NWS confirms Wesson tornado

Published 7:47 pm Saturday, January 23, 2016

The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed Thursday’s weather events included a tornado in Lincoln and Copiah counties west of Wesson.

The NWS storm survey found the EF1 tornado hit around 4:25 p.m. Thursday five miles north of Loyd Star. The weather service reported numerous trees uprooted or downed, a couple of homes with roof damage along with damage to a couple of sheds. Winds reached a maximum of 100 mph and the tornado’s path was 5.4 miles long and 200 yards wide at maximum.

Copiah County Civil Defense Director Randle Drane said one house damaged Thursday was rendered uninhabitable. One trailer shed was destroyed and three barns had minor damage.

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Tornado warnings were issued for both Lincoln and Copiah counties at about 4 p.m. Thursday, and the storm resulted in damage on Old Red Star Road and Lott-Smith Road. According to the NWS, quarter-sized hail was reported at Lake Lincoln and Caseyville.

Lincoln County Emergency Manager Clifford Galey confirmed a report of a large tree down in the 3600 block of Old Red Star Road.

Danny Sisco, a homeowner on Old Red Star Road, reported that his barn/shed and back porch were damaged during the storm.

“The storm blowed the tin off both sides of the shed and up into the tree,” Sisco said. “It pulled the power line down and tore the back patio off.”

Sisco said he does not believe a tornado caused the damage.

“I didn’t hear anything during the storm that sounded like a tornado,” Sisco said. “It was just loud winds and some hail.”

The NWS storm survey team inspected the damage Friday morning. There were no injuries reported following the storm.