April 27, 2011, 3:00 pm. CDT (UTC−05:00)
Duration| 30 minutes
EF5 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Path length| 28.28 miles (45.51 km)
Highest winds| 205 mph (330 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities| 3
Injuries| 8
Damage| $1.1 million (2011 USD)
Areas affected| Neshoba, Kemper, Winston, and Noxubee counties in Mississippi

* * *

Part of the 2011 Super Outbreak and Tornadoes of 2011

During the afternoon of April 27, 2011, an extremely powerful and fast-moving EF5 multi-vortex tornado, known commonly as the Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado or the Philadelphia EF5,[1] touched down in eastern Mississippi causing catastrophic damage to the northern outskirts of the town of Philadelphia. Part of the historic 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak on record, this was the first of four EF5 tornadoes to touch down that day and the first such storm in Mississippi since the 1966 Candlestick Park tornado. While on the ground for 30 minutes, it traveled along a 28.28-mile (45.51 km) path through four counties, leaving behind three deaths, eight injuries, and $1.1 million in damage.

The supercell thunderstorm that produced this tornado formed around 1:00 pm. CDT south of Jackson, Mississippi. Traveling briskly to the northeast, it became severe within 25 minutes and potentially tornadic by 1:36 p.m. CDT. A tornado finally touched down at 2:30 p.m. CDT just east of the Philadelphia Municipal Airport. It quickly intensified and began producing EF5 damage by 2:38 pm. CDT; extreme ground scouring, up to .5 metres (1.6 ft) deep in places, occurred in northeastern Neshoba County. After crossing into Kemper County, the tornado obliterated a mobile home, killing all three inside. It reached EF5 strength a second time near the Kemper–Winston county line where extreme ground scouring again took place and pavement was scoured from roads. Extensive tree damage took place elsewhere along the track and it ultimately dissipated at 3:00 p.m. CDT about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Mashulaville.

## Meteorological synopsis

[edit]

Main article: 2011 Super Outbreak § Meteorological synopsis

### Setup

[edit]

The environmental conditions leading up to the 2011 Super Outbreak were among the "most conducive to violent tornadoes ever documented".[2] On April 25, a vigorous upper-level shortwave trough moved into the Southern Plains states.[3] Ample instability, low-level moisture, and wind shear all fueled a significant tornado outbreak from Texas to Tennessee; at least 64 tornadoes touched down on this day.[2] An area of low pressure consolidated over Texas on April 26 and traveled east while the aforementioned shortwave trough traversed the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.[4] Another 50 tornadoes touched down on this day.[2] The multi-day outbreak culminated on April 27 with the most violent day of tornadic activity since the 1974 Super Outbreak. Multiple episodes of tornadic activity ensued with two waves of mesoscale convective systems in the morning followed by a widespread outbreak of supercells from Mississippi to North Carolina during the afternoon into the evening.[2]

Tornadic activity on April 27 was precipitated by a 995 mbar (hPa; 29.39 inHg) surface low situated over Kentucky and a deep, negatively tilted (aligned northwest to southeast) trough over Arkansas and Louisiana. A strong southwesterly surface jet intersected these systems at a 60° angle, an ageostrophic flow that led to storm-relative helicity values in excess of 500 m2s−2—indicative of extreme wind shear and a very high potential for rotating updrafts within supercells. Ample moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was brought north across the Deep South, leading to daytime high temperatures of 77 to 81 °F (25 to 27 °C) and dewpoints of 66 to 72 °F (19 to 22 °C). Furthermore, convective available potential energy (CAPE) values reached 2,500–3,000 J/kg.[2]

### Forecast

[edit]

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center's Day 1 Convective Outlook for April 27, showing the Categorical Graphic

The probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point (cross-hatched area: 10% or greater probability of EF2+ tornadoes)

On the morning of April 27, a strong cold front with several areas of embedded low pressure extended from the Texas Hill Country northeastward towards the Arklatex and the Ozarks, and later into the lower Ohio Valley. Warm moist air was in place due to strong southerly flow ahead of the front over Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. An upper level disturbance sparked a broad area of showers and thunderstorms as it moved across the frontal boundary on the previous evening. The eastern edge of the line of showers and storms continued to move eastward, in concert with the upper disturbance, reaching the northwest Alabama border around 2:00 a.m. CDT.[5]

This produced the last and most violent round of severe weather, which began around 2:30 p.m. CDT for northern Alabama and parts of Mississippi as supercells began to line up to the southwest of the area. During the early afternoon, the potential for destructive tornadoes was highlighted by the Storm Prediction Center's upgrade to a high risk for severe weather around 1:00 p.m. CDT.[5] This prompted a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch, which was issued for northern Alabama and portions of southern Tennessee at 1:45 p.m. CDT. The bulletin that accompanied the watch read:[6]

> THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF: MUCH OF ALABAMA, NORTHWEST GEORGIA, SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI, SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE, EFFECTIVE THIS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 145 PM UNTIL 1000 PM CDT.

