2015 Holly Springs–Ashland tornado

EF4 tornado in Mississippi during December 2015 May 2025 February 2025 infobox 1/2 250 CCTV Still of the 2015 Holly Springs tornado.png EF3 damage done to a leveled church south of Holly Springs, Mississippi.jpg Clockwise from top: A CCTV still of the wedge tornado in Holly Springs, Mississippi, EF3 damage to a church in Holly Springs, Mississippi. December 23, 2015, 4:10 pm CST (UTC−06:00) 1 hour, 15 minutes December 23, 2015, 5:25 pm CST (UTC−06:00) 75.09 mi km 1300 yd mi km EF4 170 mph km/h on 9 36 2024 10922000 tornado outbreak of December 23–25, 2015 and tornadoes of 2015 On the evening of December 23, 2015, a large, violent, and deadly late-season tornado impacted the communities of Chulahoma, Holly Springs, Ashland in Mississippi and Selmer in Tennessee. This tornado resulted in nine fatalities and 36 injuries. This was the only violent tornado of a larger outbreak, and one of the four violent tornadoes of the 2015 tornado season. The tornado touched down near Tyro and crossed into Marshall County, intensifying to low-end EF3 strength south of Chulahoma, leveling a couple of homes and blowing away mobile homes. A tornado emergency was issued for Holly Springs. The tornado caused major damage in the southern parts of Holly Springs; demolishing a church, damaging or destroying multiple homes, and overturning numerous vehicles. The tornado continued to cause high-end EF3 damage in Benton County, killing many people in the county. In northeast Benton county, the tornado became violent as it swept away a large home near Hamilton. The tornado continued onward, weakening to EF3 strength as it crossed into Tennessee, destroying a large metal building and further damaging and destroying numerous homes in Southern Tennessee before dissipating south of Selmer. The tornado traveled 75.09 mi km on and peaked at low-end EF4 intensity. The tornado caused $10.9 million and resulted in nine fatalities and 36 injuries. Meteorological synopsis vertical left Day12000UTCOlook_prt.gif Day12000UTCTornProb_prt.gif 150 December 23, 2000Z Convective Outlook (above), and respective tornado probability contour (below) On December 23, the Storm Prediction Center discussed the probabilities for severe weather to materialize in the Mississippi Valley, encompassing regions in northern Louisiana, eastern Arkansas, northwestern Mississippi, western Tennessee, the Missouri Bootheel, and extreme southwestern Kentucky. A cold front ejecting from the Texas Panhandle and a warm front coming from the lower Ohio River valley, intersected by a stationary front placed over western Kansas, led to the creation of a triple point over northwestern Missouri. This set up the environment for an atmosphere conductive to severe weather. As the evening progressed, further certainty arose for the possibility for an outbreak, as Convective Available Potential Energy values of around 1,000–2,000 J/kg and effective wind shear were present for the aforementioned areas of the upper Mississippi Valley. Daylight heating in these areas gave way for effective buoyancy in the area, further improving the conditions for supercells and to develop. Given the favorable parameters, the SPC, alongside its Convective outlook, introduced a 15% hatched area for tornadoes, indicating the probability for a few strong tornadoes to occur, as discrete supercell thunderstorms were expected to develop in the area.Dec 23, 2015 Day 1 1300UTC Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day1otlk_20151223_1300.html March 9, 2022 Storm Prediction Center As such, the SPC issued a PDS tornado watch, the first of multiple tornado watches that day, for northern Louisiana, western Arkansas, northwestern Mississippi, and western Tennessee, highlighting the elevated threat for strong tornadoes in the area.Tornado Watch 559 https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2015/ww0559.html March 9, 2022 Storm Prediction Center At 2000 UTC, the SPC introduced an increased area for the concern of strong tornadoes, extending the existent area to reach central Tennessee, northwestern Alabama, and central portions of Kentucky.Dec 23, 2015 Day 1 2000UTC Convective Outlook https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day1otlk_20151223_2000.html March 9, 2022 Storm Prediction Center Tornado summary Tate and Marshall Counties The tornado touched down north of Tyro near Pearl Smith Road in Tate County, inflicting minor roof damage before the tornado entered Marshall County. The tornado did $5,000 in damages in Tate County with no casualties.Tate County Storm Events Database - Event Details National Centers for Environmental Information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/610234 2024-12-25 www.ncdc.noaa.gov left|thumb|A poorly constructed home near Chulahoma completely leveled at low-end EF3 intensity|220x220px The tornado intensified along Tyro Road south of Chulahoma, destroying a single-wide trailer home at mid-range EF2 intensity. Five people in the home