Storm was EF-2 tornado, weather team confirms

Published 11:30 am Friday, March 23, 2012

Wednesday’s violent weather produced an EF-2 tornado that began near Mallet and Jeff Davis roads, a National Weather Service survey team confirmed Thursday.

The tornado packed winds of 120 mph across a path 10 miles long and a half-mile wide. In comparison, the April 24, 2010, tornado that tore through Madison Parish, La. and Eagle Lake measured 1.75 miles wide and traveled 200 miles through parts of seven Mississippi counties.

Radar and the pattern of downed trees indicated tornadoes touched down near Hankinson Road and near Oak Park subdivision, according to reports to the weather service. Further surveys will be conducted to confirm whether they are recorded as tornadoes.

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“There was pretty impressive tree damage,” said Joanne Culin, a meteorologist at the weather service.

Roofs were damaged on homes, camps and on buildings at U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Research and Development Center. No injuries were reported.

Storm cells in Claiborne County about 7 miles south-southwest of Yokena and near the Rodney community were deemed possible tornadoes based on radar.

Seven Entergy customers, all along Campbell Swamp Road, remained without power this morning, spokesman Don Arnold said.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale ranks the strength of tornadoes according to the damage left. The rankings are EF-1 to EF-5, the most damaging.