1971 Mississippi Delta tornado outbreak

Catastrophic tornado outbreak in the Mississippi Delta May 2025 February 2025 February 1971 tornado map.png Tornado tracks February 21–22, 1971 ≥ 26 F5 50 kn mi/h km/h on on 1 + 3/4 in cm on on 19.358 996 36 in cm in Buffalo, Oklahoma 1971 > $22,400,150 ($ in US USD)All losses are in 1971 United States dollars unless otherwise noted. note Losses 123 1,655 Southern United States (primarily the Mississippi Delta), Great Lakes region tornado outbreaks of 1971 and 1970–71 North American winter From Sunday to Monday, February 21–22, 1971, a devastating tornado outbreak, colloquially known as the Mississippi Delta outbreak, struck portions of the Lower Mississippi and Ohio River valleys in the Southern and Midwestern United States. The outbreak generated strong tornadoes from Texas to Ohio and North Carolina. The two-day severe weather episode produced at least 25 tornadoes, and probably several more, mostly brief events in rural areas; killed 123 people across three states; and wrecked entire communities in Mississippi. The strongest tornado of the outbreak was an F5 that developed in Louisiana and crossed into Mississippi, killing 48 people, while the deadliest was an F4 that tracked across Mississippi and entered Tennessee, causing 57 fatalities in the former state. The former remains the only F5 on record in Louisiana, while the latter is the deadliest on record in Mississippi since 1950. A deadly F4 also affected other parts of Mississippi, causing 13 more deaths. Other deadly tornadoes included a pair of F3s—one each in Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively—that collectively killed five people.An outbreak is generally defined as a group of at least six tornadoes (the number sometimes varies slightly according to local climatology) with no more than a six-hour gap between individual tornadoes. An outbreak sequence, prior to (after) the start of modern records in 1950, is defined as a period of no more than two (one) consecutive days without at least one significant (F2 or stronger) tornado.http://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/schneider/otbrkseq.pdf Tornado Outbreak Day Sequences: Historic Events and Climatology (1875–2003) Schneider Russell S. Brooks Harold E. Schaefer Joseph T. Harold E. Brooks 2004 American Meteorological Society Hyannis, Massachusetts 22nd Conf. Severe Local Storms https://ams.confex.com/ams/11aram22sls/techprogram/programexpanded_230.htm September 17, 2019 note Outbreak Background thumb|175px|left|Surface weather analysis at 12:00 UTC on February 21 At 12:00 UTC on February 21, 1971, surface weather analysis failed to indicate either a well-developed low-pressure area or a defined frontal boundary over the Gulf Coastal Plain, signs that would normally presage a severe weather outbreak. At the time, a diffuse warm front extended eastward from East Texas to portions of Mississippi, and a cold front extended southward over East Texas. Higher up in the atmosphere, conditions were "close to ideal" for a significant tornado outbreak: a broad trough imparted substantial divergence over the prefrontal warm sector.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 81 NOAA 1971 19–21 NOAA Saltsman 1971 15 Impact thumb|A radar image showing multiple supercells during the outbreak.|left Activity started early on the morning of February 21. The first tornadoes touched down in Texas east of Austin and north of Waco. The main activity intensified during the afternoon over the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys until the late evening. At 15:55 UTC the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) in Kansas City, Missouri, issued a tornado watch for eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and adjoining portions of Tennessee and Alabama. A subsequent watch covered portions of eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi, more than an hour before the first major tornado developed. thumb|175px|right|Upper-air analysis at 12:00 UTC on February 21 Three violent, long-lived tornadoes—two of which may have been tornado families—in western Mississippi and northeastern Louisiana caused most of the deaths along 330 mi km on on of path. The first of the three long-lived violent tornadoes was an F5 that touched down in Louisiana and traveled continuously for 102 – 110 mi km on on, followed by an F4 in Mississippi that produced continuous damage for 114.8 mi km on. A third, F4 tornado traveled 69 – 72 + 3/4 mi km on through Little Yazoo, Mississippi, and near Lexington. The three violent tornadoes moved at up to 55 mi/h km/h on on, and eyewitnesses reported more than 50 tornadoes or funnel clouds in the Mississippi Delta region alone, many of which were sightings of the same tornado. At one point, the National Weather Service (NWS) WSR-57, a type of