From Sunday to Monday, February 21–22, 1971, a devastating tornado outbreak, colloquially known as the Mississippi Delta outbreak, struck portions of the Lower Mississippi and Ohio River valleys in the Southern and Midwestern United States. The outbreak generated strong tornadoes from Texas to Ohio and North Carolina. The two-day severe weather episode produced at least 25 tornadoes, and probably several more, mostly brief events in rural areas; killed 123 people across three states; and wrecked entire communities in Mississippi. The strongest tornado of the outbreak was an F5 that developed in Louisiana and crossed into Mississippi, killing 48 people, while the deadliest was an F4 that tracked across Mississippi and entered Tennessee, causing 57 fatalities in the former state. The former remains the only F5 on record in Louisiana, while the latter is the deadliest on record in Mississippi since 1950. A deadly F4 also affected other parts of Mississippi, causing 13 more deaths. Other deadly tornadoes included a pair of F3s—one each in Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively—that collectively killed five people.

Background

At 12:00 UTC on February 21, 1971, surface weather analysis failed to indicate either a well-developed low-pressure area or a defined frontal boundary over the Gulf Coastal Plain, signs that would normally presage a severe weather outbreak. At the time, a diffuse warm front extended eastward from East Texas to portions of Mississippi, and a cold front extended southward over East Texas. Higher up in the atmosphere, conditions were "close to ideal" for a significant tornado outbreak: a broad trough imparted substantial divergence over the prefrontal warm sector.Multiple sources:

Impact

Activity started early on the morning of February 21. The first tornadoes touched down in Texas east of Austin and north of Waco. The main activity intensified during the afternoon over the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys until the late evening. At 15:55 UTC the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) in Kansas City, Missouri, issued a tornado watch for eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and adjoining portions of Tennessee and Alabama. A subsequent watch covered portions of eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi, more than an hour before the first major tornado developed.

Three violent, long-lived tornadoes—two of which may have been tornado families—in western Mississippi and northeastern Louisiana caused most of the deaths along of path. The first of the three long-lived violent tornadoes was an F5 that touched down in Louisiana and traveled continuously for , followed by an F4 in Mississippi that produced continuous damage for . A third, F4 tornado traveled through Little Yazoo, Mississippi, and near Lexington. The three violent tornadoes moved at up to , and eyewitnesses reported more than 50 tornadoes or funnel clouds in the Mississippi Delta region alone, many of which were sightings of the same tornado. At one point, the National Weather Service (NWS) WSR-57, a type of weather radar, in Jackson, Mississippi, reported four simultaneous hook echoes that indicated tornado-producing supercells.

Although authorities issued timely tornado warnings—with an average lead time of about an hour in the worst-hit areas—few homes in the area were well constructed, and many lacked basements or other safe areas, thus contributing to the large number of deaths. Many residents were reportedly aware of the danger but could not find shelter in time. As a result, the violent tornadoes killed entire families and caused as many as 21 deaths in some communities. Many of the dead were blacks who resided in frail structures. The entire outbreak may have killed 113–119 people and injured as many as 2,003 others. In Mississippi alone, tornadoes officially killed 110 people and injured 1,469; of these, 454 persons were hospitalized. Some sources listed 107 deaths and 1,060–1,514 injuries in Mississippi. Losses in the three states of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana totaled $19 million.Multiple sources:

Outbreak statistics +Outbreak death tollStateTotalCounty CountytotalLouisiana11Madison11Mississippi110Humphreys32Leflore14Sharkey23Sunflower28Warren2Yazoo11North Carolina2Cumberland2Totals123 All deaths were tornado-related

Confirmed tornadoes

The actual total was likely considerably higher, especially over rural areas.Multiple sources: On February 21, between 15:25–15:35 UTC, a funnel cloud and possible tornado may have occurred during a severe thunderstorm at Athens, Henderson County, Texas. One resident reported a "roaring" noise like that of many freight trains, but a tornado was not believed to have developed.

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991. 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments. Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

+ Color/symbol key Color / symbol Description † Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b ¶ Data from a local National Weather Service office § Data from the NOAA Natural Disaster Survey Report # Data from Tornado Talk reanalysis ※ Data from the 1971 Storm Data publication ♭ Data from the 1971 Climatological Data publication ‡ Data from the NCEI database ♯ Maximum width of tornado ± Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