> ...THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...

> DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL TO 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

The potential for tornadoes ramped up from noon through 9:00 p.m. CDT. During this period, much of Alabama and Mississippi experienced numerous supercell thunderstorms that produced violent tornadoes, including four EF5 tornadoes, one being the Philadelphia tornado.[5][7][8]

## Tornado summary

[edit]

### Formation and rapid strengthening

[edit]

Around 1:00 pm. CDT, a supercell thunderstorm developed south of Jackson, Mississippi, and traveled northeast at 55 mph (89 km/h).[1][9] About 25 minutes later, the intensifying storm became severe and prompted a severe thunderstorm warning—advising residents of damaging winds in excess of 60 mph (97 km/h) and 1-inch (2.5 cm) diameter hail—from the National Weather Service office in Jackson for Leake, Rankin, and Scott counties.[9] The developing storm gradually developed a hook echo signature,[1] and a tornado warning was issued for Leake and Scott counties at 1:36 pm. CDT,[10] and extended to Neshoba County at 2:03 pm. CDT.[11] At 2:30 p.m. CDT, the storm produced a small tornado along the northern edge of Philadelphia, just east of Philadelphia Municipal Airport and near an Army National Guard armory.[12][13] Here, large trees were downed and a building sustained significant roof damage.[13] Within minutes, the tornado began producing EF2 damage to homes and other structures.[1] It soon grew to 900 yards (820 m) in diameter and warranted the issuance of a tornado emergency for northeastern Neshoba County at 2:36 pm. CDT.[11][12]

### Northern Philadelphia and Neshoba–Kemper County

[edit]

Traveling along and parallel to MS 21, the tornado leveled and partially swept away a brick home near the intersection with MS 491, indicative of low-end EF4 damage.[13] A debris ball was apparent on Doppler weather radar imagery by this time. The storm began producing EF5 damage at 2:38 pm. CDT in northeastern Neshoba County. Tremendous ground scouring took place in the county, including in one field where the tornado dug a large trench into the ground, removing up to 2 feet (0.61 m) of soil in places.[1] Grass was torn out by the roots and in clumps by suction vortices embedded within the tornado.[2] Large trees were entirely uprooted, debarked, defoliated, and thrown up to 20 yards (18 m) as well.[13] Maximum winds in the tornado were estimated at 205 mph (330 km/h).[12] The storm moved through the Pearl River Resort, where it destroyed a historic log cabin,[14] fencing, lighting, and dugouts at two baseball fields.[15] As the storm neared the edge of Neshoba County, the tornado emergency was extended to include northern Kemper County, southeastern Winston County, and all of Noxubee County.[16] The tornado weakened briefly as it passed through the small community of Coy along the Neshoba–Kemper County line. Some trees took some extensive damage and a mobile home was destroyed. Upon leaving the community,[13] the tornado intensified and produced EF5 damage again by 2:47 pm. CDT.[1] Throughout Neshoba County, the tornado damaged or destroyed 91 structures, leaving about 32 people homeless.[15]

Remains of a car wrapped around a tree.

In Kemper County, a 3,000 sq-ft (280 m2) mini-mart was damaged beyond repair. Eleven people sought refuge inside the building's bathroom when the tornado struck; all escaped without injuries.[17] Along the Kemper-Winston County line, EF5 damage occurred as extremely deep ground scouring took place again and asphalt was ripped from roads. On Green Road, a double-wide mobile home, anchored to the ground, was lofted 300 yards (270 m) and obliterated when it landed in a nearby tree line; debris from the home was scattered hundreds of yards farther. The survey team found no evidence of it having bounced or rolled from where it was picked up to where it impacted the tree line. All three occupants were killed, the sole fatalities from this tornado. Nearby, the tornado weakened to EF3 strength as two brick homes were destroyed with barely any interior walls left standing; two people sustained serious injuries.[13] A well-built frame wood home was nearly swept clean off its foundation and two trailers were destroyed. Cars were hurled hundreds of yards, often bouncing along the way, and some were rendered almost unrecognizable and were wrapped around trees.[1] Continuing through southeastern Winston County, the tornado weakened slightly to EF2 strength but continued to produce extensive tree and property damage. As it crossed Central McDonald Road, it destroyed a single-wide mobile home and leveled a nearby grove of pine trees.[13]

