At least 25 people are confirmed dead after a large tornado left a path of destruction through central Mississippi last Friday, making it one of the deadliest recorded tornados in the state. The supercell that formed the tornado was a part of the same storm system that rained through California last Tuesday.
The Mississippi twister spanned 59.4 miles and devastated small towns like Anguilla, Louise, Midnight, Silver City, Tchula, and Winona. While traveling at 55 to 60 mph, the tornado reached wind speeds of 170 mph. Severe storms caused by ripples in the jet stream have pounded the southeastern section of the U.S., toppling trees, damaging homes, and causing mass power outages for thousands of homes.
In the last 70 years, over 67,000 tornados have touched down in the U.S., with over 200 forming this year alone. Of these, less than one percent of the tornados span over 50 miles, making this event in Mississippi exceptionally rare and destructive. Various factors, from wind patterns to temperature, can be responsible for these long-range tornados, but the South, with its notably warm temperatures, makes it especially susceptible to high-level storms. The unpredictable atmospheric activity that has drowned California during the winter has made it even more likely for severe weather like this to develop.
The South East U.S. is also disproportionately affected by violent weather because of the high density of houses that have poor anchoring. This lack of shelter puts many people in Southern states at risk of dangerous weather conditions and makes recovery efforts even more difficult.
As warm air flows north into the Corn Belt, volatile atmospheric conditions are expected to continue to fuel thunderstorm developments. Meanwhile, residents residing in storm-vulnerable areas are advised to stay on edge and be mentally and physically prepared to respond.
Works Cited
Samenow, Jason. “How Mississippi’s Tornadoes Unfolded Friday Night and Why They Were so Deadly.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 26 Mar. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/03/25/mississippi-tornadoes-path-what-happened/.
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