2010 Yazoo City tornado

During the morning to early afternoon hours of Saturday, April 24, 2010, a massive, long-tracked, and devastating EF4 tornado, sometimes referred to as the Yazoo City–Durant tornado or simply the Yazoo City tornado, inflicted significant to major destruction to several towns and communities across Louisiana and Mississippi, United States, particularly to southern parts of Yazoo City and areas near Weir. It resulted in 10 fatalities and injured 146 people during its 152.66 mi (245.68 km) path, making the path length one of the longest on record, along with losses of $409.5 million (2010 USD). The tornado occurred during a multi-day tornado outbreak spanning from April 22 to April 25, and was the first violent tornado of the year and the deadliest tornado of the 2010 tornado season. The tornado was also considered the worst natural disaster to occur in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina almost five years prior.

The intense supercell produced the tornado a few miles east of Tallulah and almost immediately intensified to EF3 strength, maintaining that intensity before crossing the Mississippi River. The tornado briefly weakened before strengthening back to EF3 intensity. The tornado intensified further to low-end EF4 strength south of Yazoo City. Several homes and businesses were demolished and heavy deforestation occurred. The tornado soon weakened to high-end EF2 intensity and gradually intensified before restrengthening to low-end EF4 intensity few miles southwest of Durant. Following this period of restrengthening, the tornado weakened, fluctuating between EF1 and EF2 strength before strengthening back to high-end EF3 intensity in southern Choctaw County. The tornado rapidly weakened before lifting north of Sturgis. Initially, there were uncertainties on whether this was one continuous tornado or a series of tornadoes, before further surveying concluded with one, unified track. Throughout the path, several tornado emergencies were issued for multiple counties.

The tornado's track became the fourth longest in Mississippi history, and was, at the time, the largest tornado in the state's history, with maximum width of 3,080 yd (2,820 m). The tornado was also, at the time, the ninth deadliest tornado in Mississippi on record and was the deadliest tornado to occur in the state since November 21, 1992, when another long tracked and violent tornado killed 12 after striking several communities. It was the first violent tornado to occur in Mississippi in the month of April since 1978. Numerous homes and businesses along the tornado's path were damaged or destroyed, hundreds of residents across the affected counties were left without electricity, and severe agricultural and timber damage was inflicted.

After the tornado, President Barack Obama declared a federal disaster in Mississippi, while Governor of Louisiana and Mississippi, Bobby Jindal and Haley Barbour, declared state of emergencies for the parish and counties affected by the tornado, with Barbour and Jindal visiting the devastated areas few days later. National Guardsmen were deployed to Yazoo City and search and rescue operations occurred across the affected areas as state officials, several organizations, local businesses and non-profit groups, including The Salvation Army and multiple churches, arrived in areas devastated by the tornado, especially in Yazoo City, aiding in the relief and recovery efforts. Afterwards, tons of debris were removed throughout the tornado's path as several businesses and homes were repaired or rebuilt, including a chemical plant near Omega in Louisiana and a Baptist church in Yazoo City that were completely destroyed by the tornado.