Alert archive / Arkansas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009
Flash Flood Warning 43, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this flash flood warning at May 8, 2009, 11:31 PM CDT for Clay County, Greene County, Randolph County, Arkansas; Dunklin County, Missouri. It was in force for 119 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
- May 8, 2009, 11:31 PM CDT (04:31 UTC)
- Expired
- May 9, 2009, 1:30 AM CDT
- In force
- 119 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Clay County, AR, Greene County, AR, Randolph County, AR, Dunklin County, MO
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 12:50 AM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | Maynard, AR | WATER MAKING HWY 115 IMPASSABLE...AND IS APPROACHING THE NEARBY HOUSES...BUT NOT YET FLOODING THE HOUSES |
| May 9, 12:50 AM CDT | FLASH FLOOD | Pocahontas, AR | ENGLEBERG ROAD AT FORSHE RIVER ROAD WAS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 79 minutes after it went out.
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 nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 186 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2269 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 988 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 90 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 245 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.6
- Supercell composite
- 10.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WGUS54 KMEG 090431
FFWMEG
ARC021-055-121-MOC069-090630-
/O.NEW.KMEG.FF.W.0043.090509T0431Z-090509T0630Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1131 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...
* UNTIL 130 AM CDT
* AT 1131 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA. OVER THE PAST HOUR 1 TO 3
INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS FALLEN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHALK BLUFF
NATURAL AREA...KENNETT...HOLCOMB...CAMPBELL...SUCCESS...ST.
FRANCIS...REYNO...RECTOR...RAVENDEN SPRINGS...POLLARD...
POCAHONTAS...PIGGOTT...PEACH ORCHARD...MCDOUGAL...MAYNARD...
KNOBEL...GREENWAY...DATTO...DALTON...CORNING...BIGGERS AND ATTICA.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
.BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.
.MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE
USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING
FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.
.TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY
YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
MEMPHIS.
.STAY TUNED TO THIS BROADCAST FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION.
TO REPORT FLASH FLOODING ONLY...CALL 1 800 4 3 2 0 8 7 5.
&&
LAT...LON 3663 9001 3651 8997 3621 8997 3625 9124
3648 9135 3651 9023
$$What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at May 8, 8:21 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 8, 8:21 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
821 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009
.UPDATE...
STATIONARY FRONT REMAINS JUST NORTH OF THE CWA ATTM. SHOWERS AND
A FEW THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN OVER NORTHWEST TENNESSEE STRETCHING
BACK TO THE WEST INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS. NO SEVERE STORMS
ATTM...HOWEVER RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT
LEAST EARLY MORNING HOURS. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG OR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. EXPECT A
SOLID LINE OF CONVECTION STRETCHING FROM OKLAHOMA TO THE MIDSOUTH
BY EARLY MORNING HOURS. HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO BE A THREAT WITH THIS LINE.
SINCE THE MIDSOUTH HAS SEEN A LOT OF RAIN IN THE PAST WEEK...FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN. WILL ISSUE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE
ENTIRE CWA THROUGH SATURDAY.
KRM
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 255 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009/
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTEND ACROSS NORTHERN BORDER OF FORECAST
AREA WITH STRONGEST STORM ON WESTERN END OF THIS LINE. AS THESE
STORMS MOVE EAST...WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAR PORTIONS OF TORNADO WATCH
267. DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THESE STORMS WILL JUST WAIT UNTIL
WATCH EXPIRES BEFORE ISSUING NEW FORECAST PACKAGE. ONE FRONTAL
BOUNDARY EXTENDS FROM CENTRAL OKLAHOMA THROUGH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
AND INTO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WITH A SECOND COLD FRONT ACROSS
NORTHERN IOWA THROUGH EASTERN NEBRASKA INTO WESTERN KANSAS. COLD
FRONTS WILL APPROACH THE REGION TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA
AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SOUTH. THE FRONT WILL MOVE
THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY BRINGING MORE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. THE CLOUDS AND WET WEATHER WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES
SOME 5 TO 10 DEGREES COOLER THAN TODAY. THE FRONT WILL STALL OUT
JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA PROVIDING FOR A CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. COOLER AIR WILL BEGIN
TO MOVE IN BEHIND THE FRONT WITH TEMPERATURES STRUGGLING TO
GETTING OUT OF THE 60S. RAIN SHOULD BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE
FORECAST AREA BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. DRY WEATHER RETURNS ON TUESDAY
AS SOUTH WINDS BRING BACK WARMER WEATHER TO THE REGION. ANOTHER
COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND MOVES THROUGH
THE FORECAST AREA ON THURSDAY. THE RESULT WILL BE A CHANCE FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY.
