Dramatic footage has captured the moment a tornado tore through Central Mississippi, bringing flash flooding and leaving 34,000 homes without power.
A video posted to social media shows a twister charting a path through Pelahatchie, Rankin County, late Friday evening, as a tornado siren blares in the background as a warning to local residents.
Another tornado was reported near McClain Lodge in Brandon while the severe storms also brought hail, strong winds and flash flooding to central and northern parts of the state.
At least two homes were destroyed but no injuries have yet been reported.
Dramatic footage has captured the moment a tornado tore through Central Mississippi, bringing flash flooding and leaving 34,000 homes without power
A video posted to social media shows a twister charting a path through Pelahatchie, Rankin County, late Friday evening, as a tornado siren blares in the background
Trees and power lines collapsed on a mobile home in Lake Harbor around 9:30pm Friday as a storm made its way through the area, reported WBLT3.
Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey reported another downed tree in the Castlewoods neighborhood, while the severe weather led to a scheduled event at the Brandon Amphitheater to be canceled.
This came just after the roof collapsed on a home on Brecon Drive, in Northeast Jackson, in what a witness described as ‘easily the scariest moment of my life.’
Residents in Jackson and Brandon were faced with flash flooding and the National Weather Service in Jackson issued tornado warnings for several areas including McLaurin, Purvis, Lamar County, Palmers Crossing and McCallum Friday evening.
Nearby areas were also under severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings.
A total of 14 Mississippi counties were under a thunderstorm watch at 10:30pm, including Forrest, Lamar, Jones, Covington, Marion, Jefferson Davis, Perry, Lawrence, Lincoln, Wayne, Greene, Adams, Franklin and Jefferson counties.
Authorities, including in Forrest County and Lamar County, opened safe rooms and shelters in preparation for the storms.
Pictured a tornado making its way through Rankin County. Trees and power lines collapsed on a mobile home in Lake Harbor Friday night
The severe storms also brought hail, strong winds and flash flooding to central and northern parts of the state
The severe weather caused widespread power outages for homes and businesses in affected areas.
By 11.30 pm local time, more than 11,000 residents were without power. By 7.30 am, this had increased to 34,000, according to poweroutage.us.
The tornado watch remained in place for parts of Mississippi, including the Pine Belt, until 7 am Saturday, as well as parts of Louisiana.
The NWS updated its advisory at 5:45 am, announcing on Twitter that the severe weather threat was over but urging caution due to persistent flooding.
Tornado warnings were issued for areas including McLaurin, Purvis, Lamar County, Palmers Crossing and McCallum Friday evening
The NWS updated its advisory at 5:45 am, announcing on Twitter that the severe weather threat was over but urging caution due to persistent flooding
‘The severe weather threat has ended across our area, and the last round of rain is in the process of moving out,’ the NWS Jackson MS tweeted.
‘If you are venturing out this morning, please remain vigilant for any areas where flooding persists. And remember #TurnAroundDontDrown!’
The NWS will survey the extent of the damage this weekend to determine the tornado’s strength and wind speed.
The latest bout of severe weather comes just two weeks after a stream of tornadoes and storms pummeled the Deep South leaving at least seven dead back in March.
While Alabama and Georgia were hardest hit, a 62-year-old Mississippi woman, Ester Jarrell, died when a large tree toppled onto her mobile home in Wilkinson County.