2011 Smithville tornado
Clockwise from top: The tornado in Itawamba County, shortly after passing through Smithville at maximum intensity; EF5 damage to a post office that was swept clean off its foundation in Smithville, radar image showing the supercell and hook echo of the storm that produced the Smithville tornado, with a debris ball evident | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 27, 2011, 3:42 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Dissipated | April 27, 2011, 4:23 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Duration | 41 minutes |
| EF5 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Path length | 37.3 miles (60.0 km) |
| Highest winds | 205 mph (330 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 23 |
| Injuries | 137 |
| Damage | $14.4 million (2011 USD) |
Part of the 2011 Super Outbreak and Tornadoes of 2011 | |
In the afternoon hours of April 27, 2011, an extraordinarily violent and fast-moving EF5 tornado, commonly known as the Smithville tornado, devastated areas of rural Mississippi and Alabama, including the town of Smithville, Mississippi, resulting in catastrophic damage and 23 fatalities. This tornado was a part of the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak in United States history, and the third of four EF5 tornadoes to touch down on April 27, 2011, during the outbreak's most prolific day for tornadoes. The tornado reached an estimated maximum width of 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) with estimated wind speeds of 205 mph (330 km/h).
The tornado officially formed at 3:42 p.m. CDT 3 miles (4.8 km) west-southwest of Smithville along the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway, before quickly strengthening and striking Smithville, causing catastrophic damage. This damage prompted several tornado emergencies to be issued. The tornado swept away numerous homes and structures as it moved northeast, following Highway 25. Overall, the tornado destroyed 117 structures in Smithville and damaged 50 others. Continuing northeast, the tornado continued across the Alabama state line into Marion County, where it caused damage near Bexar, Shottsville and north of Hamilton. More structures were impacted as the tornado approached and crossed into Franklin County. The tornado then dissipated near the town of Hodges at 4:23 p.m. CDT (21:23 UTC). The damage path was 37.3 miles (60.0 km) long.
2011 was a prolific year for tornadoes and tornado-associated fatalities, with multiple destructive outbreaks. In total, this specific tornado killed 23 people.