Deadly tornado outbreak devastates towns across Mississippi

In addition to Rolling Rock and Silver City, other towns in Mississippi that took hits from these massive tornados included Blackhawk, Winona, Egypt and Amory. (Credit: cherylvb/Adobe Stock)

At least 25 people died, dozens were injured and multiple towns saw devastating damage when large, nighttime tornadoes ripped across nearly the entire width of the state of Mississippi and into Alabama on Friday, March 24.

A preliminary report from the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi states the first tornado, which hit Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi, was an EF4 with a maximum width of three-quarters of a mile. It lasted around 70 minutes, with a path length of approximately 59 miles. A second tornado – an EF3 – touched down less than five minutes after the EF4 ended; this one with a preliminary maximum width of one-half mile and a path length of just under 29 miles. A third tornado reported by the National Weather Service touched down about an hour after the second – this one also an EF3, with a maximum width of nine-tenths of a mile and a path length of 36.9 miles. Several smaller twisters also spawned from the storm.