February 21 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, February 21, 1971F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F2Downtown Bellmead※McLennanTX13:30–?†††Brief but strong, a small tornado wrecked a trailer, unroofed a frame home, extensively damaged businesses, and tore roofing off a post office. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Storm Events Database incorrectly lists the twister as having hit Lacy Lakeview. F1SW of LincolnLeeTX14:15–?‡‡※A brief, narrow tornado tore off an awning and part of a steel roof, carrying them about . It also pulled up three awning posts and drove lumber pieces into the ground, where they could not be dislodged. F2S of Collins to NE of McGehee※Drew, DeshaAR21:00–?‡An intermittent, low-end F2 tornado badly damaged a few homes, did lesser damage to others, and felled many trees. It also lightly damaged a municipal park. F5SSE of Delhi (LA) to Inverness (MS) to S of Schlater (MS)Madison (LA), East Carroll (LA), Issaquena (MS), Sharkey (MS), Washington (MS), Humphreys (MS), Sunflower (MS), Leflore (MS)LA, MS21:08–23:10♯48 deaths – See article on this tornado – 510 people were injured. F4ENE of Fitler to NE of Tillatoba#Issaquena, Sharkey, Humphreys, Leflore, Carroll, Grenada, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha MS22:00–00:05##♯57 deaths – See section on this tornado – 795 people were injured. Grazulis listed 700 injuries. F3WNW of Whitney to Parchman to NE of RomeSunflowerMS22:00–22:10※2+ deaths – A tornado destroyed several tenant homes and a cotton gin, while damaging several other homes. Grazulis ranked it F2. Both Grazulis and Storm Data only listed two deaths, but the NCEI listed three; Grazulis also noted five injuries. F2±E of Colt to SE of Wynne※St. Francis, Cross※AR23:00–?‡‡‡A tornado damaged many structures, including a few barns, a brick home, mobile homes. F4SSW of Bovina※ to Little Yazoo to SW of LexingtonWarren, Yazoo, HolmesMS23:06–00:16♯13+ deaths – See section on this tornado – 200 people were injured. FU§ToccopolaPontotocMS00:30–?Tornado damage was reported. F0SSE of McRavenHindsMS00:54–00:55※‡‡A brief touchdown produced little or no damage. F1ENE of SinaiRankinMS01:10–?‡‡With a "loud roar" a brief tornado uplifted a vehicle, crossing a road between Florence and Plain. FUW of Oxford to NE of AbbevilleLafayetteMS01:22–?§≥♭♭~♭Up to three tornadoes destroyed over 31 trailers, passing near the University of Mississippi campus and through the Holly Springs National Forest. F0Eastern PearlRankinMS01:35–?‡‡A brief tornado felled utility wires and trees at the McLaurin Shopping Center. F2Hurricane※PontotocMS02:10–?※‡‡>※A narrow-but-strong tornado wrecked a brick school. It also damaged nearby school buildings, a church, a few stores, and power lines. Roofing and assorted debris were flung several hundred yards. F3†SW of MiddletonHardemanTN~02:20–?§†A tornado damaged three homes, one of which it destroyed. It also unroofed a mobile home, tore off most of its walls, and downed or splintered several large trees. F3†W of Statesville to Prosperity to S of LibertyWilson, DeKalbTN02:31–?An intense tornado destroyed or severely damaged 10 homes, 15 barns, and 14 other structures, along with a spacious brick church. Half a dozen cars were damaged as well, and at least one home lost its roof. 36 injuries occurred. F2±SSW of Snow Lake Shores‡BentonMS~02:40–?※‡‡A tornado hit the Woburn community, between Ashland and Holly Springs, downing trees and power lines. Linked to the Cary–Pugh City family, it probably was tied to a separate storm, based on an hour-long gap between tornadoes in a span. FUSW of BethlehemMarshallMS~02:40–?§A tornado was reported. FUOaklandTippahMS03:05–?§A tornado was reported. F3†Southeastern SelmerMcNairyTN03:35–?†A tornado destroyed or damaged about 40 homes and 15 businesses. It injured 36 people, half a dozen critically.

February 22 event + Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, February 22, 1971F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Time (UTC)Path lengthWidthDamage F1WSW of Letts Corner to WNW of GreensburgDecaturIN18:00–18:10※‡‡※A tornado damaged a garage, the upper part of a house, and a pair of barns. An airplane was overturned as well. Two people were injured. F2†S of Riley to ENE of Wiles CrossroadsCalhounSC21:20–21:45※‡This tornado passed near St. Matthews, unroofing a pair of small homes and a factory. F2±ESE of PancoastburgFayette, PickawayOH21:25–?‡‡‡A tornado damaged farm outbuildings near Deer Creek. F3Northern Bexley to NW of Havens CornerFranklinOH21:55–?†※A near-continuous tornado moved through eastern Columbus, wrecking homes and warehouses. It also unroofed other structures and injured seven people. Grazulis ranked it F2. F3Northwestern Fayetteville to Wade to FalconCumberlandNC22:30–?†2 deaths – A tornado destroyed 40 homes—some of which incurred borderline-F4 damage, with only innermost walls left intact—and damaged another 325. Grazulis and Storm Data listed 64 injuries, but the NCEI noted 60. FUN of Cooper to SSW of Sharp PointSampson, Duplin, Edgecombe, PittNC22:45‡–02:00※‡‡Related to the Fayetteville F3, this event may have involved several distinct, brief tornadoes of weaker intensity.

Delhi, Louisiana/Inverness, Mississippi