ARS
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAFS
MCS OVER NW TN AND THE MO BOOTHEEL SHOULD REMAIN NORTHEAST OF ALL TAF
SITES THIS EVENING WITH VFR CONDITIONS CONTINUING. ATTM SHORT TERM
MODELS ARE DEVELOPING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE FRONT
THIS EVENING SO WILL GO WITH TEMPOS FOR TSRAS AND MVFR CONDITIONS
STARTING AT 03Z AT KJBR...05Z AT KMEM AND KMKL AND 11Z AT KTUP.
AFTER 09Z-11Z THE FRONT WILL START WORKING SLOWLY SOUTH SHIFTING
WINDS FROM SOUTH AT 10 KTS TO NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 KTS AT
KJBR...KMEM AND KMKL. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER FRONTAL
PASSAGE AT THESE TAF SITES THOUGH BRIEF MVFR CIGS MAY OCCUR THOUGH
CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO PLACE IN TAFS ATTM. FRONT WILL PROBABLY NOT
MAKE IT THROUGH KTUP BEFORE 10/00Z SO KEPT VCTS GOING ALL DAY
THERE.
SJM
&&
.AVIATION...
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 67 73 57 68 / 60 60 50 50
MKL 66 72 54 65 / 70 60 40 50
JBR 64 70 54 66 / 70 50 40 40
TUP 69 79 59 71 / 40 50 40 50
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING 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 SATURDAY EVENING FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 8:34 PM CDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 834 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-091200- 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- 834 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 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 OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. A COLD FRONT OVER THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH TONIGHT...SERVING AS A FOCUS FOR CONTINUED THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. SOME THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER SATURDAY FOR AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40. IN ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED OVER ANY PART OF THE MIDSOUTH TONIGHT AND ON SATURDAY. KRM
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 8, 6:01 PM CDT, 5 hours 30 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 601 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 TNZ019-020-051-052-082330- CROCKETT TN-GIBSON TN-MADISON TN-DYER TN- 601 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN CROCKETT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHEASTERN DYER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHERN GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EATON AT 601 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CROCKETT...DYER...GIBSON AND MADISON COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HUMBOLDT AND TRENTON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
Special weather statement, May 8, 6:41 PM CDT, 4 hours 50 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 641 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 MOZ115-TNZ001-019-090015- PEMISCOT MO-LAKE TN-DYER TN- 641 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... WESTERN DYER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN LAKE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... CENTRAL PEMISCOT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED OVER DEERING AT 642 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN DYER...LAKE AND PEMISCOT COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CARUTHERSVILLE AND HAYTI...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
Special weather statement, May 8, 10:58 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1058 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ARZ009-MOZ113-090430- CLAY AR-DUNKLIN MO- 1058 PM CDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHALK BLUFF NATURAL AREA AT 1058 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CLAY AND DUNKLIN COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CAMPBELL...CHALK BLUFF NATURAL AREA...CORNING AND MALDEN...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 8:29 PM CDT | Flash Flood Watch | MEG | Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Lawrence and 6 more | 47 hr |
| May 8, 11:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay, Greene | 48 min |
| May 8, 11:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Clay, Greene | 42 min |
| May 9, 12:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay, Greene, Mississippi | 47 min |
| May 9, 12:45 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 45 min |
| May 9, 1:11 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Clay, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Randolph | 6 hr |
| May 9, 2:05 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 25 min |
| May 9, 2:26 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph | 6 hr |
| May 9, 2:37 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 21 min |
| May 9, 3:10 AM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Mississippi, Poinsett | 6 hr |
| May 9, 5:00 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, St. Francis | 90 min |
| May 9, 6:13 AM CDT | River Flood Warning | MEG | Craighead | 3 days |
| May 9, 6:36 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MEG | Phillips | 114 min |
| May 9, 3:38 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 3 hr |
| May 9, 5:27 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Phillips | 2 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Arkansas, 2009Flash Flood Warnings in Missouri, 2009Every flash flood warning in 2009
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.