weather radar, in Jackson, Mississippi, reported four simultaneous hook echoes that indicated tornado-producing supercells. Although authorities issued timely tornado warnings—with an average lead time of about an hour in the worst-hit areas—few homes in the area were well constructed, and many lacked basements or other safe areas, thus contributing to the large number of deaths. Many residents were reportedly aware of the danger but could not find shelter in time. As a result, the violent tornadoes killed entire families and caused as many as 21 deaths in some communities. Many of the dead were blacks who resided in frail structures. The entire outbreak may have killed 113–119 people and injured as many as 2,003 others. In Mississippi alone, tornadoes officially killed 110 people and injured 1,469; of these, 454 persons were hospitalized. Some sources listed 107 deaths and 1,060–1,514 injuries in Mississippi. Losses in the three states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana totaled $19 million.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 38, 1121 NOAA 1971 iii–iv, 1, 5, 7, 15 NOAA Saltsman 1971 15, 19 Reed Roy A Town's Luck Ends as Tornado Hits https://www.proquest.com/docview/119221898 2 February 2022 New York Times 120 41303 February 22, 1971 February 23, 1971 New York City Inverness, Mississippi 1, 26 119221898 registration Reed Roy Tornadoes: 'The Lord Was Looking After Me' https://www.proquest.com/docview/119194351 2 February 2022 New York Times 120 41308 February 28, 1971 New York City Inverness, Mississippi E5 119194351 registration Storm Data 1971 18 Outbreak statistics +Outbreak death tollStorm Data Publication 1971 Events ReportedStateTotalCounty CountytotalLouisiana11Madison11Mississippi110Humphreys32Leflore14Sharkey23Sunflower28Warren2Yazoo11North Carolina2Cumberland2Totals123 All deaths were tornado-related Confirmed tornadoes ≥ 26* 5 2 3 7 6 2 1 The actual total was likely considerably higher, especially over rural areas.Multiple sources: NOAA 1971 55 NOAA Saltsman 1971 15 On February 21, between 15:25–15:35 UTC, a funnel cloud and possible tornado may have occurred during a severe thunderstorm at Athens, Henderson County, Texas. One resident reported a "roaring" noise like that of many freight trains, but a tornado was not believed to have developed.Storm Data 1971 25 Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991.Agee and Childs 2014 1496Historically, the number of tornadoes globally and in the United States was and is likely underrepresented: research by Grazulis on annual tornado activity suggests that, as of 2001, only 53% of yearly U.S. tornadoes were officially recorded. Documentation of tornadoes outside the United States was historically less exhaustive, owing to the lack of monitors in many nations and, in some cases, to internal political controls on public information.Grazulis 2001a 251–4 Most countries only recorded tornadoes that produced severe damage or loss of life.Edwards Roger The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC) http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/#Climatology Storm Prediction Center: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes Storm Prediction Center February 25, 2016 March 5, 2015 Significant low biases in U.S. tornado counts likely occurred through the early 1990s, when advanced NEXRAD was first installed and the National Weather Service began comprehensively verifying tornado occurrences.Cook Schaefer 2008 3135 note Count 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.Agee and Childs 2014 1497, 1503note Fujita Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis. + Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office § Data from the NOAA Natural Disaster Survey Report # Data from Tornado Talk reanalysis ※ Data from the 1971 Storm Data publication ♭ Data from the 1971 Climatological Data publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable. February 21 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, February 21, 1971All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time and dates are split at midnight CST/CDT for consistency. note Date/TimeF#The Fujita scale was devised under the aegis of scientist T. Theodore Fujita in the early 1970s. Prior to the advent of the scale in 1971, tornadoes in the United States were officially unrated.Grazulis 1993 141Grazulis 2001a 131 Tornado ratings were retroactively applied to events prior to the formal adoption of the F-scale by the National Weather Service.Edwards et al. 2013 641–642 While the Fujita scale has been superseded by the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S. since February 1, 2007,Edwards Roger Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html The Online Tornado FAQ (by Roger Edwards, SPC) Storm Prediction Center February 25, 2016 March 5, 2015 Canada