Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 70, NWS Memphis, TN

March 18, 2008Craighead County, Greene County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 18, 2008, 5:24 PM CDT for Craighead County, Greene County, Arkansas. It was in force for 51 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Mar 18, 2008, 5:24 PM CDT (22:24 UTC)
Expired: Mar 18, 2008, 6:15 PM CDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Craighead County, AR, Greene County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:26 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Mar 18, 5:45 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Paragould, AR	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN
Mar 18, 5:47 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Paragould, AR	CESSNA DAMAGED AT PARAGOULD AIRPORT

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 18, 5:19 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 137 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 89 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -95 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 545 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 59 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 467 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 574 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS54 KMEG 182224
TORMEG
ARC031-055-182315-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0070.080318T2224Z-080318T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
524 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 524 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES SOUTH OF BONO...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  JONESBORO...BROOKLAND...PARAGOULD AND MONETTE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 
80 MPH.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3611 9030 3600 9038 3599 9028 3588 9028
      3571 9082 3586 9094 3589 9087 3590 9087
      3618 9037
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 236DEG 41KT 3584 9079

$$

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS54 KMEG 182232
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
532 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

ARC031-055-182315-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0070.000000T0000Z-080318T2315Z/
CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR-
532 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND CRAIGHEAD COUNTIES...

AT 532 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR JONESBORO...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BROOKLAND...PARAGOULD AND MONETTE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 
80 MPH.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER
A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3611 9030 3600 9038 3599 9028 3588 9028
      3571 9082 3586 9094 3589 9087 3590 9087
      3618 9037
TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 236DEG 41KT 3589 9069

$$

JLH/TLSJR/CCD

000 
WWUS54 KMEG 182246
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
546 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

ARC031-055-182315-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0070.000000T0000Z-080318T2315Z/
CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR-
546 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND CRAIGHEAD COUNTIES...

AT 546 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BROOKLAND...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PARAGOULD AND MONETTE.

.IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 
80 MPH.

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER
A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.

LAT...LON 3611 9030 3600 9038 3599 9028 3588 9028
      3571 9082 3586 9094 3589 9087 3590 9087
      3618 9037
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 243DEG 44KT 3592 9049

$$

000 
WWUS54 KMEG 182314
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
615 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

ARC031-055-182325-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0070.000000T0000Z-080318T2315Z/
CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR-
615 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN GREENE AND CRAIGHEAD COUNTIES
HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

AT 615 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.
THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

.A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.

LAT...LON 3611 9030 3600 9038 3599 9028 3588 9028
      3571 9082 3586 9094 3589 9087 3590 9087
      3618 9037
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 243DEG 44KT 3608 9010

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Memphis, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Mar 18, 3:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 3:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
345 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

.DISCUSSION...

DEEP UPPER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN
MEXICO HAS HELPED TO DEVELOP MID AND UPPER LEVEL RIDGING OVER MUCH
OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS THIS AFTERNOON. AN
UNSEASONABLY WARM AND HUMID AIRMASS HAS ADVECTED NORTHWARD OVER
MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. ALTHOUGH THIS AIRMASS HAS BECOME
CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE...IT HAS REMAINED LARGELY CAPPED BY AN
EXPANSIVE SUBSIDENCE INVERSION. THIS HAS PREVENTED CONVECTION FROM
DEVELOPING TODAY ACROSS THE EXPANDING WARM SECTOR. TEMPERATURES
CONTINUE TO RISE TO THE MID AND UPPER 70S WITH BREAKS IN THE
CLOUDS AND DIURNAL HEATING OVER MUCH OF THE REGION CONTINUING.
DEWPOINTS HAVE NOW RISEN INTO THE MIDDLE 60S WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER...OVER MUCH OF EASTERN ARKANSAS. IN THESE
AREAS...THERMODYNAMIC PROFILES ARE BECOMING SUCH THAT THE CAPPING
INVERSION MAY BE CLOSE TO BREAKING...ALTHOUGH RECENT RADAR TRENDS
CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT CONVECTION TRYING TO DEVELOP IN THE WARM
SECTOR IS STILL STRUGGLING. IF THIS CONVECTION COULD BREAK THE
CAPPING INVERSION...THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH CONDITIONAL
INSTABILITY AND SHEAR TO SUPPORT SURFACE BASED SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORMS THAT WOULD RAPIDLY POSE A DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...AND
TORNADO THREAT. YET WITH THE PASSING OF PEAK HEATING AND THE BEST
UPPER LEVEL FORCING STILL TO OUR SOUTHWEST...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES
TO WANE WITH RESPECT TO LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING SUPERCELL
DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE...THINK THAT MOST AREAS WILL SIMPLY REMAIN
DRY THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS EVENING. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WILL
BE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...WHERE A SURFACE BOUNDARY
WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR LIFT AS A STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL JET
PUNCHES INTO THE AREA COLOCATED WITH A COUPLED UPPER LEVEL JET
STRUCTURE (RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION TO AN UPPER JET MAX CENTERED OVER
THE UPPER MIDWEST AND THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF ANOTHER UPPER JET
MAX EJECTING OUT OF TEXAS).