were injured, including a 12-year-old child who was blown away 300 ft m on. A poorly constructed block home was leveled at low-end EF3 strength, with estimated windspeeds of 145 mph km/h on, another single-wide manufactured home was obliterated at 127 mph km/h on, and a separate framed home experienced losses to their exterior walls. Several homes along Tyro Road were heavily damaged or destroyed.2021-12-13 Mississippi residents empathize with recent tornado victims https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/mississippi-residents-empathize-with-recent-tornado-victims/article_e2c86ed7-9722-52c6-821c-de80c8a1a1ab.html 2024-12-25 FOX13 Memphis enArcGIS Web Application https://apps.dat.noaa.gov/stormdamage/damageviewer/ 2024-12-25 apps.dat.noaa.gov The tornado crossed Highway 4 west of Chulahoma, inflicting severe damage to the Mount Gillie Community Church at high-end EF2 strength. A home nearby sustained minor damage.Arthur Shay December 27, 2015 There will be glory': Church holds first services since its building was destroyed by tornado https://wreg.com/news/there-will-be-glory-church-holds-first-services-since-its-building-was-destroyed-by-tornado/ WREG.com The tornado traversed through rural areas of Marshall County north of Galena. The tornado crossed Yarbrough Chapel Road, strengthening to high-end EF2 intensity, collapsing an exterior walls of a home at 132 mph km/h on. The tornado crossed Old Highway 4, rapidly intensifying to high-end EF3 strength with maximum estimated wind speeds of 160 mph km/h on, leveling the Beverly Chapel CME Church, downing surrounding trees, and inflicting major damage to a poorly built home, leaving a few interior walls standing.Stein Letitia December 25, 2015 Mississippi family loses home, survives Christmastime storms https://www.reuters.com/article/world/uk/mississippi-family-loses-home-survives-christmastime-storms-idUSKBN0UB1KZ/ ReutersStorm Events Database - Event Details National Centers for Environmental Information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/610235 2024-12-25 www.ncdc.noaa.gov At 4:17 p.m. CST, the National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tennessee issued a tornado emergency for Holly Springs and surrounding counties.herzmann daryl KMEG Tornado (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Emergency #16 https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/event/2015-O-NEW-KMEG-TO-W-0016/radar/USCOMP-N0Q-201512232155/tab/textdata/update/201512232217 2024-12-25 Iowa Environmental Mesonet en ...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR HOLLY SPRINGS... ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CST FOR NORTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE...MARSHALL...SOUTHEASTERN TATE AND NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES... AT 416 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MARIANNA...OR 8 MILES WEST OF WALL DOXEY STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR HOLLY SPRINGS. TAKE COVER NOW. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. The tornado tore through the southeastern edge of Holly Springs, leveling multiple homes and flipping many vehicles at EF2-EF3 intensity, killing a 7-year-old boy along Highway 7 and injuring several others, an 80-year-old elderly woman was also killed when her mobile home was heavily damaged.Rufener Katie December 23, 2015 Tornado leaves behind massive damage in Holly Springs https://wreg.com/news/tornado-leaves-behind-massive-damage-in-holly-springs/ wreg.com Holly Springs Motorsports suffered major destruction, the track managers' home was destroyed, sections of grandstands and a trailer were wrapped around a tree and an RV was flipped onto one of the track's bathrooms.Wolf Andrew 2015-12-24 BREAKING: Holly Springs Motorsports Destroyed By Deadly Tornado https://www.dragzine.com/news/breaking-holly-springs-motorsports-destroyed-by-major-tornado/ 2024-12-25 Dragzine en-US The tornado inflicted in $6 million in damage and two fatalities in Marshall County, alongside 30 injuries. Benton and Tippah Counties left|thumb|Low-end EF4 damage to a large house near Hamilton, Mississippi.|208x208px The tornado entered Benton County, traversing northeast of Ashland. The tornado rapidly intensified to high-end EF3 strength with wind speeds up to 165 mph km/h on. A home along Lamar Road was leveled, injuring one person inside. Multiple trees were snapped and uprooted, another home along the road were largely unroofed and a car was left mangled. The tornado sustained intensity, destroying and sweeping a wooden framed home crossing Country Church Road, killing two people in this location and leaving one missing and another injured.Lampkin Eric 2015-12-24 Benton County Sheriff Releases Names of Tornado Fatalities and Missing https://www.wcbi.com/benton-county-sheriff-releases-names-of-tornado-fatalities-and-missing/ 2024-12-25 Home - WCBI TV Telling Your Story en-US Three days after the tornado, the body of the missing person was