Tornado Touches Down in Mississippi

At least four people have died after a tornado touched down in Columbia, Mississippi earlier this afternoon. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant issued a state of emergency for Marion and Jones counties for additional state resources to help with storm response efforts. According to Marion County officials, a tornado formed in Amite, Louisiana around 2 PM then crossed into Columbia, Mississippi and moved northeast (WAPT).

Photo of tornado in Laurel. Sent in by Eric Roberts. pic.twitter.com/zFj8Pc5m6W

— Vanessa Pacheco (@Vanessa__TV) December 23, 2014

RT @RyanMooreMS: Damage in Marion County via Marion Co. SO. #wdam #mswx pic.twitter.com/azWXgV3x7P

— AccuWeather.com (@breakingweather) December 23, 2014

Another photo from today's tornado in Columbia MS #mswx #Tornado pic.twitter.com/FoBMvZY9wL

— John Ford (@jmf9527) December 23, 2014

Damage out of Columbia, MS from confirmed tornado at approx. 2:30PM.. "His house is gone" #MSwx via @Maajora pic.twitter.com/BajKYuhitl

— Jacob DeFlitch (@WxDeFlitch) December 23, 2014

Several businesses were damaged as a result of the tornado including a daycare on Highway 42; no children were harmed. The storm produced wind gusts of up to 70 mph, causing thousands of residents in Marion and Jones counties to be without power. The tornado watch has been cancelled for the region; showers will continue into the overnight hours, but no severe weather is expected. However, the Marion County sheriff’s office has advised a county-wide curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM.