NWS Jackson, MS September 20-21, 2013 Tornadoes and Heavy Rain

Event Summary

Heavy, and much needed, rain fell beginning on September 20th and continued into the 21st ahead of an approaching cold front. High moisture content was present ahead of this front as atmospheric profiles showed moisture content nearing two standard deviations above normal for late September. This set the stage for several inches of rain to fall over a region that was seeing below normal monthly rainfall, burn bans and high fire danger. A steady rain fell during the overnight hours of the 20th into the 21st, bringing widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain to the ArkLaMiss. The heaviest rain fell along the Natchez Trace Parkway corridor, where 3 to 5 inches of rain fell. Some flash flooding was reported resulting from some of the heaviest rainbands.

In addition to the needed rainfall, 6 tornadoes occurred across portions of the ArkLaMiss. Just enough wind shear was present across the region as a surface low tracked just along the Natchez Trace. These tornadoes were very small, very quick and brief occurrences embedded in the rain shield. The first four tornadoes occurred in smaller discrete cells, while the last two occurred in a strong rainband. Much of the damage was minor and no fatalities or injuries occurred.

Tornado Track Map

Click on map above to see entire event tracks and damage point notation. Individual track maps also available on individual tornado pages.

Survey Information - Click on the location in the table for additional maps and details

Location	Start/ End Time	Event Type	Fatalities/ Injuries	Path Length	Path Width
Sunflower County 6 ENE Renova	7:24 pm - 7:25 pm	EF-0 Tornado 75 mph	none	1/2 mile	100 yards
Simpson County 4 S White Oak to 2 SSE White Oak	9:57pm - 10:05 pm	EF-0 Tornado 75 mph	none	2.3 miles	50 yards
Adams County 1 SW Kingston to 1 W Kingston	11:30 pm - 11:33 pm	EF-2 Tornado 115 mph	none	1 mile	200 yards
Adams County 2 E Cranfield	11:54 pm - 11:56 pm	EF-1 Tornado 100 mph	none	0.3 miles	200 yards
Rankin County 6 W Polkville to 5.5 W Polkville	2:53 am - 2:54 am	EF-1 Tornado 100 mph	none	0.5 miles	100 yards
Smith County 3 WNW Pineville	3:33 am - 3:35 am	EF-1 Tornado 95 mph	none	0.75 miles	50 yards

Local Storm Reports
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Storm Reports Key

Rainfall Totals
Storm Total Rainfall

Mississippi Rainfall Totals

9/20 AM - 9/21 AM	9/21 AM - 9/22 AM