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Tornado in Prentiss County, Mississippi
30 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 30 tornado events in Prentiss County, Mississippi, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 22 years.
December is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,532 tornado events recorded in Mississippi; its 7.2 per 100 square miles compares with 7.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 7 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Mississippi
| Measure | Prentiss County | Mississippi | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 30 | 3,532 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.2 | 7.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.0 | 12.0 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 537 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | December | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
5Feb
1Mar
3Apr
3May
2Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
2Oct
1Nov
5Dec
6
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 30 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF3 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F3 | $2.0M | — | — | 30 | County |
| 8 Nov 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 1987 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 15 Dec 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 1975 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1972 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 Sep 1972 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 23 Apr 1967 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 18 Nov 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 14 Mar 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | 1 | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Prentiss County had?
30 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Prentiss County?
11 Dec 2021 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Prentiss County?
The tornado of 24 Feb 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.0M.
How does Prentiss County compare with Mississippi for tornado?
7.2 events per 100 square miles against 7.5 statewide; the county holds 30 of the state's 3,532 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.