BATESVILLE, Miss — Three EF-1 tornadoes touched down Friday night in Panola and Lafayette Counties in North Mississippi, the National Weather Service office in Memphis says.
Storms swept across the Mid-South late Friday night, bringing winds of 70 mph to the Memphis metro area and knocking out power for thousands of people.
According to the National Weather Service, the three tornadoes that touched down between Batesville and Oxford were much weaker than that tornado, but the storm still produced winds of nearly 100 mph and caused minor damage.
The first tornado touched down in southern Panola County near Three Wheeler Rd. and crossed over I-55 at Hentz Rd. The National Weather Service also found tree damage from the tornado in the Pope community.
The tornado lifted after it crossed the interstate, but touched down again along Eureka Rd. in southeastern Panola County. Damage to trees, power poles, and roofs was noted along Dees Rd. and Highway 315.
The same storm produced a third tornado a few minutes later and moved into western Lafayette County, following County Road 317. Tree damage and damage to barns was reported between Murphy Ridge Rd. and County Road 362.
The third tornado lifted near Highway 278, just a few miles before it would have moved into Oxford.
No injuries were reported from the tornadoes in Lafayette and Panola Counties.
A Tornado Warning was in effect for the area at the time.