Yazoo City Tornado Map
During the morning to early afternoon hours of Saturday, April 24, 2010, a massive, long-tracked, and devastating EF4 tornado, sometimes referred to as the Yazoo City–Durant tornado or simply the Yazoo City tornado, impacted several towns and communities across Louisiana and Mississippi, United States, particularly the southern parts of Yazoo City and areas near Weir. It resulted in 10 fatalities and injured 146 people during its 152.66 mi (245.68 km) path, making the path length one of the longest on record, along with losses of $409.5 million (2010 USD). The tornado occurred during a multi-day tornado outbreak spanning from April 22 to April 25, and was the first violent tornado of the year and the deadliest tornado of the 2010 tornado season. The tornado was also considered the worst natural disaster to occur in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina almost five years prior.
The path of the Yazoo City tornado
On the morning of Saturday, April 24, 2010, a tornado touched down 7 miles west of Tallulah. Over the next 149.0 miles it traveled east-northeast across Louisiana and Mississippi, passing through Yazoo City, Durant and French Camp, before lifting 6 miles north of Sturgis.
At its widest the damage path was 3,080 yards (1.8 miles) across. It was rated EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a violent tornado. It killed 10 people and injured 146.
The track, widths and figures on this map come from the Storm Prediction Center's survey record, so they can differ slightly from totals published elsewhere.
What was the Yazoo City tornado?
The Yazoo City tornado was a massive, long-tracked EF4 tornado that impacted Louisiana and Mississippi on April 24, 2010. It formed during a multi-day outbreak that lasted from April 22 to April 25. The storm resulted in 10 fatalities and caused $409.5 million in damages. Officials recorded it as the deadliest tornado of the 2010 season and the worst natural disaster in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina.
What was the Yazoo City tornado wind speed?
The Yazoo City tornado reached maximum estimated wind speeds of 170 mph (270 km/h). Surveyors based this EF4 rating on the damage observed to structures in Yazoo City and near Durant. The intense vortex leveled buildings and caused significant structural failure throughout its path. Wind speeds fluctuated as the tornado strengthened and weakened over its long duration.
What was the Yazoo City tornado path?
The tornado touched down a few miles west of Tallulah in Madison Parish, Louisiana. It traveled 152.66 mi (245.68 km) northeast across the Mississippi River into Mississippi, impacting several counties including Warren, Sharkey, and Yazoo. The track finally ended north of Sturgis in Oktibbeha County. Surveyors confirmed one unified track after initially considering if it consisted of a series of tornadoes.
How many people died in the Yazoo City tornado?
The Yazoo City tornado caused 10 fatalities and injured 146 people. One 31-year-old mother died in Yazoo City while shielding her three children underneath a mattress. The children survived due to her actions. This event remains the ninth deadliest tornado in Mississippi history.
What did the Yazoo City tornado destroy?
The tornado demolished numerous homes and businesses, causing severe agricultural and timber damage. In Omega, Louisiana, it destroyed the entire Complex Chemical Company plant, rolling rail cars and overturning seven storage tanks. The storm leveled the Hillcrest Baptist Church in Yazoo City and tore a 5,000 lb concrete awning block from the ground. It reached a maximum width of 3,080 yd (2,820 m) at the intersection of Highway 49 and Highway 16.
What caused the Yazoo City tornado?
A potent upper-level trough moving across the central United States created a favorable environment for severe weather. Forecasters identified high storm-relative helicity of 300-600 j/kg and convective available potential energy between 1500 and 2500 j/kg. A moist, unstable boundary layer existed ahead of an advancing cold front that triggered discrete, cyclic supercells. Strong wind shear provided the necessary rotation for the storm system to produce violent tornadoes.
What happened after the Yazoo City tornado?
President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster in Mississippi following the destruction. Governor Haley Barbour and Governor Bobby Jindal declared state emergencies and personally visited the affected areas. National Guardsmen deployed to Yazoo City to conduct search and rescue operations. Various groups including The Salvation Army and local churches assisted with debris removal and recovery efforts for the damaged communities.