used the old scale until April 1, 2013;Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 Environment and Climate Change Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220706/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=41E875DA-1 March 3, 2016 June 6, 2013 dead nations elsewhere, like the United Kingdom, apply other classifications such as the TORRO scale.The International Tornado Intensity Scale http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php Tornado and Storm Research Organisation Tornado and Storm Research Organisation February 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305120332/http://www.torro.org.uk/tscale.php March 5, 2016 2016 dead note FujitaLocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord. CoordinatesAll starting coordinates are based on the NCEI database and may not reflect contemporary analyses note CoordTime (UTC)Path lengthWidthnote Width The listed width values are primarily the average/mean width of the tornadoes, with those having known maximum widths denoted by ♯. From 1952 to 1994, reports largely list mean width whereas contemporary years list maximum width.Agee and Childs 2014 1494 Values provided by Grazulis are the average width, with estimates being rounded down (i.e. 0.5 mi km on is rounded down from 880 yards to 800 yards.Brooks 2004 310Grazulis 1990 ixDamageThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Data publication does not list exact damage totals for every event, instead giving damage categories. As such, damage for individual tornadoes is not comprehensive. note NCEI F2Downtown Bellmead※McLennanTX31.62 -97.10 Bellmead (February 21, F2)13:30–?0.5 mi km on on†50 yd m on on†225,000 $†Brief but strong, a small tornado wrecked a trailer, unroofed a frame home, extensively damaged businesses, and tore roofing off a post office. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Events Database incorrectly lists the twister as having hit Lacy Lakeview.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 25Storm Data Publication 1971 #10133902 F1SW of LincolnLeeTX30.28 -96.97 Lincoln (February 21, F1)14:15–?0.3 mi km on on‡10 yd m on on‡150 $※A brief, narrow tornado tore off an awning and part of a steel roof, carrying them about 100 ft yd on. It also pulled up three awning posts and drove 2 by 4 in mm on on lumber pieces into the ground, where they could not be dislodged.Storm Data 1971 25Storm Data Publication 1971 #10134763 F2S of Collins to NE of McGehee※Drew, DeshaAR33.45 -91.57 Collins (February 21, F2)21:00–?17.1 mi km on on300 yd m on on250,000 #‡An intermittent, low-end F2 tornado badly damaged a few homes, did lesser damage to others, and felled many trees. It also lightly damaged a municipal park.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 12Storm Data Publication 1971 #9982166 F5SSE of Delhi (LA) to Inverness (MS) to S of Schlater (MS)Madison (LA), East Carroll (LA), Issaquena (MS), Sharkey (MS), Washington (MS), Humphreys (MS), Sunflower (MS), Leflore (MS)LA, MS32.38 -91.47 Delhi (February 21, F5)21:08–23:10102 – 110 mi km on on2,000 yd m on on♯48 deaths – See article on this tornado – 510 people were injured. F4ENE of Fitler to NE of Tillatoba#Issaquena, Sharkey, Humphreys, Leflore, Carroll, Grenada, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha MS32.70 -91.02 Fitler (February 21, F4)22:00–00:05#114.8 mi km on on#2,140 yd m on on♯57 deaths – See section on this tornado – 795 people were injured. Grazulis listed 700 injuries. F3WNW of Whitney to Parchman to NE of RomeSunflowerMS33.85 -90.52 Whitney (February 21, F3)22:00–22:10※8.6 mi km on on33 yd m on on2+ deaths – A tornado destroyed several tenant homes and a cotton gin, while damaging several other homes. Grazulis ranked it F2. Both Grazulis and Storm Data only listed two deaths, but the NCEI listed three; Grazulis also noted five injuries.Grazulis 1993 1121NOAA 1971 49Storm Data 1971 18Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048644 F2±E of Colt to SE of Wynne※St. Francis, Cross※AR35.15 -90.78 Colt (February 21, F2)23:00–?4.6 mi km on on‡100 yd m on on‡25,000 $‡A tornado damaged many structures, including a few barns, a brick home, mobile homes.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 12Storm Data Publication 1971 #9982167 F4SSW of Bovina※ to Little Yazoo to SW of LexingtonWarren, Yazoo, HolmesMS32.33 -90.73 Bovina (February 21, F4)23:06–00:1669 – 72.75 mi km on on1,510 yd m on on♯13+ deaths – See section on this tornado – 200 people were injured. FU§ToccopolaPontotocMS00:30–?Tornado damage was reported.NOAA 1971 29, 56 F0SSE of McRavenHindsMS32.28 -90.32 McRaven (February 21, F0)00:54–00:55※0.1 mi km on on‡33 yd m on on‡A brief touchdown produced little or no damage.Storm Data 1971 10Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048649 F1ENE of SinaiRankinMS32.13 -90.17 Sinai (February 21, F1)01:10–?0.1 mi km on on‡33 yd m on on‡With a "loud roar" a brief tornado uplifted a vehicle, crossing a road between Florence and Plain.NOAA 1971 51Storm Data 1971 19Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048651 FUW of Oxford to NE of AbbevilleLafayetteMS01:22–?