‘It’s just a reminder of how powerful these storms are and how far they can carry things and drop them off. It gives a whole new meaning to Air Mail, doesn’t it?’

A Mississippi church was flattened on Dec. 28 as an outbreak of tornadoes passed through parts of the state and some of the contents of the church were found scattered in Rankin County up to about 80 miles away.

“There was a confirmed EF1 (tornado) that touched down within a mile of me,” said Ricky Flynt of Brandon. “We had some pretty intense winds for a minute or two.

“It didn’t get to us until about 10 minutes after seven o’clock. I think it came through Meadville about five.”

Flynt had been monitoring the weather as the deadly storms passed through Mississippi killing two people and injuring another 10. However, he didn’t know there was a connection between the weather that struck his area and the storm that struck the Meadville area and flattened a church until the next morning.

More: NWS confirms 22 tornadoes hit Mississippi Saturday, causing 2 deaths, injuries and damage

Tornado drops check from 1984 in Brandon, MS resident’s driveway

“I came out the next morning after it was light just to confirm any damage and to look around,” Flynt said. “Right there in my driveway was this folded-up, cancelled check.”

The check was from the now-flattened O’Zion Baptist Church located near Meadville and was written to the Franklin County Baptist Association in 1984. It had travelled just over 80 miles and wasn’t the only cancelled check found in the area.

“Since, I’ve heard about five or six checks landing in the Brandon area,” Flynt said. “It’s pretty crazy. Whatever was in that church got up into the atmosphere and was deposited in the Brandon area.”

Elvis at 90: Decade-by-decade milestones in the life — and afterlife — of the King

MS man finds tornado-blown check while scouting for deer

John Beggerly of Florence found another check on Wednesday just east of Byram while scouting for a place to hunt on his family farm. It was written in 1982.

“That was one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever experienced,” Beggerly said. “I was on the edge of the woods in a pasture on our farm. I saw a piece of paper and it was sticking up.”

He said he picked it up and realized what it was because he’d seen a social media post about the check Flynt had found.

“It’s amazing how far stuff can travel,” Beggarly said. “I think it was 60 1/2 miles from the church to where I found it — pretty wild.”

Tornadoes can carry objects hundreds of miles

Pretty wild it is. According to Latrice Maxie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, debris can go remain aloft high in the sky for very long distances.

“They’re probably getting pulled up hundreds of feet, for sure,” Maxie said. “The circulations are much higher, but the tornadoes themselves can loft debris a couple of hundred feet in the air.”

In long-track tornadoes, Maxie said she’s heard of letters being found hundreds of miles from where they originated.

“It’s not uncommon for (tornadoes) that stay on the ground for a while,” Maxie said.

That was the case in spring of 2023 when a tornado struck the home of Susan Perry in Rolling Fork and scattered photos and other items of hers over a 200-mile track.

“It’s unbelievable that people are finding this,” Perry told The Clarion Ledger at the time. “It just amazes me that these things can travel so far.”

Pastor of MS church destroyed by tornado wants to use checks to tell story of event

Lance Moak is the pastor of O’Zion Baptist Church and said the checks were stored in the church on shelf above filing cabinets. He said everything on the shelf is gone, but checks keep showing up.

“I had one gentleman call me from Florence at 10:50 on Monday night,” Moak said. “He’d found a check from 1990 made out to one of our former pastors.

“It’s just a reminder of how powerful these storms are and how far they can carry things and drop them off. It gives a whole new meaning to Air Mail, doesn’t it? “

Like Flynt and Beggerly, the caller said he’d return the check. Those checks and others will serve as somewhat of a memorial.

“He’s actually going to mail that check back so we can put it up in the new church to tell about the history of this happening,” Moak said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for those wishing to provide financial aid to rebuild O’Zion Baptist Church.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – With the city of New Orleans experiencing a tragedy, the Mississippi community is stepping up to do its part.

Mississippi Blood Services is working diligently to collect blood supply products to send to The Blood Center of New Orleans.

Mississippi Blood Services needs O and B blood types as well as platelets.

If you are eligible and looking to donate, the center is in Flowood on Lakeland Drive.

Kasey Dickson with Mississippi Blood Services wants to stress that it is a true human action to be able to give to another person in need.

“Right now, as a result of the casualties that had taken place down in New Orleans over the holiday weekend, it’s important to supply those blood products.”

The center is hoping their loyal donors who have helped with past incidents will be able to help now.