THE BETTER FORCING FOR CONVECTION APPEARS TO APPROACH THE MID
SOUTH LATER TONIGHT AS A 100+KT MID LEVEL JET OVER TEXAS THIS
EVENING EJECTS NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE MID SOUTH. THIS WILL HELP
TO ENHANCE LIFT IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE SLOWLY
SOUTHEASTWARD MOVING COLD FRONT. MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES SHOULD
BEGIN TO STEEPEN AND WITH CONTINUED STRONG LOW LEVEL MOISTURE
ADVECTION...EXPECT LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN IN THE UPPER
60S TO LOW 70S AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S IN ADVANCE OF
THE FRONT. THIS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN MUCAPES BETWEEN 500-1000J/KG
AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THIS AMOUNT OF INSTABILITY COMBINED WITH
STRONG DEEP LAYER 0-6KM BULK SHEAR IN EXCESS OF 60KTS...SHOULD BE
SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP TO BECOME SEVERE.
0-1KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITY VALUES WILL REMAIN AROUND
400M2/S2. CONVECTION SHOULD BECOME STRONGLY FORCED ALONG THE FRONT
WITH THE UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS ALIGNING ALONG THE FRONT. EXPECT A
STRONG TO SEVERE SQUALL-LINE TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT.
THE GREATEST INSTABILITY SHOULD REMAIN ALONG AND SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 40 AND IN THESE AREAS EXPECT THE POTENTIAL FOR BOWING
SEGMENTS AND EMBEDDED SUPERCELLS ALONG THE LINE. THE GREATEST
THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WIND GUSTS
AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

TO THE NORTH OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THERE REMAINS THE POTENTIAL
FOR FLOODING RAINS...PRIMARILY FOCUSED ACROSS NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
INTO THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
MORNING. THE POTENTIAL EXIST FOR RAINFALL TOTALS BETWEEN 2 AND 5
INCHES...WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS. THIS RAINFALL COUPLED WITH
SATURATED CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SOME FLASH FLOODING OF
CREEKS...STREAMS...AND SMALLER RIVER TRIBUTERIES. THEREFORE...WILL
KEEP FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN PLACE THROUGH TONIGHT. LATER SHIFTS WILL
NEED TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING RAINS CONTINUING PAST
12Z AND THE NEED TO EXTEND THE WATCH. AT THIS TIME THOUGH...IT
APPEARS THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL BE COMING TO AN END AS THE SYSTEM
MOVES MORE RAPIDLY NORTHEAST.

AS THIS SYSTEM DEPARTS...ZONAL UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL MOVE INTO THE
REGION THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS WILL RESULT IN CALMER
WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES. A SERIES OF WEAK NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVES WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK...BUT
WITH LIMITED MOISTURE...ONLY EXPECTING SLIGHT CHANCES FOR RAIN.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD COOL SOME INTO THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM  53  55  41  66 / 100  80   0  10
MKL  53  53  34  64 / 100  90  10  10
JBR  47  52  38  64 / 100  80   0  10
TUP  61  61  38  67 / 100  90  10  10

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
     CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-MISSISSIPPI-POINSETT-
     RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
     CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
     PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.

MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.

MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR DESOTO.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR ALCORN-BENTON MS-
     CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-
     MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-
     TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION-YALOBUSHA.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR DYER-LAKE-
     LAUDERDALE-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
     CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
     HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
     OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.

