Discrete supercells developed in the early morning on December 16 and moved northeast, spawning multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes in cities such as Alexandria and in Laurel before congealing into an eastward-moving squall line.

The first signs of organized severe weather came on December 12, when the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) outlined a day 5 risk area across portions of the Mid-South and lower Ohio River Valley.

[10] Expectations of a tornado outbreak arose on December 16 as a well-defined, positively-tilted trough existed across the central United States and very strong cyclonic flow developed southeast of this feature.

At the surface, a cold front was expected to progress across the Southeast United States while an intensifying area of low pressure propagated northeast along the boundary.

Given the general alignment of the cold front and wind shear aloft, the SPC was uncertain early on December 16 over whether numerous discrete supercells would exist in the highest threat area.

[11] By later in the day, however, a consistent signal for sustained warm-sector supercells from available model guidance lent credibility to the potential for multiple significant tornadoes.

The tornado exited DeRidder, widening and strengthening as it continued northeastward into Vernon Parish and reaching EF3 strength as it passed to the southeast of Rosepine.

The tornado weakened back to EF1 strength as it continued to the northeast, crossing LA 10, where a church lost a portion of its metal roof and outbuildings were destroyed.

Continuing to the northeast through Alexandria, the tornado narrowed and weakened to EF1 strength, damaging trees and power poles as it crossed Bayou Rapides Road.

Past this area, the tornado continued to narrow and weaken, eventually dissipating after producing some EF0 tree limb damage along Donahue Ferry Road in Pineville.

[18][58] This strong, long-tracked tornado touched down during the late evening hours of December 16, at Hesler Noble Field in southwestern Laurel, Mississippi.

Crossing South 16th Avenue, the tornado reached EF2 strength, where a small brick office building sustained roof and exterior wall loss, and a strip mall was heavily damaged.

The roof of a hotel was lifted up and dropped back down onto the building, and a semi-truck and flatbed trailer carrying automobiles was flipped over and dragged.

Continuing to the northeast through Laurel, the tornado weakened back to EF1 strength as numerous homes, warehouses, apartment buildings, and other structures sustained minor to moderate roof damage.

A Piggly Wiggly grocery store also sustained minor EF0 roof and exterior damage in this area as well, and numerous trees and a few power poles were downed.

[58] The tornado then reached low-end EF3 intensity as it exited Laurel and crossed I-59, snapping and uprooting numerous trees, and toppling several large metal truss transmission towers to the ground.

The tornado became strong again as it then impacted the southern fringes of Sandersville at EF2 strength, where a house sustained loss of much of its roof, along with some second-floor exterior walls.

[58] Past Sandersville, the tornado weakened back to EF1 strength as it struck the Mississippi Choctaw Reservation, where homes sustained roof and garage damage, a small pavilion collapsed, trees were downed, and headstones were tipped over at a cemetery.

A final area of EF2 damage occurred to the southwest of the small community of Mannassa, where a well-built home along County Road 664 sustained destruction of its attached garage, and had a large portion of its roof torn off.