Again, if you are eligible, visit the Mississippi Blood Services in Flowood.

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How soon will the polar vortex reach the South? An Arctic Express cold snap is set to hit the southern U.S. in the first full week of January. How could that affect Mississippi? Here’s what we know.

According to AccuWeather, temperature drops could make this the coldest January on record since 2011 across the U.S. Most of Mississippi will see temperatures that feel like 10-20 degrees from Jan. 8-10, and the northernmost parts of the state will have lows that feel like 0-10 degrees.

Over the next two weeks, overnight temperatures in central and south Mississippi could drop well below freezing with some daytime highs in the 40s and 50s. As of Jan. 2, there’s some chance of sleet and snow for the Jackson area.

AccuWeather meteorologists said a dip in the jet stream will start in the coming days, pushing frigid air from the Arctic into the South. Temperatures might drop 12-25 degrees below average in some parts of the country, particularly in the central U.S. That region, including Memphis, is at risk of subzero temperatures. This is expected to be a multi-day event affecting large portions of the country in the first full weeks of the new year. Some areas will see storms with wintry mix and snow.

What can Mississippi expect?

Most of Mississippi can expect temperatures 10-20 degrees below normal, leading to subfreezing but not subzero weather. Currently, precipitation chances are staying low overall.

Most of the state can look for rain and thunderstorms on Sunday, Jan. 5. The Jackson area also has a risk for isolated tornadoes.

Temperatures in Southaven will run cooler than central and southern Mississippi. Per AccuWeather, the low will drop to 18 degrees on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and the daytime high is 32°F on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Overnight lows will be below freezing from Jan. 5-14. The best chance of rain is on Sunday, Jan. 5. Prepare for strong to severe thunderstorms. Snow is not currently in the forecast, but there is a chance of cold rain and sleet early on Jan. 14.

Around Gulfport, rain is likely Jan. 4-5 when highs will be comfortably in the 50s to 70s. AccuWeather forecasts call for highs to dip down to 29 during the cold snap with overnight lows below 32°F from Jan. 6-8 withe a warmer night on the ninth, followed by more subfreezing nights Jan. 10-11. There’s a 35% chance of rain on Jan. 9 and 10, when daytime highs will be in the 50s. There are higher chances of rain on Jan. 14 and 15, and temperatures are expected to be above freezing.

See 3-month NOAA forecast What does a La Niña winter mean for Mississippi?

Early January daily forecast in Mississippi

In the six-to-10-day National Weather Service forecast, Mississippi is expected to have below-average temperatures and precipitation for Jan. 7-11. For Jan. 9-15, the precipitation chances shift to near median. Most of the state is set to see average precipitation or less during that period.

According to AccuWeather, as of Jan. 2, the Jackson area can expect the following for the first two weeks of the year:

• Jan. 2: High 60°F, low 37°F.
• Jan. 3: High 61°F, low 35°F.
• Jan. 4: High 54°F, low 48°F.
• Jan. 5: High 67°F, low 29°F, some showers, thunderstorms and the chance for an isolated tornado.
• Jan. 6: High 40°F, low 25°F.
• Jan. 7: High 41°F, low 24°F.
• Jan. 8: High 41°F, low 23°F.
• Jan. 9: High 47°F, low 28°F, 35% chance of precipitation with snow possible in the morning and rain in the afternoon.
• Jan. 10: High 44°F, low 22°F, 35% chance of precipitation with snow and sleet possible in the morning and rain in the afternoon.
• Jan. 11: High 40°F, low 27°F.
• Jan. 12: High 49°F, low 31°F.
• Jan. 13: High 50°F, low 29°F.
• Jan. 14: High 46°F, low 28°F.

More: What’s the best thermostat setting for winter in Mississippi? Here’s the ideal temperature

January average temperatures in Mississippi

These are the average temperatures for the Jackson, Hattiesburg, Tupelo and Gulfport areas for 2020-24, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Jackson

• 2020: 50.9
• 2021: 48
• 2022: 45.4
• 2023: 53.8
• 2024: 44.5

Hattiesburg

• 2020: 52.6
• 2021: 49.7
• 2022: 47.5
• 2023: 55.8
• 2024: 48.2

Tupelo

• 2020: 48.6
• 2021: 45.1
• 2022: 42
• 2023: 50.6
• 2024: 39.5

Gulfport

• 2020: 55.3
• 2021: 51.7
• 2022: 49.4
• 2023: 58.2
• 2024: 51.2