Public Information Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 732 PM CST Fri Feb 17 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 02/16/23 Tornado and Damaging Wind Event... .Overview... Damaging wind and a few tornadoes resulted in damage across portions of West Tennessee and north Mississippi during the afternoon hours on Thursday, February 16. .Ripley Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 125 mph Path Length /statute/: 11.07 miles Path Width /maximum/: 500 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 1 Start Date: 02/16/2023 Start Time: 01:33 PM CST Start Location: 3 ESE Gravestown / Tippah County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 34.7259 / -89.0426 End Date: 02/16/2023 End Time: 01:49 PM CST End Location: 6 NE Ripley / Tippah County / MS End Lat/Lon: 34.7756 / -88.8583 Survey Summary: The first damage was observed to an area of trees east of Gravestown and just south of Highway 4 West. The tornado quickly intensified and increased in size as it moved east-northeast, approaching the highway. Two high-tension electrical transmission towers were buckled by the tornado with a third suffering lesser damage. At least 6 wood utility poles were downed along Highway 4 West with significant damage occurring to a grove of hardwood trees. The tornado caused damage to several homes in the Stubbs Hill area west of Ripley. Numerous trees were damaged and roof damage was observed to most of these homes. One home did suffer more significant structural damage when the garage door failed and the resulting wind load caused the ceiling to collapse. Further tree damage was observed as the tornado moved northeast near the intersection of County Road 422 and County Road 427 with minor damage to a couple of mobile homes. Damage was more intermittent as the storm moved across northwest Ripley, but became more widespread as the tornado crossed Highway 15, damaging a gas station and small retail store. Additional tree damage and sporadic damage to homes was observed northeast of Ripley as the tornado moved across Pocahontas Road and County Road 549, where one injury was reported. Farther northeast along County Road 500, a few utility poles were downed. The last damage to trees was found along County Road 500 near the intersection with County Road 200. This tornado had a path length of 11.1 miles with a maximum path width of 500 yards. Maximum estimated winds were around 125 mph..McNairy County Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.17 miles Path Width /maximum/: 105 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 02/16/2023 Start Time: 01:43 PM CST Start Location: 2 NNW Ramer / McNairy County / TN Start Lat/Lon: 35.0939 / -88.6307 End Date: 02/16/2023 End Time: 01:48 PM CST End Location: 1 WNW Eastview / McNairy County / TN End Lat/Lon: 35.1025 / -88.5764 Survey Summary: The first identifiable damage from this tornado began on Friendship Road north northwest of Ramer. A detached metal and wood garage at this location was destroyed with numerous hardwood and softwood trees uprooted and snapped on the property. The tornado moved to the northeast and caused damage to a property on Teague Lane. Another large garage made of metal and wood was destroyed. A single family residence on this property sustained significant loss of roof material. The tornado moved eastward along Feddie Davis Road and caused additional hardwood and softwood tree damage. The tornado likely dissipated in a wooded area west of Highway 45. The data is preliminary and subject to revision if additional information is received.
.Smithville Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.11 miles Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 02/16/2023 Start Time: 03:52 PM CST Start Location: 4 WSW Smithville / Monroe County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 34.0533 / -88.4626 End Date: 02/16/2023 End Time: 03:54 PM CST End Location: 3 WSW Smithville / Monroe County / MS End Lat/Lon: 34.0622 / -88.4465 Survey Summary: Tree damage was noted across the wooded area between the Tombigbee River and the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway west of Smithville. Some of this tree damage was likely due to rear flank downdraft winds, resulting in only sporadic tree damage. There was a more concentrated area of tree damage located near the end of Durrett Landing Road where numerous hardwood and softwood trees were uprooted or snapped. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph with a maximum path width of 75 yards. This data is preliminary and may be augmented if aerial imagery becomes available.
.Decatur County Microburst... A survey team assessed damage south of Parsons, TN, along Mays Town Road. A large garage sustained significant damage. The structure was impacted by straight-line winds on the western outer wall resulting in uplifting of the roof and partial collapse of the north and south-facing walls. Other areas of the roof remained intact. A few trees on the property were also uprooted. Additional damage was noted about one-half mile to the northeast from the garage where a single-wide mobile home was significantly damaged. Little to no damage was found in a subdivision between these two points. Preliminary indications suggest straight line winds of 80 to 90 mph. The data is preliminary and subject to revision if additional information is received.
&& 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. $$ TAB/DNM/MJ
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