§≥10 mi km on on♭880 yd m on on♭~500,000 $♭Up to three tornadoes destroyed over 31 trailers, passing near the University of Mississippi campus and through the Holly Springs National Forest.NOAA 1971 29, 56NOAA Saltsman 1971 15–17 F0Eastern PearlRankinMS32.28 -89.98 Pearl (February 21, F0)01:35–?0.1 mi km on on‡33 yd m on on‡A brief tornado felled utility wires and trees at the McLaurin Shopping Center.NOAA 1971 52Storm Data 1971 19Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048652 F2Hurricane※PontotocMS34.27 -88.98 Hurricane (February 21, F2)02:10–?※0.1 mi km on on‡33 yd m on on‡>72,000 $※A narrow-but-strong tornado wrecked a brick school. It also damaged nearby school buildings, a church, a few stores, and power lines. Roofing and assorted debris were flung several hundred yards.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 19Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048654 F3†SW of MiddletonHardemanTN35.00 -88.95 Middleton (February 21, F3)~02:20–?§3.6 mi km on on100 yd m on on40,000 $†A tornado damaged three homes, one of which it destroyed. It also unroofed a 24 by 60 ft m on mobile home, tore off most of its walls, and downed or splintered several large trees.Grazulis 1993 1121NOAA 1971 25Storm Data 1971 18, 23Storm Data Publication 1971 #10124729 F3†W of Statesville to Prosperity to S of LibertyWilson, DeKalbTN02:31–?15 mi km on on200 yd m on onAn intense tornado destroyed or severely damaged 10 homes, 15 barns, and 14 other structures, along with a spacious brick church. Half a dozen cars were damaged as well, and at least one home lost its roof. 36 injuries occurred.Grazulis 1993 1121 F2±SSW of Snow Lake Shores‡BentonMS34.77 -89.27 Snow Lake Shores (February 21, F2)~02:40–?※0.1 mi km on on‡33 yd m on on‡A tornado hit the Woburn community, between Ashland and Holly Springs, downing trees and power lines. Linked to the Cary–Pugh City family, it probably was tied to a separate storm, based on an hour-long gap between tornadoes in a 2 mi km on span.Grazulis 1993 1121NOAA 1971 56Storm Data 1971 18–19Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048650 FUSW of BethlehemMarshallMS~02:40–?§A tornado was reported.NOAA 1971 25NOAA Saltsman 1971 15–17 FUOaklandTippahMS03:05–?§A tornado was reported.NOAA 1971 25Storm Data 1971 18, 23 F3†Southeastern SelmerMcNairyTN35.15 -88.58 Selmer (February 21, F3)03:35–?1.5 mi km on on67 yd m on on1,000,000 $†A tornado destroyed or damaged about 40 homes and 15 businesses. It injured 36 people, half a dozen critically.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 23Storm Data Publication 1971 #10124730 February 22 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, February 22, 1971F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord. Coordinatesnote CoordTime (UTC)Path lengthWidthnote WidthDamage F1WSW of Letts Corner to WNW of GreensburgDecaturIN39.23 -85.60 Letts Corner (February 22, F1)18:00–18:10※9.1 mi km on on‡80 yd m on on‡50,000 $※A tornado damaged a garage, the upper part of a house, and a pair of barns. An airplane was overturned as well. Two people were injured.Storm Data 1971 14Storm Data Publication 1971 #10003138 F2†S of Riley to ENE of Wiles CrossroadsCalhounSC33.62 -80.80 Riley (February 22, F2)21:20–21:45※11.9 mi km on on80 yd m on on25,000 $‡This tornado passed near St. Matthews, unroofing a pair of small homes and a factory.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 23Storm Data Publication 1971 #10110647 F2±ESE of PancoastburgFayette, PickawayOH39.62 -83.25 Pancoastburg (February 22, F2)21:25–?2 mi km on on‡100 yd m on on‡25,000 $‡A tornado damaged farm outbuildings near Deer Creek.Storm Data 1971 22Storm Data Publication 1971 #10086663 F3Northern Bexley to NW of Havens CornerFranklinOH39.97 -82.93 Bexley (February 22, F3)21:55–?9 mi km on on†100 yd m on on2,800,000 $※A near-continuous tornado moved through eastern Columbus, wrecking homes and warehouses. It also unroofed other structures and injured seven people. Grazulis ranked it F2.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 22Storm Data Publication 1971 #10086664 F3Northwestern Fayetteville to Wade to FalconCumberlandNC35.08 -78.92 Fayetteville (February 22, F3)22:30–?20 mi km on on†500 yd m on on2 deaths – A tornado destroyed 40 homes—some of which incurred borderline-F4 damage, with only innermost walls left intact—and damaged another 325. Grazulis and Storm Data listed 64 injuries, but the NCEI noted 60.Grazulis 1993 1121Storm Data 1971 21Storm Data Publication 1971 #10088066 FUN of Cooper to SSW of Sharp PointSampson, Duplin, Edgecombe, PittNC35.17 -78.65 Cooper (February 22, FU)22:45‡–02:00※69.6 mi km on on‡300 yd m on on‡Related to the Fayetteville F3, this event may have involved several distinct, brief tornadoes of weaker intensity.Storm Data 1971 21Storm Data Publication 1971 #10088067 Delhi, Louisiana/Inverness, Mississippi 1971 Inverness tornado Delhi, Louisiana/Inverness, Mississippi Inverness, Mississippi 2 days after deadly 1971 tornado.jpg 300 An aerial view of Inverness, Mississippi 2 days after the tornado. 19 people were killed here. February 21, 1971, 3:08 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) 2 hour, 2 minutes February 21, 1971, 5:10 p.m. CDT (UTC−06:00) atl F5 1971 48 510 This devastating, long-lived tornado was of F5 intensity in Louisiana and F4 in Mississippi. It first appeared aloft northwest of Crowville, Louisiana, at 2:50 p.m. CST (20:50 UTC) before finally touching down south-southeast of Delhi. Shortly after developing, the tornado moved northeastward at an average speed of 52 mi/h km/h on, striking the small community of Waverly. Along and northeast of U.S. Route 80, the tornado completely leveled a number of small homes at F5 intensity, though these may not have been well constructed. About 3 mi km on east of Delhi, on a farmstead at Joes Bayou, it killed 10 people in a family of 12, five of whose bodies were thrown into nearby swamps and not located for weeks. It also destroyed a rural church, three nearby homes, and half a dozen large, overhead power lines, while downing trees. Afterward it mostly hit woods and farms for the rest of its trek in Louisiana, continuing northeastward. It struck the Melbourne settlement on Pecan Road, a short distance south of Transylvania, near Alsatia. At Melbourne the tornado destroyed a pair of mobile homes and seven homes. 13 other mobile homes, 11 outbuildings, and a mature pecan grove were severely damaged as well. Vehicles and agricultural implements were tossed about, but only minor injuries occurred. In all, the tornado killed 11 people and injured 18 others in Louisiana, though some sources do not list the eleventh fatality. After striking Melbourne, the tornado crossed the Mississippi River and entered Mississippi. Once in Mississippi, the tornado passed near Mayersville in Issaquena County. As it did so, it began to slowly weaken in intensity, but restrengthened in Sharkey County and retained force hereafter. It killed two people near Cameta and destroyed a cotton gin near Nitta Yuma. It then devastated Delta City, killing eight people and destroying the entire community. At Delta City it destroyed 31 houses and most businesses, some of which it swept away. Continuing northeastward, it leveled farms and claimed four additional lives, including a few at Mound Lake Plantation, west of Isola. Afterward, it entered the town of Inverness as a large tornado, destroying an estimated 80–90% of the community, killing 21 people, and injuring 200 more. In town the tornado destroyed 125–153 homes, along with 40 other structures. 52 homes were badly damaged as well, 61 businesses were destroyed or damaged, and 30 outbuildings were destroyed on farms. The tornado destroyed the entire central business district, city hall, an elementary school, and the three largest churches. According to media, it also "obliterated" blocks of frail homes in the southwestern section of town, most of whose denizens were African Americans. Hundreds of people were left homeless, and railcars were tipped onto their sides. The tornado then leveled the northwestern side of Moorhead, killing four people there before ending near Schlater. In all, the tornado destroyed hundreds of homes along its path. It is the only official F5/EF5 to have hit Louisiana since records began in 1950, the only F5/EF5 tornado to occur in the month of February, and the deadliest F5 tornado since March 3, 1966 (58 dead), though this was later eclipsed by an EF5 tornado on April 27, 2011, that killed 72 people. In 1984 and 1993 tornado researcher Grazulis rated it F4, but in 2001 accepted the official F5 rating; he also listed it as a tornado family, but a later study of aerial imagery revealed a continuous 104 mi km on path. Estimates of the path length vary from 102 to 110 mi km on. Grazulis also found 400 injuries, while the NCEI tallied 510.Multiple sources: Edwards Roger Roger Edwards (meteorologist) March 19, 2021 F5 and EF5 Tornadoes of the United States, 1950-present https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/f5torns.html The Online Tornado FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Tornadoes Storm Prediction Center Norman, Oklahoma 3 February 2022 Grazulis 1984 A-82 Grazulis 1993 1121 Grazulis 2001b 24 Grazulis Thomas P. Grazulis Doris The United States' Worst Tornadoes http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm