A pair of tornadoes touched down in Newton County Saturday, March 15, 2025 as part of a severe weather outbreak that produced at least 15 tornado paths across Mississippi, Louisiana and neighboring states, the National Weather Service said.
The first storm, an EF‑0 tornado, touched down at 1:32 p.m. in the Bethel community, just south of the city of Newton. Tracking a 3.5-mile path, the weak tornado moved northeast along the outskirts of town. Damage was limited to uprooted trees and snapped large limbs, with one home along Bethel Roberts Road sustaining minor peripheral damage. No injuries were reported from this brief but unsettling event.
Shortly thereafter, an EF‑1 tornado developed north of Interstate 20. The storm touched down near 4 miles northeast of Newton at 1:41 p.m. and traveled approximately 6.7 miles through the Lebanon community before lifting near the intersection of Decatur Road. In addition to uprooting and snapping trees, the tornado inflicted minor structural damage to two homes and a carport along its narrow, 300-yard-wide path. Local residents reported that the winds were strong enough to toss branches and leaves, creating a scene of scattered debris across rural roads.
County emergency management officials said the tornadoes, though relatively weak compared with some of the violent storms impacting other parts of the region, serve as a reminder of the destructive power of severe weather. “Even these lower-end tornadoes can cause significant stress and minor damage to homes and trees,” said a Newton County spokesperson. “Residents should stay alert and heed local warnings, as the weather in our area continues to be unpredictable.”
The tornadoes in Newton County are part of an expansive outbreak that stretched from late Friday night into Saturday, with the most severe event an EF‑4 tornado that carved a 65-mile path from Kentwood, La., into Mississippi. That storm, which produced estimated peak winds of 170 mph and claimed five lives, left a trail of devastation through multiple communities in Marion, Jefferson Davis and Covington counties.
In Newton County, however, damage remains relatively contained. Both the EF‑0 and EF‑1 tornadoes caused limited structural damage compared to reports from more heavily affected areas. The EF‑1 tornado in the Lebanon area was observed by storm chasers as it lifted near the intersection of Chapel Hill and Barnett Roads, with several trees reported uprooted along the path. Local authorities are now assessing debris and monitoring areas where downed limbs may obstruct roads.
The National Weather Service continues to survey the full extent of the outbreak. In a statement released early Saturday, NWS officials confirmed that surveys for 12 completed tornado tracks are underway, with three additional paths still under investigation. “Additional damage surveys are planned on Tuesday,” the statement read, indicating that the final picture of the outbreak’s impact may take several days to fully emerge.
