[7] The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had stated as early as February 8 that a few supercells would possibly develop on the 10th and could produce large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.

[9] During the morning hours of February 10, a squall line developed along a cold front that stretched from western Arkansas, down through northwest Louisiana, and into east Texas.

The watches were issued as very strong wind shear and instability engrossed the area, causing the development of supercell thunderstorms.

[3] The tornado touched down west-southwest of West Hattiesburg at around 5:03 p.m. CST (23:03 UTC), causing EF0 damage to tree limbs at the western edge of the community.

It rapidly widened and intensified as it moved through residential subdivisions of the city, snapping numerous trees and power lines, severely damaging homes, and expanding to one half-mile wide.

Several well-constructed buildings around the school's athletic stadiums were destroyed, with twisting and buckling steel girders noted.

Vehicles were thrown in considerable distances, one of which was taken from a parking lot of the high school, rolled up a hill and across the baseball field, and then deposited onto the pitcher's mound.

As it then approached I-59, the tornado heavily damaged numerous homes and apartment buildings at EF2 to EF3 strength, and snapped more trees and power lines.

It crossed the interstate and entered Forrest County, tearing through densely populated areas of Hattiesburg, resulting in major damage.

Near the university, a gas station, a strip mall, a church, an apartment building, and multiple homes were damaged/destroyed, and some metal traffic light poles were mangled.

The tornado continued through residential areas to the east of U.S. 49, where many trees were uprooted, homes were heavily damaged, and a church's steeple was blown off.

The tornado maintained its strength as it continued into Petal, where an ACE Hardware store was completely leveled and more homes were damaged or destroyed.

[1][4][12] Traveling to the northeast of Petal, the tornado began to weaken, causing EF1 to EF2 strength damage to numerous roofs and downing many trees.

Hattiesburg High School also suffered destruction of some of its athletic facilities, including the basketball gym that had undergone renovations just a few weeks before.