The Tornado Project Environmental Films 3 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20080514002740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm 14 May 2008 St. Johnsbury, Vermont 26 April 2000 Storm Data 1971 16, 18 NOAA 1971 18, 25, 29, 32, 49, 56 NOAA Saltsman 1971 16 NWS Jackson, MS - Mar. 3, 2006 40th Anniversary of the Candlestick Park Tornado https://www.weather.gov/jan/2006_03_03_candlestick_park_tornado_40th_anniversary_thursday Jackson, Mississippi Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 25 January 2023 Flowood, Mississippi Reed Roy A Town's Luck Ends as Tornado Hits https://www.proquest.com/docview/119221898 2 February 2022 New York Times 120 41303 February 22, 1971 February 23, 1971 New York City Inverness, Mississippi 1, 26 119221898 registration Storm Data Publication 1971 #10030902 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10030903 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048631 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048633 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048635 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048636 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048637 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048639 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048640 Tucker Nelson 2023-07-09 Overview of the February 21-22, 1971 Mississippi Delta Tornado Outbreak – Tornado Talk https://www.tornadotalk.com/overview-of-the-february-21-22-1971-mississippi-delta-tornado-outbreak/ Tornado Talk 2025-07-12 en-US Cary–Pugh City, Mississippi Cary–Pugh City, Mississippi Evanna Plantation and Cary, Mississippi 2 days after deadly 1971 tornado.jpg 300 An aerial view of Evanna Plantation and southern Cary, Mississippi 2 days after the tornado. 27 people were killed in this area. February 21, 1971, 4:00 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) 2 hours and 5 minutes February 21, 1971, 6:05 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) atl F4 1971 57 795 This, the deadliest and longest-lived of the three violent tornadoes, was likely a tornado family. It first touched down just east-northeast of Fitler, approximately 6 – 8 mi km on southwest of Cary, and moved northeastward. Just south of Cary, the tornado destroyed the Evanna Plantation, killing 14 people there, hurling vehicles several hundred yards, scouring earth, and debarking trees. The tornado then struck southern Cary, leveling Bellgrade Quarter—a predominantly working-class, African-American neighborhood—and killing 13. Continuing to the northeast, the tornado struck Gooden Lake, killing seven people and wrecking 12 homes there. Near Belzoni it hit the Castleman community, leveling a manor there, and destroyed a few dwellings in northeastern Humphreys County. According to reports, the tornado then destroyed the Joe Regh Plantation at Pugh City, reducing frail, low-income, frame housing to "splinters", rolling farm machinery, and killing at least 21—and possibly up to 26—people; extensive wind-rowing occurred as well. The tornado left most of the 50 homes and several stores at Pugh City irreparable. It then brushed southeastern Swiftown, destroying three homes, damaging other buildings, and killing two more people. Between Swiftown and Morgan City the tornado followed MS 7, tearing apart 35 dwellings. It then hit northwestern Morgan City, destroying about 12 homes and killing three (possibly six) people. Just west of Greenwood, near Fort Loring, it tossed a vehicle off U.S. 82, killing its two occupants. Four more deaths occurred near Money. The tornado may have weakened and reformed into a separate event that passed through or near Avalon, Oxberry, Cascilla, and Tillatoba, causing scattered damage in those communities. Isolated stands of mature trees and willows were twisted, splintered, or prostrated, and outbuildings on farms were damaged. Bits of roofing, insulation, and wallpaper were torn off in Tillatoba. This and the previous tornado closely paralleled each other, affecting several of the same counties. The tornado is the deadliest in Mississippi since 1950; however, the deadliest Mississippi tornado on record in the 20th century killed 216 people in 1936. Official data and Grazulis tabulated 58 deaths, but one of these was from the Inverness F5.