Mississippi Sets New Record for Tornadoes in 2008

[Crostorm]

(Dec. 19, 2008) - The state of Mississippi experienced more tornadoes in 2008 than in any year since the NOAA National Weather Service began keeping records. According to the preliminary count by the Jackson Weather Forecast Office, 108 tornadoes have touched down in Mississippi to date. That tops the previous record of 99, set in 2005. For a more detailed breakdown of the timing and strength of the year's tornadoes, visit: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jan/TorStats/torstats.php.

The previous record was surpassed during the severe weather event of December 9 and 10. Damage survey teams from the Jackson forecast office confirmed a total of 16 tornadoes occurred during that event. The storms developed along and ahead of a strong surface cold front and strong upper level disturbance. The front steadily pushed east and clashed with an unstable environment to produce numerous severe thunderstorms -- as the squall line tracked eastward across the region.

Two of the 16 tornadoes were rated EF2, eight were EF1 and six were rated EF0. The worst damage was across Yazoo and Holmes Counties. Other heavily damaged areas were in Adams, Rankin, Montgomery, Attala, Copiah, Jefferson Davis, Franklin, Jefferson, Lamar and Jones Counties where many structures and trees were damaged along with downed power lines.

http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/srnews/s ... ss_tor.htm