A historic outbreak of tornadoes across the Ark-La-Miss began late on Tuesday, April 26th continuing into the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 27th. The event ramped up again during the early afternoon of April 27th continuing into the early evening. The activity on April 26th began as supercell thunderstorms producing large hail and tornadoes across northeast Texas and portions of Arkansas before evolving into a squall line as it moved east. This line of storms had multiple stages of evolution and moved across several states before dissipating. This line was very efficient in producing wind damage as it pushed east. More impressively, this line was responsible for 21 of the 32 tornadoes that occurred across the Ark-La-Miss during this event. Of those 21, 11 were rated as strong (EF2, EF3) tornadoes and had fairly long path lengths.
The atmosphere reloaded quickly Wednesday morning and became increasingly favorable for more severe storms by early afternoon. The driving force for the activity Wednesday afternoon was a potent shortwave and deep surface low that intensified during the day. The winds in the mid levels of the atmosphere increased to 80-100 mph helping to deepen the surface low further, which in turn caused the low level winds to become stronger. The wind shear caused by the turning of the winds from south near the surface to westerly aloft was at rare levels for late April over the Deep South. In addition, an abundance of low level moisture returned to the area in wake of the morning complex. Sunny skies during the morning interacted with the high levels of low level moisture eventually leading to a very unstable air mass by early afternoon. The result was an extremely rare mix of instability and wind shear. These ingredients, along with lift from a potent upper disturbance, ultimately led to the historic tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011.
By early afternoon, several discrete supercell thunderstorms were developing across central and eastern Mississippi. It did not take long for these storms to take on ���classic��� supercell structures and begin producing tornadoes. The first tornado of the afternoon started in Neshoba County on the north side of Philadelphia. This tornado ended up producing EF-5 damage and tracked for 29 miles across Neshoba, Kemper, Winston and Noxubee Counties. Through the rest of the afteroon multiple tornadoes developed, stemming from multiple supercell storms. Nearly all of the storms produced tornadoes, with many of them long track and significant. The other violent tornado to impact the Jackson, MS forecast area occurred across Smith, Jasper, and Clarke Counties. This tornado continued into Alabama and had a total path length of 124 miles across both states.
Loss of life during this historic event was staggering. 321 people lost their lives making this the second deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. The March 18, 1925 Tri-State tornado outbreak is first with 747 fatalities. This marks the first EF-5 tornado in Mississippi since the Candlestick Park tornado on May 3, 1966, and this marks the first time since statistics have been kept that two EF-5 tornadoes have been recorded on the same day in Mississippi, with the tornado in Smithville also rated as EF-5. Incredibly, 4 tornadoes had path lengths over 100 miles across the southern states during this event, and all 4 of these were rated either EF-4 or EF-5.

Tornado in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 21:45:00 to 26-APR-11 21:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: STEVENSON
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 300.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado began in Morehouse Parish, LA before crossing into Ashley County, AR. The tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees along the path, a mobile home was damaged, and roof damage occurred to a few structures. Similar damage occurred after the tornado crossed the state line into AR. Maximum winds were around 110 mph. Total path length was 12 miles.

Hail in WEST CARROLL, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 22:57:00 to 26-APR-11 22:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAR SKIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Tornado in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 21:44:00 to 26-APR-11 21:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: PT PLEASANT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This weak tornado occurred to the west of Bastrop and mostly downed large limbs along with a few snapped or uprooted trees. Some minor roof damage was also noted to a few homes. Maximum winds were around 80 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 21:44:00 to 26-APR-11 21:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPYKER
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 60.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.

Tornado in WEST CARROLL, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 23:03:00 to 26-APR-11 23:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: DARNELL
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Darnell Community and tracked into East Carroll Parish before dissipating. Eight power poles were snapped and several sheds/barns had roof damage with two destroyed. Two grain storage bins were severely damaged and siding damage occurred to a volunteer fire dept building in the Bowie Community in East Carroll Parish. Additionally, numerous trees and power lines were snapped and uprooted along the path. Maximum winds were around 115 mph. Total path length was 11 miles.

Thunderstorm Wind in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 22:40:00 to 26-APR-11 22:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK RIDGE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WEST CARROLL, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 23:00:00 to 26-APR-11 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAK GROVE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 00:10:00 to 27-APR-11 00:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: BASKIN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 125.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees and power lines were blown down with some trees down on homes.

Flash Flood in MOREHOUSE, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 00:20:00 to 27-APR-11 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: MER ROUGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rainfall caused a few roads around Mer Rouge to be covered by water.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 00:50:00 to 27-APR-11 00:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: WINNSBORO
Magnitude: 68.00 EG
Property damage: 280.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down, some trees were down on homes.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 23:40:00 to 26-APR-11 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: TALLULAH
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A few trees were blown down.

Tornado in EAST CARROLL, LOUISIANA
From 26-APR-11 23:11:00 to 26-APR-11 23:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: BOWIE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Darnell Community and tracked into East Carroll Parish before dissipating. Eight power poles were snapped and several sheds/barns had roof damage with two destroyed. Two grain storage bins were severely damaged and siding damage occurred to a volunteer fire dept building in the Bowie Community in East Carroll Parish. Additionally, numerous trees and power lines were snapped and uprooted along the path. Maximum winds were around 115 mph. Total path length was 11 miles.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 00:33:00 to 27-APR-11 00:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUEBEC
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Roughly 20 trees were blown down across roads along with several power lines down. A couple trees were down on homes with eight other homes sustaining shingle damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in FRANKLIN, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 01:20:00 to 27-APR-11 01:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: WISNER
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 01:30:00 to 27-APR-11 01:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARRISONBURG
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in TENSAS, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 01:24:00 to 27-APR-11 01:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWELLTON
Magnitude: 53.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A few trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CATAHOULA, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 02:05:00 to 27-APR-11 02:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUAID
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Two mobile homes were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in MADISON, LOUISIANA
From 27-APR-11 04:55:00 to 27-APR-11 04:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUIMBY
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A few trees and power lines were blown down.