On December 23, 2015, the Storm Prediction Center discussed the probabilities for severe weather to materialize in the Mississippi Valley, encompassing regions in northern Louisiana, eastern Arkansas, northwestern Mississippi, western Tennessee, the Missouri Bootheel, and extreme southwestern Kentucky.

As the evening progressed, further certainty arose for the possibility for an outbreak, as Convective Available Potential Energy values of around 1,000–2,000 J/kg and effective wind shear were present for the aforementioned areas of the upper Mississippi Valley.

[5][6] The large tornado passed west of Chulahoma, crossing Highway 4, where the Mount Gillie Community Church was destroyed at high-end EF2 strength.

The tornado crossed Yarbrough Chapel Road where it slightly strengthened to high-end EF2 intensity where exterior walls for a home collapsed at 132 mph (212 km/h).

[6] The wedge tornado crossed Old Highway 4 where it rapidly intensified to high-end EF3 with maximum estimated wind speeds of 160 mph (260 km/h).

[8][9] A poorly-built home nearby the church sustained major damage as it almost collapsed, leaving a few interior walls standing.

[6] Around this time, the National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tennessee issued a tornado emergency for Holly Springs and others counties.

PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.The tornado brushed the southeastern edge of Holly Springs, leveling multiple homes and flipping many vehicles at EF2-EF3 intensity, killing a 7-year-old boy along Highway 7 and injuring several others, an 80-year-old elderly woman was also killed when her mobile home was heavily damaged.

[12] The tornado eventually left Marshall County, resulting in $6 million in damages and two fatalities, as well as thirty injuries.

The tornado passed northeast of Ashland, rapidly intensifying to high-end EF3 strength with wind speeds up to 165 mph (266 km/h).

Multiple trees were snapped and uprooted, another house along the road lost large sections of their roof and a car was left mangled.

[6] The tornado continued at the same intensity as it crossed Country Church Road, a wooden framed home was completely swept away, killing two people in this location and leaving one missing and another injured.

A large, well built home was swept away at low-end EF4 intensity, with estimated wind speeds up to 170 mph (270 km/h).

[22] Operation BBQ relief went to Holly Springs to distribute meals to affected residents and first responders.