The February 24, 2001 tornado

F3Calhoun, Pontotoc, Union, Lee and Prentiss counties, Mississippi

An F3 tornado on a 52.0-mile path that killed 6 and injured 73. It was one of 21 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened

F3 tornado · February 24, 2001

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 52.0 miles

Now in—

RatingF3

Path milestones

Damage pathDrawn at its recorded maximum width, 1,000 yards

TownsSized by population today; those within 3 miles flash as it passes

Counties on the pathLit as the tornado enters them

Source: Storm Prediction Center start and end points. Times as logged by the National Weather Service. Towns are today’s Census places.

The tornado

Rating: F3; Fujita scale
Path length: 52.0 mi; Width up to 1,000 yards
Killed: 6; Along the whole path
Injured: 73; Along the whole path
Date and time: Saturday, February 24, 2001; 9:35 PM CST
That day: 21; tornadoes in the U.S.; more on this date

The National Weather Service account

Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.

The tornado began in rural Calhoun county and tracked northeast moving into Pontotoc county near Matthews.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Counties on its path

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.