found.Staff WMCActionNews5 com Jones Sasha Bolton Felicia Askin Jerry 2015-12-27 Copy-MEMA: 2 missing people found dead in Benton County https://www.wlbt.com/story/30833303/a-breakdown-of-damage-victims-and-shelter-information-after-deadly-storms/ 2024-12-25 www.wlbt.com en The tornado crossed Highway 5, weakening to low-end EF2 intensity. A metal building sustained significant damage and a metal roof for a church was ripped off. The tornado crossed Hunt Road north of the rural community of Black Jack, mostly unroofing a one-story home and another home along the road sustained major damage to their exterior walls. The tornado reached its peak intensity near the small community of Hamilton. A large, well built home was swept away at low-end EF4 intensity, with estimated wind speeds up to 170 mph km/h on and multiple softwood trees nearby were shredded and debarked. The tornado exited Benton County, resulting in six fatalities and one injury and a $1.96 million loss.Storm Events Database - Event Details National Centers for Environmental Information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/610236 2024-12-25 www.ncdc.noaa.gov The tornado weakened to EF3 intensity entering Tippah County, damaging multiple homes and mobile homes, killing a 61-year-old woman. Near the Mississippi and Tennessee border, a metal building collapsed along Highway 15. Hardeman and McNairy Counties The tornado crossed into Tennessee, weakening down to EF3 intensity. The tornado destroyed a large metal agricultural building. The tornado passed south of Middleton, damaging a convenience store and mobile home.Thomas David Mobile home, vacant store damaged in Hardeman County https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2015/12/23/mobile-home-vacant-store-damaged-hardeman-county/77867362/ 2025-01-02 The Jackson Sun en-US Multiple homes and businesses were damaged in Hardeman County before moving into McNairy County.Hardeman County Storm Events Database - Event Details National Centers for Environmental Information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/storm-events-database/event-details/610239 2025-01-02 www.ncdc.noaa.gov The tornado weakened further as it passed south of Selmer, damaging or destroying numerous, including one that sustained low-end EF3 damage to its exterior and interior walls. The final damage noted was to an automobile service along Highway 45, suffering minor damage to its roof before the tornado dissipated. Aftermath June 2026 June 2026 thumb|The tornado seen on a CCTV camera in Holly Springs|215x215px The tornado damaged or destroyed 200 homes in Marshall County,Herald-Record Times EF4 tornado on Dec. 23, 2015 16:12 PM CST https://data.recordonline.com/tornado-archive/mississippi/610235/ 2025-01-02 Times Herald-Record en 145 homes in Tippah County,Herald-Record Times EF4 tornado on Dec. 23, 2015 16:56 PM CST https://data.recordonline.com/tornado-archive/mississippi/610237/ 2025-01-02 Times Herald-Record en 77 homes and mobile homes in Benton County,Herald-Record Times EF4 tornado on Dec. 23, 2015 16:37 PM CST https://data.recordonline.com/tornado-archive/mississippi/610236/ 2025-01-02 Times Herald-Record en 12-15 homes in McNairy county.Faris Maranda Tornado damages 12 to 15 homes in McNairy County https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/weather/2015/12/23/tornado-damages-12-to-15-homes-in-mcnairy-county/77782860/ 2025-01-02 The Jackson Sun en-US Samaritan's Purse sent experts to assess the tornado impacted areas. The disaster relief unit set up base at the Ashland Baptist Church in Ashland, Mississippi, carrying supplies of heavy-duty tarps, chainsaws, and generators, promising to clear debris and cover damage roof with tarps.Rucker LaReeca 2015-12-29 Residents team up to help those in tornado https://www.oxfordeagle.com/2015/12/29/residents-team-up-to-help-those-in-tornado/ 2025-01-02 The Oxford Eagle en Operation BBQ relief went to Holly Springs to distribute meals to affected residents and first responders.OBR 2015-12-25 Holly Springs, Mississippi (Tornado) / 1,800 Meals Over 2 Days - Operation BBQ Relief https://operationbbqrelief.org/deployments/holly-spring-ms-tornado-1800-meals-over-2-days/ 2025-01-02 en-US 150-200 volunteers went out to put tarps on roofs and checks on farmstock. Other groups helped distribute donated goods and meals to residents and volunteers.Associated Press Volunteers assisting storm-ravaged communities https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/12/27/volunteers-assisting-storm-ravaged-communities/77961642/ 2025-01-02 The Clarion-Ledger en-US See also 2015 Garland tornado – Another large and violent tornado that occurred three days later in Texas. List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2010–2019) Weather of 2015 References External links 12-23 2015-12-23 2015-12-23 2015-12-23 Category:2015 natural disasters in the United States Category:December 2015 in the United States Category:2015 in Mississippi Category:Marshall County, Mississippi