Mississippi: A powerful and deadly storm system swept across the Southeast and Central US this weekend, unleashing torrential rainfall, destructive tornadoes, and high winds that have left a trail of devastation. The outbreak, which began on Friday, has produced over 950 storm reports, including around 80 tornado sightings, with dozens already confirmed. The storms have claimed at least 42 lives across seven states and triggered record-breaking rainfall in multiple cities.
Record Rainfall Soaks the Southeast
Heavy downpours drenched the Southeast, with some areas receiving more than a month’s worth of rain in a single weekend. Among the highest storm totals reported were Frankewing, Tennessee, with 7.84 inches; Tuscumbia, Alabama, with 7.10 inches; and Tupelo, Mississippi, with 6.54 inches. Tupelo shattered its daily rainfall record on Saturday, recording 5.12 inches—surpassing the previous March 15 record of 2.82 inches set in 1973. Bowling Green, Kentucky, also broke a daily record with 3.3 inches, topping a mark from 1922. Other notable totals included Rockmart, Georgia (4.60 inches) and Bowling Green (3.40 inches).
Deadly Tornadoes Tear Through Communities
The storm system spawned a barrage of tornadoes, including two rare EF4 tornadoes in Arkansas on March 14—the first time since 1997 the state has seen multiple EF4s in a single day. The National Weather Service in Little Rock confirmed one EF4 near Larkin with winds of 170 mph and another near Diaz with gusts up to 190 mph. Additional surveys identified EF3 damage in Fifty-Six, Arkansas (140 mph winds), and EF2 damage in Fitzhugh (120 mph). Across the region, confirmed tornadoes ranged from EF0 to EF4, striking states like Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kentucky. Ongoing storm surveys will finalize the count in the coming days.
In Calera, Alabama, resident Tim Striegel sifted through the wreckage of his tornado-ravaged mobile home on Sunday, aided by volunteers. Similarly, in Tylertown, Mississippi, 16-year-old Trey Bridges climbed debris piles to assist the Blansett family in recovering belongings after Saturday’s twister.
High Winds and Power Outages
Beyond tornadoes, the storms brought widespread wind gusts of 60-80 mph, with a peak gust of 89 mph recorded at Latrobe Airport in Pennsylvania. These ferocious winds toppled trees and power lines, leaving over 180,000 customers without electricity by Sunday night, including 90,000 in Pennsylvania alone.
Human Toll: 39 Lives Lost
The human cost of this weather event has been staggering. Alabama reported three deaths, including two in Plantersville and Winterboro, and a third in Dallas County, as confirmed by Governor Kay Ivey. Oklahoma mourned four fatalities linked to wildfires and high winds, including a youth wrestling coach, Allen Ferguson, who died from severe burns. Missouri recorded the highest toll with 12 deaths, followed by Kansas (8), Mississippi (6), Arkansas (3), and Texas (3).
Ongoing Threats
As the system moves eastward, a tornado watch remains in effect until 1 a.m. ET for central and eastern North Carolina and southern Virginia, covering 6 million people, including Raleigh and Richmond. Forecasters warn of possible tornadoes, 70 mph wind gusts, and ping pong ball-sized hail.
This historic weather outbreak, marked by its ferocity and scope, continues to challenge emergency responders and communities as they brace for further assessments and recovery efforts.
