Birthplace of Elvis. Hope everyone is safe.
I am in Memphis now and just heard about this. Prayers up to my fellow Mississippians!
A mall, a large hardware store, a medical complex and a Mississippi Department of Transportation district office are among the buildings damaged this morning by an unconfirmed tornado that struck the Tupelo area.
If confirmed, this would be the the eighth tornado to hit Mississippi this month, according to the National Weather Service. Last year, no tornadoes were reported in May.
MDOT workers in the northern district were already at work when the storm hit their office.
“The building is still standing, despite what people are saying,” MDOT employee Dusty Meaks said. “There are a lot of trees down and some metal off the roof.”
Meaks said he didn’t see a tornado but did see straight line winds.
The tornado was first reported at 8:04 a.m., three miles west of Tupelo.
“The tornado came through the southwest from Pontotoc (County),” Lee County Chief Deputy John Hall said. “It came across the airport and up through the north part of Tupelo.”
Initial reports after the storm hit were that people may be trapped in those buildings. But emergency workers say that is no longer a concern.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
Hall said the tornado traveled through a rural area before striking the business district along U.S. 45, known as Barns Crossing. Fallen trees and downed power lines make up most of the damage in the rural area, he said.
“An 18-wheeler turned over on U.S. 45,” Hall said. “And there’s a doctor’s complex with offices and a clinic where a tree blew over. The tree fell and blew a car on top of the tree.”
Mississippi Emergency Management Executive Director Mike Womack said he is sending a team to Tupelo once the storm clears.
The Salvation Army has sent mobile feeding units to the Furniture Market on
Coley Road to offer warm meals to people affected by the storm.
Salvation Army officials will decide at the end of the day whether they will
continue feedings or other assistance.
Meanwhile, a number of northeast Mississippi counties and portions of northwest Alabama were under a tornado watch until mid-afternoon, with the possibility of severe storms elsewhere, according to the National Weather Service.
Areas of Mississippi, including the Jackson metropolitan area, have suffered damage in recent weeks as storm systems packing tornadoes slammed the state.
The National Weather Service in Jackson said the biggest threat in its coverage area included the possibility of large hail and damaging winds. The culprit is a cold front that advanced on the state from the west, bringing showers and thunderstorms.
Joanne Culin, a spokeswoman for the weather service, said most of the severe weather should end west of I-55 by late in the day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
To comment on this story, call Kathleen Baydala at (601) 961-7262.
Tupelo had a horrific tornado strike back in 1936 - fourth most deadly tornado in US history.
Bet the Tupelo-ites are all shook up!
(I cannot believe I’m the first to post that.)
My grandmother lives in Tupelo.
I gotta check on her.
TUPELO, Miss. - An apparent tornado in Tupelo, Miss., damaged a shopping mall and downed power lines on Thursday morning.
There weren’t any reported injuries from the storm, although authorities were getting reports of fallen trees and debris across the area. Officials were dispatched to check out the damage.
Officers spotted a possible tornado moving in and out of the clouds, the Lee County sheriff’s office said. Weather officials will have to confirm that the storm was a twister.
A mall, a large hardware store, a medical complex and a Mississippi Department of Transportation district office are among the buildings damaged this morning by a tornado that struck the Tupelo area.
The tornado was first reported at 8:04 a.m. CDT, 3 miles west of Tupelo.
“The tornado came through the southwest from Pontotoc (County),” Lee County Chief Deputy John Hall said. “It came across the airport and up through the north part of Tupelo.”
Initial reports after the tornado hit were that people may be trapped in those buildings. But emergency workers say that is no longer a concern.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
Hall said the tornado traveled through a rural area before striking the business district along U.S. 45, known as Barns Crossing. Fallen trees and downed power lines make up most of the damage in the rural area, he said.
“An 18-wheeler turned over on U.S. 45,” Hall said. “And there’s a doctor’s complex with offices and a clinic where a tree blew over. The tree fell and blew a car on top of the tree.”
Mississippi Emergency Management Executive Director Mike Womack said he is sending a team to Tupelo once the storm clears.
Meanwhile, a number of northeast Mississippi counties and portions of northwest Alabama were under a tornado watch until mid-afternoon, with the possibility of severe storms elsewhere, according to the National Weather Service.
There was a reason for it but can't remember what it was.
What about “Onepelo”?
Damage to Furniture Market, MDOT building, Lowes, Jim Walter Homes, Scruggs Outdoor. Track took it just north of Tupelo airport. My workplace is righ beside the airport. I have some pics but will have to wait until I am at home and out from behind our firewall to be able to post.
Have not heard any reports of casualties but there was one report that there were people trapped inside of the MDOT building.
According to the Tupelo newspaper, Building D of the Miss. Complex which is Tupelo Furniture Market’s Miss. Complex was destroyed. That is a very important business for Tupelo since it is where furniture manufacturers come to show off new products. My nephew was in MT and he came there before moving back to MS.
It was pretty bad this morning, Alcorn County, Union County, Lee County, Prentiss County, Itawamba County and Tishomingo County were all visited this morning with tornado warnings. Right now the sun is out and its clear....
Many thanks for all the updates and responses!
MM