Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Memphis, TN

May 24, 2009Dyer County, Lauderdale County, Tennessee; Pemiscot County, Missouri

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 24, 2009, 4:43 PM CDT for Dyer County, Lauderdale County, Tennessee; Pemiscot County, Missouri. It was in force for 47 min. 3 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 24, 2009, 4:43 PM CDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2009, 5:30 PM CDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Pemiscot County, MO, Dyer County, TN, Lauderdale County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:45 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 24, 5:14 PM CDTTORNADO1 S Heloise, TNTORNADO ALONG HWY 104 AND GREAT RIVER ROAD MOVING NORTHWEST ALONG OPEN FARM LAND. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.
May 24, 5:25 PM CDTTORNADO7 S Heloise, TNTORNADO SPOTTED ON FARM LAND AROUND BRADLEY ROAD AND OBION RIVER BRIDGE. NO DAMAGE REPORTED.
May 24, 5:35 PM CDTTORNADO1 Se Steele, MOSIGHTING OF TORNADO AT COTTONWOOD POINT ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN PEMISCOTT COUNTY. NO DAMAGE REPORTED AS MOST OF THIS AREA IS OPEN FARMLAND.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 132 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2009-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 38 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2009-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 7 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
38 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
596 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS54 KMEG 242143
TORMEG
MOC155-TNC045-097-242230-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0021.090524T2143Z-090524T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
443 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN DYER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
  SOUTHEASTERN PEMISCOT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...
  NORTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...

* UNTIL 530 PM CDT

* AT 443 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
  HELOISE...OR 12 MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

* THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
  INDICATED COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

.THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3593 8945 3584 8959 3590 8965 3591 8964
      3593 8966 3597 8972 3600 8972 3600 8976
      3610 8986 3619 8962 3618 8961
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 148DEG 13KT 3592 8955

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 242156
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
456 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

TNC097-242204-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090524T2230Z/
LAUDERDALE TN-
456 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

AT 454 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
THUNDERSTORMS WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA 
...AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. 
THEREFORE...THE TORNADO WARNING IS CANCELLED.

.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 3618 8961 3594 8949 3592 8962 3597 8972
      3600 8972 3600 8976 3610 8986 3619 8962
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 148DEG 13KT 3595 8958

$$

MOC155-TNC045-242230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090524T2230Z/
PEMISCOT MO-DYER TN-
456 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN DYER AND SOUTHEASTERN PEMISCOT COUNTIES...

AT 453 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR STINGER...OR 12 
MILES SOUTHWEST OF DYERSBURG...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THIS 
TORNADO WILL LIKELY BE RAIN WRAPPED...SO TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IF 
IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
INCLUDE CHIC...TYLERSVILLE...MENGELWOOD...HELOISE...AYERS...
BOOTHSPOINT...TYLER AND COTTONWOOD POINT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3618 8961 3594 8949 3592 8962 3597 8972
      3600 8972 3600 8976 3610 8986 3619 8962
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 148DEG 13KT 3595 8958

$$
000 
WWUS54 KMEG 242215
SVSMEG

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
515 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

MOC155-TNC045-242230-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-090524T2230Z/
PEMISCOT MO-DYER TN-
515 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL DYER AND SOUTHEASTERN PEMISCOT COUNTIES...

AT 514 PM CDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO ALONG 
HIGHWAY 104 AND GREAT RIVER ROAD TO THE SOUTH OF HELOISE...MOVING 
NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
INCLUDE AYERS...BOOTHSPOINT...TYLER AND COTTONWOOD POINT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3618 8961 3597 8957 3595 8962 3597 8972
      3600 8972 3600 8976 3610 8986 3619 8962
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 140DEG 10KT 3600 8964

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 5:26 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGDyer49 min
May 24, 5:49 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGDyer, Lauderdale41 min
May 24, 6:32 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGDyer43 min
May 24, 6:34 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGDyer26 min
May 24, 6:43 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Haywood, Lauderdale3 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2009Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes 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.