Saturday morning came as a welcome respite from what four straight days of miserable weather. It’s tornado season in Mississippi, and non-natives have a rough time getting used to the frequency of the twisters.

Tornados were rare in New York. However, in high school, while sitting in French class, the skies grew dark, the windows shook, the wind howled and, dare I say, it sounded like a freight train.

Damage was minimal, but imagine the questioning looks as to what just happened. Imagine getting two feet of snow over a January weekend in Bovina, then looking at your neighbor saying, “What now?”

I’ve learned since then of the strong possibility of seeing or living through a tornado as long as Mississippi is home.

On Wednesday night, the second of four nights of disastrous weather, the small town of Magee — located about 40 miles north of Hattiesburg on U.S. 49 — took the worst of the storms. Several were hurt, houses destroyed and lives turned upside-down.

Those who live in Vicksburg with hair grayer than mine will remember the worst of the worst tornados this town has ever seen. Younger generations need only visit the murals at City Front to get a snapshot of the destruction, then visit with someone who lived through that tornado more than 50 years ago.

It’s amazing looking toward the east Saturday morning as the last bank of clouds has drifted away, the deep blue sky and brilliant sunshine proof of how fast things change here in Mississippi. This morning is supposed to be the same — brilliant blue and radiant sun.

Take a moment this morning to look out the window while sipping on a cup of coffee, give thanks for again dodging the potential life-altering event for the past four days. Think of the people in Magee who likely are right now sifting through what’s left and asking as so many do: “Why us?”

It’s tornado season in Mississippi and it will be here for a while longer. Soon it will be blazing hot with humidity levels not fit for humans.

When Mother Nature is good to us in Mississippi there are few places better.

But when she rears her ugly head — the heat, tornados and hurricanes — it is miserable.

The most frightening is that the changes can occur in an instant, with little warning.

In the end, every one of us is at the mercy of nature’s fury.

Sean P. Murphy is Web editor of The Vicksburg Post. Write to him at Box 821668, Vicksburg, MS 39182, or e-mail smurphy@vicksburgpost.com..