Hattiesburg tornado
In the afternoon hours of February 10, 2013, a large multiple-vortex tornado devastated the cities of West Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg, and Petal, Mississippi. The tornado was one of eight that touched down in southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama that day. It reached a maximum path width of 0.75 miles (1.21 km) in its path through the Hattiesburg area and reached estimated maximum sustained winds of 170 mph (270 km/h) in Oak Grove neighborhood of West Hattiesburg. It destroyed many structures and impacted University of Southern Mississippi and two high schools (Oak Grove High School and Hattiesburg High School). Mississippi was declared a federal disaster area by President Barack Obama, and a state of emergency was issued by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.
What was the Hattiesburg tornado?
The Hattiesburg tornado was a large multiple-vortex tornado that struck Mississippi on February 10, 2013. The storm devastated parts of West Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg, and Petal during the afternoon hours. Surveyors assigned the tornado a low-end EF4 rating based on the damage observed in the area. This event occurred as part of a larger outbreak that produced eight tornadoes across southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.
What was the Hattiesburg tornado wind speed?
The Hattiesburg tornado reached estimated maximum sustained winds of 170 mph. Meteorologists reached this conclusion after surveying the extensive damage left in the Oak Grove neighborhood. These violent winds flattened well-built brick homes and denuded nearby trees. The storm also snapped large steel light poles that featured concrete reinforcement.
What was the Hattiesburg tornado path?
The tornado touched down west-southwest of West Hattiesburg at 5:03 p.m. CST. It tracked northeast for 22.5 miles through Lamar and Forrest Counties. The funnel expanded to a maximum width of 0.75 miles as it moved through residential and business districts. The storm finally weakened and lifted in a wooded area just west of Runnelstown at 5:36 p.m. CST.
How many people died in the Hattiesburg tornado?
Zero people died as a direct result of the Hattiesburg tornado. However, the storm caused 71 injuries during its 33-minute lifespan on the ground. Eight injuries occurred in Lamar County, while the remaining 63 injuries took place in Forrest County. These statistics reflect the immediate impact of the debris and structural collapses throughout the affected cities.
What did the Hattiesburg tornado destroy?
The tornado damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and multiple commercial buildings. It heavily impacted the University of Southern Mississippi, where it destroyed two buildings and damaged six others. The storm also devastated athletic complexes at Oak Grove High School and Hattiesburg High School. It leveled an ACE Hardware store in Petal and flattened several large brick buildings in downtown Hattiesburg.
What caused the Hattiesburg tornado?
A powerful supercell thunderstorm generated the Hattiesburg tornado during a late afternoon severe weather event. Atmospheric conditions included high instability and strong wind shear ahead of an advancing cold front. A warm front moving northward through the region further increased the volatility of the environment. The Storm Prediction Center issued multiple tornado watches as these supercells tracked eastward.
What happened after the Hattiesburg tornado?
President Barack Obama declared Mississippi a federal disaster area following the event. Governor Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency for the four most impacted counties to expedite recovery. Schools in the area remained closed until February 14 as officials worked to repair damage. The University of Southern Mississippi initiated a massive cleanup effort that cost over 10 million dollars.
Hattiesburg Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Hattiesburg tornado traveled 22.5 miles across Hattiesburg, West Hattiesburg, and Petal, Mississippi. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
Did anyone die in the 2013 Hattiesburg tornado?
No fatalities occurred during the 2013 Hattiesburg tornado.
How long was the Hattiesburg tornado on the ground?
The tornado stayed on the ground for 33 minutes, traveling 22.5 miles.
What was the EF rating of the Hattiesburg tornado?
Surveyors rated the Hattiesburg tornado as a low-end EF4.
How much damage did the Hattiesburg tornado cause?
The tornado caused $38.525 million in total damage.