&&

JLH

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 18, 5:08 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
508 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-
MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-200015-
ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA-
CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER-
FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-
ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS-MADISON-
MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY-
ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-
UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA-
508 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS...
THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF
OF THE MID SOUTH THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. EXPECT A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE
WITH THE PRIMARY RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.
THE GREATEST THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE BETWEEN 5 PM AND 2
AM WEDNESDAY MORNING NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE FROM HELENA TO
PARIS. THIS AREA IS COVERED BY TORNADO WATCH 132.  AREAS OF SOUTH
AND EAST OF THIS LINE SHOULD EXPECT A THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER
FROM 9 PM TO 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING.

HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO EXPECTED LATER TONIGHT ACROSS AREAS NORTH
OF A FORREST CITY ARKANSAS TO MEMPHIS TO UNION CITY TENNESSEE LINE
AS A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH LESSER AMOUNTS...GENERALLY BETWEEN 1 AND 3
INCHES...EXPECTED FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH...SINCE
THE GROUND REMAINS SATURATED AND THERE REMAINS A POTENTIAL FOR
FLASH FLOODING.

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40 MPH
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH UNTIL 7AM WEDNESDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH AND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH MAY
NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THE AREA.

IN ADDITION TO FLASH FLOODING...SOME RIVER FLOODING IS LIKELY
ACROSS EASTERN ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...AND NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE ON WEDNESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS...AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS WILL BE NEEDED
THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT FOR MUCH OF THE MID SOUTH.

JLH/RJO

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
406 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0401 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLLEGE CITY            36.13N 90.94W
03/18/2008  M64.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME ANEMOMETER

&&

DSV

Special weather statement, Mar 18, 4:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
412 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

ARZ008-009-017-018-182145-
CLAY AR-RANDOLPH AR-GREENE AR-LAWRENCE AR-
412 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  EASTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 55 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3
MILES NORTHEAST OF COLLEGE CITY AT 412 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN CLAY...GREENE...LAWRENCE AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES...INCLUDING
THE CITIES OF CORNING...POCAHONTAS...RECTOR AND WALNUT RIDGE...SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY..

.A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.

TLSJR

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:33 PM CDT, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
433 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0401 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLLEGE CITY            36.13N 90.94W
03/18/2008  M64.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME ANEMOMETER

0426 PM     TSTM WND GST     CORNING                 36.41N 90.59W
03/18/2008  E65.00 MPH       CLAY               AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

DSV

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:06 PM CDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
506 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0401 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLLEGE CITY            36.13N 90.94W
03/18/2008  M64.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME ANEMOMETER

0426 PM     TSTM WND GST     CORNING                 36.41N 90.59W
03/18/2008  E65.00 MPH       CLAY               AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0503 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008                   GREENE             AR   PUBLIC

            3 TREES DOWN

&&

DSV

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:08 PM CDT, 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
508 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0401 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLLEGE CITY            36.13N 90.94W
03/18/2008  M64.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME ANEMOMETER

0426 PM     TSTM WND GST     CORNING                 36.41N 90.59W
03/18/2008  E65.00 MPH       CLAY               AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0503 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008                   GREENE             AR   PUBLIC

            3 TREES DOWN

0506 PM     TSTM WND GST     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008  E75.00 MPH       GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

DSV

Local storm report, Mar 18, 5:19 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
519 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0401 PM     TSTM WND GST     COLLEGE CITY            36.13N 90.94W
03/18/2008  M64.00 MPH       LAWRENCE           AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED ON HOME ANEMOMETER

0426 PM     TSTM WND GST     CORNING                 36.41N 90.59W
03/18/2008  E65.00 MPH       CLAY               AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0503 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008                   GREENE             AR   PUBLIC

            3 TREES DOWN

0506 PM     TSTM WND GST     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008  E75.00 MPH       GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

0517 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
03/18/2008                   GREENE             AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE BANK SIGN BLOWN DOWN NEAR WALMART

&&

DSV

The office that day

Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 18, 4:44 AM CDT	Wind Advisory	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more	26 hr
Mar 18, 11:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	48 days
Mar 18, 11:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Craighead	4 days
Mar 18, 11:34 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	St. Francis	5 days
Mar 18, 11:35 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Mississippi, Poinsett	11 days
Mar 18, 4:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Randolph	39 min
Mar 18, 4:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Greene	48 min
Mar 18, 4:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay	52 min
Mar 18, 5:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett	49 min
Mar 18, 5:15 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	MEG	Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett and 1 more	15 hr
Mar 18, 5:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	45 min
Mar 18, 6:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Mississippi	28 min
Mar 18, 6:38 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Craighead, Greene	52 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2008 Every tornado warning in 2008 Tornadoes in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.