A dynamic storm system produced an outbreak of 27 tornadoes from Kentucky to Louisiana on this date in 2008. Alabama and Mississippi experienced the highest number and most dramatic twisters.
A long lived supercell storm persisted for hours across Central Mississippi into Alabama. It produced several tornadoes. An EF3 tornado touched down in Holmes County in Mississippi, and continued along a ten mile path into Attala County. The greatest concentration of damage was near Goodman. Three people were injured. A pickup truck was thrown 150 yards into trees. A second EF3 tornado touched down from the same parent storm and continued along a 24 mile path from Atalla into Choctaw Counties. Heavy damage was reported near McCool and Weir. This tornado injured three people. The rotational signature of the storm weakened a bit while it was over Lowndes County, Mississippi, but it suddenly cycled up again and produced a dramatic EF3 tornado with top winds of 155 mph. The tornado reached its maximum fury as it struck the school at Caledonia. The students were in tornado plan and none were injured, but the gym was totally destroyed as well as the vocational tech building. A school bus was hurled on top of a building. This tornado injured twelve people.
At least four tornadoes were reported in Alabama. One tornado touched down in Vernon from the same parent supercell that produced the Caledonia tornado. EF2 damage was observed in Lamar County. Another EF1 was reported in Pickens County near Gordo. The storm of the day in Alabama was an EF3 tornado that cut a five mile path in northeastern Tuscaloosa County near Wiley and Windham Springs. Five structures were completely destroyed.
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