### Weakening and dissipation

[edit]

As the tornado approached the Winston–Noxubee border, it caused substantial roof damage to a church and left impact holes in the back wall. Extreme tree damage was noted along the border as the tornado regained EF3 intensity. Along Butler Road, to the southwest of Macon, additional pavement scouring took place, along with the destruction of a shop and a bus being rolled. Thereafter, the tornado steadily weakened before dissipating roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Mashulaville at 3:00 pm. CDT.[13] Throughout its 30-minute track, the tornado traveled 28.28 miles (45.51 km), killed three people, injured eight others,[13] and caused $1.1 million in damage.[12][18]

The supercell that produced this EF5 tornado later spawned an EF1 tornado in northeastern Noxubee County at 3:18 p.m. CDT. The parent storm dissipated around 3:29 p.m. CDT as another supercell overtook it near the Mississippi–Alabama state line. That cell produced an exceptionally long-lived EF4 tornado that traveled nearly 128 miles (206 km) across Alabama. The Philadelphia tornado marked the first instance of an F5 or EF5 tornado in Mississippi since the March 3, 1966, Candlestick Park tornado. Following another EF5 tornado that struck Smithville later on April 27, the outbreak marked the first known instance of two EF5 tornadoes on a single day in Mississippi.[19]

## Aftermath

[edit]

Immediately following the destructive tornadoes, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency for 39 counties.[14] On April 29, President Barack Obama signed a major disaster declaration for 29 Mississippi counties in the wake of the Super Outbreak and another deadly outbreak on April 15. This allowed residents and some local governments to sign up to receive federal funding to repair damage incurred from the storms.[20] More than 60 members of the Longino Baptist Church assisted residents of Neshoba County with debris removal and cleaning; also providing refreshments. The Salvation Army established a feeding center at the Coy Methodist Church.[21] Disaster unemployment assistance was made available for people who lost their jobs due to storms and flooding, starting on May 17.[22] By July, a total of $15,734,072 in federal funding was approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for victims of the April 15–28 storms.[23]

## See also

[edit]

* List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
* List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
* List of United States tornado emergencies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Eric Carpenter; Greg Garrett; Jared Allen (February 29, 2012). A Storm-scale and Damage Survey Analysis of the East-Central Mississippi Violent Tornado of 27 April 2011 (PDF) (Report). National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
2. ^ a b c d e f Kevin R. Knupp; et al. (July 2014). "Meteorological Overview of the Devastating 27 April 2011 Tornado Outbreak". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 95 (7). American Meteorological Society: 1, 041–1, 062. Bibcode:2014BAMS...95.1041K. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00229.1. S2CID 22335326.
3. ^ Ryan E. Jewell (April 25, 2011). Apr 25, 2011 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook (Report). Norman, Oklahoma: Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
4. ^ Ryan E. Jewell (April 26, 2011). Apr 26, 2011 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook (Report). Norman, Oklahoma: Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
5. ^ a b c US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Weather Setup: April 27th, 2011 Historic Tornado Outbreak". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Retrieved November 7, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
6. ^ Center, Storm Prediction. "Storm Prediction Center Tornado/Severe Thunderstorm Watch Page". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
7. ^ Morgan, Leigh (April 27, 2022). "18 hours of horror: A look back at the tornadoes of April 27, 2011". AL. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
8. ^ "Remembering April 27, 2011 in photos". WVTM 13. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
9. ^ a b Severe Thunderstorm Warning. National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
10. ^ Tornado Warning. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
11. ^ a b Tornado Warning. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
12. ^ a b c d Mississippi Event Report: EF5 Tornado. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
13. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Neshoba/Kemper/Winston/Noxubee Counties Tornado". Tornado Outbreak April 25–27, 2011. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi. September 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
14. ^ a b "Tornado rips through NW Philadelphia, North Bend area in rural Neshoba County". The Neshoba Democrat. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
15. ^ a b Debbie Burt Myers (May 18, 2011). "Insurance on Northside still big unknown". The Neshoba Democrat. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
16. ^ Tornado Warning. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet National Weather Service. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
17. ^ Billy Watkins (May 5, 2011). "Kemper Countians are among hardest hit – once again". Kemper County Messenger. The Clarion-Leger. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
18. ^ Mississippi Event Report: EF5 Tornado. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
* Mississippi Event Report: EF5 Tornado. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
* Mississippi Event Report: EF3 Tornado. National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
19. ^ "Tornado Outbreak April 25–27, 2011". National Weather Service Office in Jackson, Mississippi. September 8, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
20. ^ "President Declares A Major Disaster For Mississippi". Washington, D.C.: Federal Emergency Management Agency. April 29, 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
21. ^ "Over 60 volunteers join Longino Baptist Church cleanup project". The Neshoba Democrat. May 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
22. ^ "Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available". Clinton, Mississippi: Federal Emergency Management Agency. May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
23. ^ "Nearly $16 Million Approved for Survivors of Mississippi's April Storms and Tornadoes". Clinton, Mississippi: Federal Emergency Management Agency. July 7, 2011. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Service Assessment: The Historic Tornadoes of April 2011
* Summary of the April 25–27, 2011, tornado outbreak from the Jackson, Mississippi, National Weather Service office

