National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Ethelsville Tornado - Pickens County
  6 Miles NW of Ethelsville - 5 Miles W Shaw
April 28, 2014

 

Event Summary

A National Weather Service storm survey team investigated damage in northern Pickens County and determined it was consistent with an EF-2 tornado. This tornado originated in Lowndes County, Mississippi and continued into northern Pickens County for several miles. NWS Jackson Storm Survey for Mississippi portion of tornado.

As the tornado entered Pickens County along County Road 30, multiple structures were damaged including several mobile homes and several site-built homes. The worst damage occurred along County Road 30 as a site-built home shifted off its foundation and trapped 10 people in the basement. All of them survived, but 5 people were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. County Road 30 also had several mobile homes that were completely destroyed along with one small concrete building that had its roof removed and one exterior wall completely destroyed. The tornado continued northeast across Highway 82 and began to weaken along Baines Road where several roofs sustained minor damage and several trees were uprooted. The tornado then rapidly dissipated near Tabernacle Road where only sporadic damage was found. It is also noteworthy that several damage points south of the tornado track were consistent with straight-line winds.

EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:
120 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
5 Injuries
Damage Path Length:
6.15 miles
Maximum Path Width:
500 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:
33.4894/-88.2786
at 654 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:
33.5107/-88.1759
at 702 pm


View Larger Map

 
 

 


4-Panel Radar Imagery. Notice the strong rotational couplet tighten near the state line.
This is where the most damage occurred. Additionally, a TDS, a tornado debris signature,
shows up near the state line. The couplet quickly dissipates as it approaches southern Marion County.

 


Roof Damage

Structure Damage

Trees Snapped

Roof Damage

Home Off Foundation

Home Destroyed