Friday, April 17, 2020

Satellite Images Show the Scar From Long-Track EF4 Mississippi Tornado on Easter Sunday


Chris Dolce
Published: April 15, 2020



New satellite images are providing a before and after view of the damage from this week's tornado outbreak in the South, including the massive scar from a violent twister that tracked dozens of miles in southern Mississippi on Easter Sunday.
The first comparison below shows the scar from an EF4 tornado that developed just southwest of Bassfield, Mississippi, on Sunday, April 12. From there, the tornado moved northeastward and carved a nearly 68-mile-long path that had a maximum width of two miles. It caused damaged in areas near Seminary and Soso before it dissipated just to the north-northeast of Pachuta.
When many trees are damaged or destroyed by a tornado, the twister's narrow path can stand out on satellite next to the trees that remain standing. This is evident in the comparison using NASA Modis satellite images. The arrows in the comparison point to downed trees and other damage in the tornado's path on April 14. This stands out in stark contrast to the deep green of the same trees when they were still standing in the image from April 11.
Intense tornadoes that remain on the ground for a long distance have a higher chance of producing a damage path that's visible on satellite. That is particularly true in regions like the South where dense forest exists.
Additional close-up satellite images have been provided by Maxar Technologies to show some of the hardest hit areas in the tornado outbreak.
The image below shows a home and other buildings completely swept away near Seminary, Mississippi. It's from the same tornado that caused the scar in the satellite image above.
The next comparison shows the damage inflicted to a farm and trees near Collins, Mississippi.
A damaged neighborhood located just east of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is shown next. The National Weather Service found EF3 damage in the areas hardest hit along this tornado's path.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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