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National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed a long track violent tornado which initially touched down in Monroe County, Mississippi, southwest of the town of Smithville where it caused damage associated with an EF5 rating. The tornado moved northeast through Itawamba County before it crossed into Marion County, Alabama at a point near CR 93, southwest of Bexar. The tornado weakened to an EF1 rating as it entered Alabama, with winds of 110 mph . As the tornado tracked south of Bexar, a few mobile homes and outbuildings were damaged and numerous trees were snapped off and uprooted. The tornado moved across Corridor X/Future Interstate 22, near CR 33. As the tornado approached AL Hwy 19, 4 miles east southeast of Shottsville, it strengthened to an EF3 rating with winds of 160 mph, and destroyed several homes. This resulted in 6 fatalities. The tornado continued northeastward where it destroyed several single family homes and mobile homes along CR 20 and AL Hwy 187, 9 miles north of Hamilton. As the tornado approached the Marion/Franklin County line, several more houses were damaged and at least one chicken house destroyed near AL Hwy 187. Along the Alabama portion of the tornado path, hundreds of trees were downed, and at least 25 homes, mobile homes, and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. The average path width of the Alabama portion of the tornado path was 0.5 mile (880 yds). The tornado continued into Franklin County Alabama dissipating near Old Line Rd.
In Mississippi, the tornado passed through Monroe and Itawamba Counties with a path length of 17.03 miles and a width of 1320 yards at its widest point. After passing through the NWS Birmingham CWA, the tornado moved into NWS Huntsville's CWA for another 1.59 miles with a width of 550 yards, as an EF-2. In whole, this storm caused 137 injuries and killed 23 people.
Tornado Warnings for Marion County were in effect from 321 pm until 430 pm.
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