Weather Service: Single massive tornado tracked nearly 150 miles Saturday through Mississippi

Single huge tornado blamed for 10 Miss. deaths

PEARL, Miss. — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a single monster tornado is to blame for 10 deaths over the weekend in Mississippi.

It was initially unclear if a single massive twister, or multiple smaller ones, caused the deaths and damaged about 700 homes in the state.

The state’s chief Weather Service meteorologist, Alan Gerard, said Wednesday that the tornado followed a nearly 150-mile track from Tallulah, La., through Mississippi, before dissipating in Oktibbeha County in northeastern part of the state.

Gerard said the tornado was unusually large — measuring 1.75 miles wide. That’s a record for Mississippi.

The storm system went on to Alabama, where it spawned more tornados, and is blamed for two other deaths.