Philadelphia, Mississippi Tornado Map
During the afternoon hours of April 27, 2011, an extremely powerful and fast-moving EF5 multi-vortex tornado, known commonly as the Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado or the Philadelphia EF5, touched down in eastern Mississippi causing catastrophic damage to the northern outskirts of the town of Philadelphia. Part of the historic 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak on record, this was the first of four EF5 tornadoes to touch down that day and the first such storm in Mississippi since the 1966 Candlestick Park tornado. While on the ground for 30 minutes, it traveled along a 28.28-mile (45.51 km) path through four counties, leaving behind three deaths, eight injuries, and $1.1 million in damage.
The path of the Philadelphia, Mississippi tornado
On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 27, 2011, a tornado touched down just north of Philadelphia. Over the next 28.3 miles it traveled east-northeast before lifting 14 miles east of Ellison Ridge.
At its widest the damage path was 900 yards (0.5 miles) across. It was rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the highest rating there is. It killed 3 people and injured 6.
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 Philadelphia tornado?
The Philadelphia tornado struck eastern Mississippi on the afternoon of April 27, 2011. This fast-moving, multi-vortex EF5 tornado produced catastrophic damage on the northern outskirts of Philadelphia. It formed as part of the 2011 Super Outbreak, which remains the largest tornado outbreak on record. This storm holds historical significance as the first EF5 tornado to touch down in Mississippi since the 1966 Candlestick Park event.
What was the Philadelphia tornado wind speed?
Meteorologists estimated the maximum wind speed within the Philadelphia tornado at 205 mph. This intensity classification of EF5 relies on the extensive damage patterns observed by survey teams. The vortex generated extreme ground scouring, lifting up to 1.6 feet of soil in some locations. Suction vortices embedded within the storm also uprooted and debarked large trees throughout its path.
What was the Philadelphia tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 2:30 p.m. CDT just east of the Philadelphia Municipal Airport in Neshoba County. It traveled a 28.28-mile path in a northeasterly direction through four Mississippi counties. The storm crossed into Kemper and Winston counties before finally dissipating at 3:00 p.m. CDT. This dissipation point occurred approximately 6 miles north of Mashulaville.
How many people died in the Philadelphia tornado?
The Philadelphia tornado killed three people during its 30-minute duration on the ground. These fatalities occurred in Kemper County when the storm obliterated a double-wide mobile home. Eight other individuals sustained injuries as the tornado passed through the region. Medical and emergency personnel addressed these casualties in the aftermath of the storm's path.
What did the Philadelphia tornado destroy?
The tornado destroyed or damaged 91 structures in Neshoba County alone, including brick homes and a historic log cabin. It leveled and swept away a brick house near the intersection of MS 21 and MS 491. The storm also obliterated a mobile home in Kemper County and damaged a 3,000 square-foot mini-mart beyond repair. Additional impacts included the destruction of fencing, lighting, and sports dugouts at the Pearl River Resort.
What caused the Philadelphia tornado?
A powerful supercell thunderstorm spawned this tornado south of Jackson, Mississippi, around 1:00 p.m. CDT. Intense environmental conditions fueled the storm, including CAPE values reaching 3,000 J/kg and dewpoints between 66 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. A strong southwesterly surface jet intersected a deep, negatively tilted trough, producing extreme wind shear. Storm-relative helicity values exceeded 500 m2s-2, creating a high potential for violent rotating updrafts.
What happened after the Philadelphia tornado?
Governor Haley Barbour declared a state of emergency for 39 Mississippi counties following the outbreak. President Barack Obama subsequently signed a major disaster declaration, allowing access to federal funding for storm victims. Organizations like the Longino Baptist Church and the Salvation Army provided immediate relief and debris removal services. Federal funding totaling over $15.7 million reached victims through the Federal Emergency Management Agency by July 2011.
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Citations
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