An outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes occurred on Super Tuesday February 5th 2008. The worst tornadoes and majority of the severe weather occurred to the north of our service area. However, our region did receive quite of a bit of weather with several weak tornadoes, large hail, and wind damage. The worst storm in the Jackson, MS service area was a supercell thunderstorm which tracked across southeast Arkansas and northwest Mississippi. This storm produced several weak tornadoes, but will be know for the very large hail and damage it produced. Hail between baseball and softball size occurred during some of its life with golf ball size occurring throughout its life. Dozens of vehicles were damaged along the path from the very large hail.
The day was setup by near record high temperatures and a very moist and unstable atmosphere. A potent low pressure system and cold front developed over North Texas early Tuesday. As the area of low pressure deepened and tracked northeast across Central Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas the combination of unstable air and strong wind shear lead to a tornado and severe weather outbreak across the Southeast US. This was just the first round of severe storms to impact the region. A line of storms developed along a pre-frontal trough early Tuesday evening and quickly moved east across the area through early Wednesday morning bringing with it damaging winds and hail.
This outbreak of severe storms produced a little over 80 tornadoes which were responsible for 56 fatalities and hundreds of injuries across about 9 states. Of those 80 plus tornadoes, 5 were rated EF3 and 5 more rated EF4. The longest tornado occurred in north-central Arkansas and was on the ground for 123 miles and was rated and EF4. This was the longest single tornado track recorded in Arkansas since detailed reporting began in 1950.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 21:56:00 to 05-FEB-08 21:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: BASKIN
Magnitude: 58.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

A few power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 22:52:00 to 05-FEB-08 22:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARRISONBURG
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several trees were blown down just north of Harrisonburg.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 23:25:00 to 05-FEB-08 23:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: TRINITY
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

A few power poles and numerous large limbs were blown down in the Jonesville area.

Tornado in CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 23:17:00 to 05-FEB-08 23:18:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALTERS
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This weak tornado tore some tin off a barn and scattered the tin across a field with one piece thrown in a tree. Numerous limbs were also blown down. Maximum winds were around 75 mph.

Hail in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 15:00:00 to 05-FEB-08 15:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: STEVENSON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Funnel Cloud in EAST CARROLL, LOUISIANA
From 05-FEB-08 22:45:00 to 05-FEB-08 22:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: TRANSYLVANIA ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter