As damage surveys continue following a night full of severe weather on Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Jackson has confirmed at least 12 tornadoes touched down in and around its forecast area.
According to a Saturday morning update, nine EF-1 tornadoes were within NWS Jackson’s forecast area that covers 45 counties in central Mississippi. Six were around the Bassfield-Prentiss area, two crossed through parts of Lincoln and Lawrence counties, and another was tracked in Jones County.
Three others were confirmed in Pike County, which falls in NWS Slidell’s forecast area.
Damage surveys are still ongoing from the storms that occurred Wednesday night.
So far, 9 EF-1 tornadoes have been confirmed in the NWS Jackson forecast area, with 3 more in Pike County (NWS Slidell area). pic.twitter.com/HTPeOW11Nv
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) March 14, 2026
“These tornadoes were embedded within a larger swatch of straight-line wind damage,” NWS Jackson explained. “This has made for a more time consuming and challenging survey process. We appreciate your patience as we work through these areas.”
Surveys will continue on Saturday in Lawrence and Covington counties, and if time permits, in portions of Marion and Lamar counties.
As for damage, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency released a preliminary report on Thursday with the agency receiving word of “some type of storm damage” in Amite, Lawrence, Lincoln, Smith, Pike, and Walthall counties. One death and three injuries were confirmed in Lawrence County with the deceased being identified as Anthony Case, 56, of Jayess.
Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit saw “significant damage,” according to President Dr. Steve Bishop, including approximately 100 trees and several power lines come down. The community college, which was on spring break at the time of the storms, is moving to virtual learning on Monday and Tuesday.
More severe weather is possible on Sunday night with northern and part of central Mississippi under a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5). The lower part of central and southern Mississippi is under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5). Severe storms and damaging winds are possible. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
