Another tornado warning issued in South MS after day of severe weather. What we know
Forecasters issued a tornado warning in Stone County Friday afternoon, hours after a tornado formed near Wade as a line of storms moved east across South Mississippi.
The National Weather Service issued the warning for northeastern Stone County through 5 p.m. and asked residents to take cover. It said radar had indicated rotation in a severe thunderstorm that was over Perkinson at 4:10 p.m.
The National Weather Service said a confirmed tornado had formed already in Jackson County, near Wade, at 12:25 p.m. A tornado warning for northeastern Jackson County ended at 12:45 p.m. Forecasters said Friday afternoon they were still watching storms across Jackson County and asked residents to stay alert.
Forecasters warned Jackson County residents just after noon on Friday to take cover, and said the storm could send debris flying that might damage or destroy mobile homes. But Jackson and George counties reported little damage after 1 p.m.
“We’re not seeing any damage south of George County,” Jackson County Emergency Manager Earl Etheridge said.
Jackson County emergency crews were in the area Friday afternoon trying to find signs of the storm. Etheridge said they had found little evidence of the tornado and believe if it touched down, it may have hit the border of Jackson and George counties just off Old Americus Road. The area is wooded and mostly unpopulated.
George County Emergency Manager Eric Howard said a deputy stationed near the county line saw the tornado on the ground near Old Americus Road and Highway 63. But George County also had no damage reports by 1 p.m.
Howard said a few homeowners in the lower Agricola area reported they heard a tornado spin through but had seen no damage or debris. He was unsure if the tornado crossed into George County, and said deputies had not even spotted downed trees.
“We haven’t received any 911 calls,” Howard said. “It looks like, that track that it was on, it stayed more in the wooded areas and didn’t get close to houses or structures.”
The storm is part of a line of severe weather moving through South Mississippi that forecasters said may bring minor wind damage, a few waterspouts, and risk of tornadoes through Friday afternoon.
The storms are moving east and will reach Alabama later on Friday. The National Weather Service warned earlier Friday that it could not rule out an isolated tornado in Harrison or Jackson counties.
Forecasters also said if waterspouts form, they could cross coastal areas as tornadoes.
The risk of tornadoes ends Friday night.
Another round of severe storms will reach the region this weekend. The National Weather Service said scattered severe storms are possible from 7 a.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday across South Mississippi.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 11:07 AM.