EF3 tornado damages hundreds of homes, injures 17 in Mississippi
At least 14 tornadoes were reported across Mississippi, including three Tornado Emergencies, on Wednesday night.
Near Brookhaven, Mississippi, a severe storm moved across I-55, bringing down trees that blocked traffic. Damage extended into nearby homes and a trailer park, where fatalities were reported.
At least 17 people were injured after more than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Mississippi late Wednesday night, leaving widespread damage in multiple counties and prompting large-scale emergency response efforts.
Tornado damage in Brookhaven, Mississippi from a tornado on the evening of May 6, 2026. (Brandon Clement / WxChasing)
Gov. Tate Reeves said early assessments show significant destruction, particularly in the southern parts of the state. In Lamar County, 275 homes and 50 apartment units were damaged or left inaccessible, and 30 roads were closed due to debris. Coaltown Baptist Church, in Purvis, was heavily damaged as members of the congregation sheltered inside, but no one was injured.
“We didn’t realize it at the time, but the roof was gone,” Pastor Jimmy Breazeale said. “Just total devastation. We were just thankful to God that we were all safe.”
A damaging tornado hit Purvis, Mississippi, impacting Coaltown Baptist Church and nearby homes on May 6.
Officials have opened a county shelter and safe room, with support from the American Red Cross.
Damage was also extensive in Lincoln County, where more than 200 homes were impacted. Local emergency management officials reported “major damage” and several injuries, though no fatalities had been confirmed as of Thursday morning. Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads as crews work to clear debris and restore power. The Cajun Navy is deploying additional resources to the area, including a 50-person shelter pod, a 30-kilowatt generator and 10 pallets of supplies.
In neighboring Lawrence County, 12 homes were damaged, and multiple roads were blocked by downed trees and power lines.
8 tornadoes confirmed from Wednesday's severe storms
Eight tornadoes have been confirmed so far in Mississippi from Wednesday's outbreak, as National Weather Service damage surveys continue.
At least one long-track EF3 tornado was confirmed during Wednesday's outbreak. The long-track tornado was on the ground for 69 miles from Wilkinson County to Lawrence County.
State officials cautioned that these figures are preliminary and will likely change as damage assessments continue. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is coordinating response efforts, including debris removal and support for local agencies.
Tornado damage in Brookhaven, Mississippi from a tornado on the evening of May 6, 2026. (Brandon Clement / WxChasing)
The storms were fueled by a powerful supercell thunderstorm that produced at least 14 filtered tornado reports across the state. Three tornado emergencies — the most severe type of tornado warning — were issued as the storm moved through populated areas.
Extreme Meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer captured a wedge tornado near Bude, Mississippi, on Thursday, while a tornado emergency was underway.
Extreme meteorologist Dr. Reed Timmer captured this video of a large wedge tornado near Bude, Mississippi, on the evening of May 6, as a tornado emergency took effect.
At least one house was set ablaze by lightning in Tylertown, Mississippi. There were 215,695 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in 24 hours in the Southeast U.S., according to the AccuWeather Lightning Network.
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