NWS confirms long-track EF3 tornado in Mississippi outbreak
The National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi, determined after additional damage surveys that two EF3 tornado tracks documented during the May 6-7, 2026, severe weather outbreak were part of one continuous long-track tornado. Survey teams also confirmed an EF2 tornado near Purvis in Lamar County as assessments continued across southern Mississippi.
MEMA reported 17 storm-related injuries statewide from the May 6-7 severe weather event, including 12 in Lincoln County, 4 in Lamar County, and 1 in Franklin County. The wider MEMA count includes injuries outside the five-tornado NWS Jackson survey summary, which listed 13 tornado-related injuries along the confirmed tornado paths.
Preliminary state damage assessments showed nearly 500 homes damaged across several Mississippi counties, but the total was not limited to the two EF3 tornado tracks.
Lamar County reported about 275 damaged homes and 50 damaged or inaccessible apartment units near Purvis, while Lincoln County reported more than 200 damaged homes in areas affected by the second EF3 tornado, including the Bogue Chitto area. Lawrence County reported 12 damaged homes.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Jackson initially confirmed two EF3 tornadoes, two EF1 tornadoes, and one EF0 tornado on May 7 within its jurisdiction.
The first EF3 tornado developed at 18:41 CDT, approximately 9.7 km (6 miles) ENE of Dolorosa in Wilkinson County and tracked 49.4 km (30.7 miles) before dissipating southeast of Bude in Franklin County at 19:27 CDT. It had estimated peak winds of 219 km/h (136 mph) and expanded to a maximum width of 1.4 km (0.9 miles) as it crossed northern Wilkinson County, far southeastern Adams County, and portions of southern and central Franklin County.
“The basis for the EF3 rating was an area of nearly complete devastation to mixed forest, including some instances of debarking, east of the Garden City community,” NWS said. “There was also EF2 structural damage in the Garden City community, where one injury occurred,” they added.
A second EF3 tornado formed at 19:32 CDT south of McCall Creek in eastern Franklin County and tracked a path of 57.8 km (35.9 miles) before lifting just south of Monticello in Lawrence County at 20:31 CDT.
Estimated peak winds reached 220 km/h (137 mph), with a maximum width of 1.9 km (1.17 miles). It injured at least 12 people along a path extending through Franklin, Lincoln, and Lawrence counties. It tracked eastward through the West Lincoln area and the corridor between Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto before continuing near Enterprise, East Lincoln, and Harmony into western Lawrence County.
Western Lincoln County near Jackson, Liberty Drive SW, was the worst-hit, with at least two truss transmission towers being damaged. One tower was bent, and the other tower collapsed.
An EF0 tornado developed at 20:54 CDT on the south side of Prentiss in Jefferson Davis County and remained on the ground for 6 km (3.7 miles) before dissipating east-southeast of the city six minutes later. It had estimated peak winds of 137 km/h (85 mph) and reached a maximum width of 183 m (600 feet).
“This tornado began on the south side of Prentiss near MS Hwy 13, tracking across Old Highway 13, Tom Bullock Rd, and MS Hwy 42. A storm chaser observed turbulent debris and power flashes,” said the NWS.
An EF1 tornado developed at 21:10 CDT approximately 11.3 km (7 miles) NNE of Bassfield in Covington County and tracked 3.2 km (2 miles) before dissipating four minutes later. Estimated peak winds reached 145 km/h (90 mph) with a maximum width of 274 m (900 feet). Survey teams reported uprooted hardwood trees and roof damage to a shed after the tornado crossed Wilson Road near Burkhalter Road.
Another EF1 tornado formed at 22:55 CDT, approximately 8 km (5 miles) north of Salem in Walthall County and continued into Marion County before dissipating at 23:11 CDT, approximately 12.9 km (8 miles) ENE of Salem.
It tracked 12.4 km (7.7 miles), reaching estimated peak winds of 142 km/h (88 mph) and a maximum width of 91 m (300 feet).
NWS survey teams said the Darbun tornado crossed both the Jackson and Slidell forecast areas. The damage path began near Mississippi Highway 27, where multiple trees leaned in a converging pattern with large branches broken. Significant tree damage was also recorded along Jordan, Sauls, and Dan Holmes roads before the tornado crossed Reid Road, Bracey Road, and Rowley Road in Marion County and dissipated near Circle Bar Road.
Update
17:23 UTC, May 9
NWS office in Jackson said further damage assessments determined the two previously identified EF3 tornado tracks from the May 6–7 severe weather outbreak were part of one continuous long-track tornado. Survey teams also confirmed an EF2 tornado near Purvis in Lamar County.
References:
1 Public Information Statement – NWS – May 7, 2026
Feature image credit: LSM
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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