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 1121 Storm Data 1971 18, 23 NOAA 1971 iii, 1, 27, 29, 56 NOAA Saltsman 1971 16–17 NWS Jackson, MS - Mar. 3, 2006 40th Anniversary of the Candlestick Park Tornado https://www.weather.gov/jan/2006_03_03_candlestick_park_tornado_40th_anniversary_thursday Jackson, Mississippi Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 25 January 2023 Flowood, Mississippi Reed Roy A Town's Luck Ends as Tornado Hits https://www.proquest.com/docview/119221898 2 February 2022 New York Times 120 41303 February 22, 1971 February 23, 1971 New York City Inverness, Mississippi 1, 26 119221898 registration Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048632 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048634 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048638 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048641 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048643 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048646 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048648 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10124729 Tucker Nelson 2023-07-09 Overview of the February 21-22, 1971 Mississippi Delta Tornado Outbreak – Tornado Talk https://www.tornadotalk.com/overview-of-the-february-21-22-1971-mississippi-delta-tornado-outbreak/ Tornado Talk 2025-07-12 en-US Little Yazoo, Mississippi Little Yazoo, Mississippi Little Yazoo 2 days after deadly 1971 tornado.jpg 300 An aerial of Little Yazoo, Mississippi 2 days after the tornado. 4 people were killed here. February 21, 1971, 5:06 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) 1 hour and 10 minutes February 21, 1971, 6:16 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00) atl F4 1971 13+ 200 The final long-lived violent tornado of the outbreak destroyed barns and homes, including a guest house, near Bovina, as well as approximately 100 pecan trees. One home was obliterated, with only concrete blocks remaining on its foundation, and two people died of injuries. Afterward the tornado spent many miles over wooded areas. It then crossed I-20, destroying four chicken coops, a church, and three homes. Next, it passed through and destroyed Little Yazoo, where many homes, businesses, and a church were leveled and swept away, resulting in four fatalities. Beyond Little Yazoo, near Bentonia, it killed half a dozen more and destroyed additional homes. In all, in the Little Yazoo–Bentonia area it leveled 12 homes. It damaged or destroyed 72 homes in the Yazoo County communities of Midway, Benton, and Roadside. In Holmes County, it struck the community of Brozville, extensively damaging homes, barns, chicken coops, and sheds. It finally dissipated near Lexington. In all, it leveled many homes along the path. The NCEI counted 182 injuries, while Grazulis found 200. Estimates of the path length vary from 69 – 72 + 3/4 mi km on. Up to a few more deaths may have occurred as well.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 1121 NOAA 1971 iii, 1, 52 NOAA Saltsman 1971 16 Reed Roy A Town's Luck Ends as Tornado Hits https://www.proquest.com/docview/119221898 2 February 2022 New York Times 120 41303 February 22, 1971 February 23, 1971 New York City Inverness, Mississippi 1, 26 119221898 registration Storm Data 1971 18–19 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048642 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048645 Storm Data Publication 1971 #10048647 Tucker Nelson 2023-07-09 Overview of the February 21-22, 1971 Mississippi Delta Tornado Outbreak – Tornado Talk https://www.tornadotalk.com/overview-of-the-february-21-22-1971-mississippi-delta-tornado-outbreak/ Tornado Talk 2025-07-12 en-US Other effects The outbreak generated severe thunderstorm winds, from Texas to Kentucky and North Carolina; winds peaked at 50 kn mi/h km/h on in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, on February 21. These strong winds damaged utility lines, vegetation, agricultural outbuildings, warehouses, porches, mobile homes, and barns. At least one built-up roof was partly torn off, along with tar paper. On February 21 at Athens, Henderson County, Texas, vigorous winds caused minor injuries to seven people, all of which took place in trailers. Roofing, a drive-in theater screen, and up to 500 television antennae were downed or otherwise damaged. Hail of up to 1 + 3/4 in cm on in diameter was reported in Alabama and Ohio as well, including golfball-sized stones in Cambridge and Toledo, Ohio. The publication Storm Data noted that the hail in Ohio peaked at 1 in cm on diameter.Multiple sources: Storm Data Publication 1971 Events Reported Storm Data Publication 1971 #9976297 Storm Data Publication 1971 Events Reported Storm Data 1971 12, 15, 22, 25 Aftermath, recovery, and records An internal assessment by the Mississippi Power and Light Company determined that its infrastructure incurred the greatest wind-related damage in the company's history. Roughly half of its transmission towers were damaged in both Sharkey and Humphreys counties. The entire outbreak is the second-deadliest ever in February, behind only the Enigma tornado outbreak in 1884 and ahead of the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. February 21 was the fourth-deadliest day for tornadoes in Mississippi on record.Multiple sources: Grazulis 1993 38, 56 NOAA Saltsman 1971 15–6 NOAA 2009 1 