The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-2 tornado struck the small community of Florence, Mississippi, early Monday morning, damaging dozens of homes and downing power lines across a three-mile path. The tornado packed estimated winds of 125 mph and was on the ground for approximately eight minutes.
Emergency crews responded quickly to the affected area, where several homes sustained significant roof damage and at least two structures were completely destroyed. Remarkably, no fatalities were reported, though six people were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals.
The tornado was embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms that swept through the region overnight, also producing damaging straight-line winds in neighboring Rankin and Simpson counties. Power outages affected approximately 15,000 customers across central Mississippi, with full restoration expected by Tuesday evening.
