An unusual natural phenomenon recently unfolded in Mississippi as a magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck near Magee, coinciding with a devastating tornado outbreak that swept across the state.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 1:49 p.m. CT, approximately 6 miles east-northeast of Magee, a small city located about 40 miles southeast of Jackson, the state capital.
The tremor, recorded at a depth of 10.5 kilometers, was classified as minor, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, its timing—during a severe weather event that spawned multiple tornadoes—amplified its significance.
WAPT News reported that the quake hit “just after 1:00 p.m.,” noting that residents in Magee who felt the shaking might have initially attributed it to the tumultuous storms rather than a seismic event.
The tornado outbreak, which ravaged parts of Mississippi and neighboring states, had already put emergency responders and communities on high alert.
Fox Weather highlighted the chaotic scene, stating that “multiple damaging tornadoes were reported across Mississippi on Saturday as the Deep South was the target of a severe weather outbreak.”
Amid this turmoil, the earthquake added an unexpected layer of complexity.
USA Today underscored the rarity of the event, noting that “three tornadoes are believed to have touched down in the vicinity [of Magee] on Saturday,” with the earthquake striking shortly after 1 p.m., marking it as the only seismic activity recorded in Mississippi in the past three weeks.
Mississippi is not typically known for significant seismic activity, though the USGS notes that the state has experienced small earthquakes over the years, with only four reaching an intensity of 5 or greater in its history.
The last notable tremor before this event occurred on Thanksgiving Day 2024, when a magnitude 2.5 earthquake struck near the Ross Barnett Reservoir, as reported by USA Today.
Saturday’s quake, however, stood out due to its concurrence with the tornadoes.
Times Now reported that “while some residents reported feeling the tremor, no damage has been reported,” emphasizing that the focus remained on the destructive tornadoes tearing through the state.
The severe weather outbreak claimed lives and caused widespread destruction across the region.
ABC News reported that “at least 37 deaths have been recorded from the cross-country storm system,” with Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirming six fatalities and 27 injuries in the state alone.
Reeves, who signed a state of emergency declaration on Saturday night, indicated that preliminary data suggested as many as 12 tornadoes may have struck Mississippi.
CBS News painted a grim picture of the broader impact, noting that “violent tornadoes ripped through parts of the U.S., wiping out schools and toppling semitractor-trailers in several states,” with Mississippi among the hardest hit.
Experts have weighed in on the unusual pairing of an earthquake and tornadoes.
Meteo24News quoted scientists who believe “the likelihood that earthquakes are triggered by weather events is extremely low,” suggesting that the timing was likely a coincidence rather than a causal relationship.
Still, the event captured widespread attention. Posts on X reflected public astonishment, with one user noting a “rare M3.0 earthquake struck directly next to the location in Mississippi just before the tornado outbreak,” while another described the storms as “insane,” citing the earthquake’s occurrence “moments after a PDS [Particularly Dangerous Situation] tornado” passed through Taylorsville, near Magee.
For residents of Magee, a town of just under 4,000 people according to the 2020 U.S. Census, the day was a harrowing convergence of nature’s fury.
NewsX described the region as experiencing “weather turmoil,” with the earthquake adding to the chaos of an already dire situation. As emergency crews continue to assess the damage from the tornadoes, the earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable forces at play.