NWS Jackson, MS - Mar. 3, 2006 40th Anniversary of the Candlestick Park Tornado https://www.weather.gov/jan/2006_03_03_candlestick_park_tornado_40th_anniversary_thursday Jackson, Mississippi Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 25 January 2023 Flowood, Mississippi 20 Deadliest Tornadoes in Mississippi 1950-2019 https://www.weather.gov/jan/deadliest_tors Jackson, Mississippi Weather Forecast Office National Weather Service 19 February 2022 Flowood, Mississippi See also List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes Tornado outbreak of March 24–27, 2023 – Similar deadly tornado outbreak in the Mississippi Delta 2023 Rolling Fork–Silver City tornado – Crossed the same areas as the Inverness and Cary tornadoes Notes note References 2 Sources Ernest M. Agee Samuel Childs Adjustments in Tornado Counts, F-Scale Intensity, and Path Width for Assessing Significant Tornado Destruction Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology June 1, 2014 53 6 1494–1505 10.1175/JAMC-D-13-0235.1 American Meteorological Society free https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/apme/53/6/jamc-d-13-0235.1.xml Agee and Childs 2014 Brooks Harold E. Harold E. Brooks On the Relationship of Tornado Path Length and Width to Intensity Weather and Forecasting April 2004 19 2 310–19 10.1175/1520-0434(2004)019<0310:OTROTP>2.0.CO;2 free 2004WtFor..19..310B Cook A. R. Schaefer J. T. The Relation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to Winter Tornado Outbreaks Monthly Weather Review August 2008 136 8 3121–3137 10.1175/2007MWR2171.1 free 2008MWRv..136.3121C Roger Edwards James G. LaDue John T. Ferree Kevin Scharfenberg Chris Maier William L. Coulbourne Tornado Intensity Estimation: Past, Present, and Future Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society May 1, 2013 94 5 641–653 10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00006.1 free American Meteorological Society https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/94/5/bams-d-11-00006.1.xml Edwards et al. 2013 Grazulis Thomas P. Thomas P. Grazulis May 1984 Violent Tornado Climatography, 1880–1982 NUREG CR-3670 OSTI Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 7099491 free Grazulis Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1880–1989 November 1990 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1-879362-02-3 2 Grazulis Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events July 1993 The Tornado Project of Environmental Films St. Johnsbury, Vermont 1-879362-03-1 Grazulis Thomas P. The Tornado: Nature's Ultimate Windstorm https://archive.org/details/tornadonaturesul0000graz registration 2001a University of Oklahoma Press Norman, Oklahoma 978-0-8061-3538-0 Grazulis Thomas P. F5-F6 Tornadoes The Tornado Project of Environmental Films 2001b St. Johnsbury, Vermont NOAA 1971 July 1971 Mississippi Delta Tornadoes of February 21, 1971 Natural Disaster Survey Report 71-2, A Report to the Administrator United States Department of Commerce Rockville, Maryland https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/Mississippi%20Delta%20ornados%20February%201971.pdf Lott Neal Sam McCown Tom Ross 1998-1999 Tornadoes and a Long-Term U.S. Tornado Climatology National Climatic Data Center Technical Report 99-02 National Climatic Data Center 1999 August 2000 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/techrpts/tr9902/tr9902.pdf Asheville, North Carolina Lott McCown Ross 2000 Storm Data 1971 National Weather Service Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena Storm Data February 1971 13 2 National Climatic Data Center Asheville, North Carolina https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html Storm Data Publication 1971 National Weather Service February 1971 Storm Data Publication National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/ NOAA Saltsman 1971 National Weather Service Saltsman E. J. February 1971 Special Weather Summary Mississippi section Climatological Data 76 2 United States Department of Commerce Asheville, North Carolina Jackson, Mississippi 15–8 https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/cd/cd.html NOAA 2009 March 2009 Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak of February 5-6, 2008 Service Assessment United States Department of Commerce Silver Spring, Maryland http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/super_tuesday.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20101204121744/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/super_tuesday.pdf 4 December 2010 Category:F5, EF5 and IF5 tornadoes 02-21 Category:Tornadoes in Louisiana Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi Category:Tornadoes in North Carolina Category:Tornadoes in Ohio Category:Tornadoes in Tennessee Tornado, 02-21 Tornado, 21 Category:Tornado outbreaks in the United States