* v
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F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes

* Woldegk 1764
* Hainichen 1800
* Montville 1845
* Bowen 1876
* Grinnell 1882
* Rochester 1883
* Southern Minnesota 1892
* Sherman 1896
* Ortonville 1896
* Falls City 1896
* New Richmond 1899
* Snyder 1905
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* Cheney 1917
* Fergus Falls 1919
* Pinson 1923
* Tri-State 1925
* Rocksprings 1927
* Aetna 1927
* Sneed 1929
* Montello 1930
* Tupelo 1936
* Barrville 1942
* Wilmot 1944
* Antlers 1945
* Woodward 1947
* Waco 1953
* Fort Rice 1953
* Flint 1953
* Anita 1953
* Vicksburg 1953
* Blackwell 1955
* Udall 1955
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* Ruskin Heights 1957
* Fargo 1957
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* Colfax 1958
* Prague 1960
* Wichita Falls 1964
* Bradshaw 1964
* Gregory 1965
* Jackson 1966
* Topeka 1966
* Belmond 1966
* Palluel 1967
* Wheelersburg 1968
* Hansell-Charles City 1968
* Oelwein 1968
* Tracy 1968
* Bulahdelah 1970
* Lubbock 1970
* Waverly 1971
* San Justo 1973
* Valley Mills 1973
* Depauw 1974
* Xenia 1974
* Brandenburg 1974
* Cincinnati-Sayler Park 1974
* Tanner 1974 (1st, 2nd)
* Guin 1974
* Spiro 1976
* Brownwood 1976
* Jordan 1976
* Birmingham 1977
* Messer 1982
* Barneveld 1984
* Niles 1985
* Hesston 1990
* Goessel 1990
* Plainfield 1990
* Andover 1991
* Chandler 1992
* Oakfield 1996
* Jarrell 1997
* Oak Grove 1998
* Lawrence County 1998
* Bridge Creek 1999
* Greensburg 2007
* Elie 2007
* Parkersburg–New Hartford 2008
* Philadelphia 2011
* Hackleburg–Phil Campbell 2011
* Smithville 2011
* Rainsville 2011
* Joplin 2011
* El Reno 2011
* Moore 2013

* v
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* e

2011 Super Outbreak

List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak (Map) · Casualties of the 2011 Super Outbreak

Individual tornadoes|

* Philadelphia, Mississippi (EF5)
* Cullman, Alabama (EF4)
* Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, Alabama (EF5)
* Cordova–Blountsville, Alabama (EF4)
* Smithville, Mississippi (EF5)
* Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, Alabama (EF4)
* Rainsville, Alabama (EF5)
* Shoal Creek Valley-Ohatchee, Alabama, Georgia (EF4)
* Ringgold, Georgia (EF4)

Related event|

* 2011 Mississippi River floods

* v
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Tornado outbreaks of 2011

* December 30, 2010 – January 1, 2011
* February 27–28
* March 8–9
* March 21–23
* April 4–5
* April 9–11
* April 14–16
* April 19–24 (St. Louis)
* April 25–28 (Super Outbreak) (Philadelphia, MS · Cullman–Arab, AL · Hackleburg–Phil Campbell, AL · Smithville, MS · Cordova–Blountsville, AL · Tuscaloosa–Birmingham, AL · Rainsville, AL · Ohatchee, AL · Ringgold, GA/Apison, TN)
* May 21–26 (Joplin, MO · El Reno–Piedmont, OK · Chickasha, OK)
* June 1
* June 18–22
* July 11
* August 21 (Goderich, Ontario)
* September 3–7
* November 7–8
* November 14–16

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