At least 4 tornadoes confirmed in Mississippi from Tuesday storms

Published 9:37 am Thursday, December 1, 2016

By The Associated Press

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least four tornadoes struck Mississippi during Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak, and could confirm more.

The longest tornado stretched for 20.5 miles through Rankin and Scott counties, with top winds of 100 mph and a path 300 yards wide. It destroyed one home and damaged at least 12 others.

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Another twister stretched 9 miles through Clay and Monroe counties with top winds of 110 mph and a path 200 yards wide. It damaged structures, flipped a UPS truck and downed part of a Tennessee Valley Authority high-voltage transmission line.

An Oktibbeha County tornado stretched 3.5 miles with top winds of 110 mph.

Finally, a Lowndes County tornado stretched 2.9 miles with 105 mph winds.

Claiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis said the storm cells passing through the county area produced winds that downed several trees and knocked over several sheds. He said power outages also occurred as the cells passed over.

All four storms were rated EF-1 on the enhanced Fujita scale.

Statewide, 12 counties reported structure damage to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. No injuries were reported.

Officials say tornadoes up to 140 mph touched down in East Tennessee.

The National Weather Service says an EF-3 tornado touched down overnight in Polk County.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says the National Weather Service confirmed two other touchdowns: an EF-1 in Coffee County with winds around 105 miles per hour, and an EF-2 with winds from 111 to 135 miles per hour in McMinn County.

The Cleveland-Bradley County Emergency Management Agency says a husband and a wife died in Ocoee in Polk County. Fifty buildings, including a U.S. Post Office and local fire station, were severely damaged or destroyed. Multiple other people went to the hospital.

McMinn County reported at least 20 injuries with more than 30 structures damaged or destroyed.

Officials say nine Tennessee counties were hit by severe weather from Tuesday overnight into Wednesday.

John Surratt contributed to this report.