Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 23, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 24, 2009, 5:49 PM CDT for Mississippi County, Arkansas; Dyer County, Lauderdale County, Tennessee. It was in force for 41 min. 1 report 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, 5:49 PM CDT (22:49 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 2009, 6:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Mississippi County, AR, Dyer County, TN, Lauderdale County, TN
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:49 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 24, 6:25 PM CDT | TORNADO | 7 S Heloise, TN | TORNADO NEAR BRADLEY ROAD AND OBION RIVER NEAR COMMUNITY OF CHIC |
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 one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 36 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 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 129 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS54 KMEG 242249
TORMEG
ARC093-TNC045-097-242330-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0023.090524T2249Z-090524T2330Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
549 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN DYER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
NORTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
* UNTIL 630 PM CDT
* AT 549 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HELOISE...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.
* THE TORNADO WILL OTHERWISE REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF THE
INDICATED COUNTIES. THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES CHISHOLM LAKE.
THIS WARNING ALSO INCLUDES CHISHOLM LAKE.
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 3589 8947 3581 8957 3592 8984 3600 8974
3600 8972 3602 8969 3605 8968 3610 8961
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 137DEG 11KT 3588 8955
$$2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS54 KMEG 242301
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
601 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
ARC093-TNC045-097-242330-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-090524T2330Z/
MISSISSIPPI AR-LAUDERDALE TN-DYER TN-
601 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN DYER...NORTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE AND NORTHEASTERN
MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES...
AT 601 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR TIGER TAIL...OR 12
MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
INCLUDE STINGER...CHIC...BARFIELD...ARMOREL...HICKMAN...HUFFMAN AND
HELOISE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
&&
LAT...LON 3590 8950 3585 8958 3592 8984 3600 8974
3600 8972 3602 8969 3605 8968 3610 8961
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 137DEG 11KT 3591 8958
$$000
WWUS54 KMEG 242322
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
622 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
TNC097-242331-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-090524T2330Z/
LAUDERDALE TN-
622 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL LAUDERDALE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
AT 621 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT THE
THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA
...AND NO LONGER POSES 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 3610 8961 3593 8952 3593 8954 3594 8955
3593 8957 3592 8963 3595 8980 3600 8974
3602 8969 3605 8968
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 130DEG 9KT 3594 8963
$$
ARC093-TNC045-242330-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-090524T2330Z/
MISSISSIPPI AR-DYER TN-
622 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN DYER AND NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES...
AT 619 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CHIC...OR 14 MILES
NORTH OF RIPLEY...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 10 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
INCLUDE HICKMAN...HUFFMAN AND HELOISE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.
THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A STORM SHELTER. IF NO
STORM SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE
BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE
BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
&&
LAT...LON 3610 8961 3593 8952 3593 8954 3594 8955
3593 8957 3592 8963 3595 8980 3600 8974
3602 8969 3605 8968
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 130DEG 9KT 3594 8963
$$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 May 24, 3:29 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 3:29 PM CDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 329 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 .DISCUSSION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO SWIRL AROUND A TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS AS THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM VERY SLOWLY MOVES OFF TO THE WEST. CONTINUED WITH HIGH POPS FOR THIS EVENING AS THE SURFACE LOW WILL BE NEARBY ALONG WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE REMAINING OVER THE AREA. SURFACE LOW WILL BE SITUATED ACROSS CENTRAL ARKANSAS ON MONDAY AS THE MIDSOUTH REMAINS IN A MOIST AND UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE. AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE BEST CHANCES ACROSS NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. CONVECTION SHOULD DIE OFF MONDAY NIGHT ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN WILL REMAIN OVER THE MIDSOUTH TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS MAINLY DIURNAL CONVECTION CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE AREA. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR SEASONAL NORMALS WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 80S. NIGHTS WILL GENERALLY BE WARM AND MUGGY WITH LOWS NEAR 70 DEGREES. THE ABOVE MENTIONED SURFACE LOW WILL FINALLY CLEAR THE REGION AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE MIDSOUTH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL ACCOMPANY THIS COLD FRONT HELPING TO PUSH THIS FRONT THROUGH MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA BY THURSDAY. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY ALONG THE FRONT BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE IS ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT/FRIDAY. BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT IN KEEPING NEXT WEEKEND DRY AS HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE OHIO VALLEY AND GREAT LAKES AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE SEASONABLE WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 80S AND LOWS IN THE 60S DURING THIS TIME FRAME. KNS && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS TROPICAL SURFACE LOW WAS CENTERED ABOUT 90NM SOUTHWEST OF KMEM AT 17Z...DRIVING NORTHWEST AROUND 10KTS. THE POSITION OF THE LOW PUTS THE MIDSOUTH IN THE WARM SECTOR THIS AFTERNOON. 12Z NAM MODEL CONTINUES TO PLACE LOW TO MODERATE INSTABILITY OVER NORTH MS... THROUGH SOUTHWEST TN... INTO NORTHEAST AR THROUGH 00Z. TAFS WERE UPDATED EARLIER FOR ADDITION OF THUNDER AND ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE FOR THE 18Z SCHEDULED ISSUANCE. LOW MVFR AND IFR CIGS APPEAR IN STORE FOR LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT PERIODS...THROUGH THE GFS LAMP GUIDANCE MAY BE OVERDONE JUST A BIT. CIGS SHOULD IMPROVE TO SOLID MVFR BY AROUND 15Z MONDAY. PWB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 69 81 69 84 / 70 80 50 60 MKL 68 80 68 83 / 70 80 40 60 JBR 67 80 67 83 / 90 90 60 60 TUP 68 82 68 84 / 50 70 30 60 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 5:10 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 510 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 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>092-260015- 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- 510 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A FEW ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING OVER THE MID SOUTH. HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOODING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...AND PEA SIZE HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY STORM DAMAGE OR FLASH FLOODING TO THE MEMPHIS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. JLH
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 437 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 TNZ019-048-242200- LAUDERDALE TN-DYER TN- 437 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHWESTERN DYER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UNIONVILLE AT 437 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THIS STORM IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF INCREASING ROTATION AND WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN DYER AND LAUDERDALE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT.
Local storm report, May 24, 5:25 PM CDT, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
525 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0510 PM FLASH FLOOD LAKE CITY 35.82N 90.45W
05/24/2009 CRAIGHEAD AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 63 FLOODING. NO HOMES
IMPACTED AT THIS TIME.
0436 PM FLASH FLOOD JONESBORO 35.82N 90.69W
05/24/2009 CRAIGHEAD AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
STREET FLOODING WIDESPREAD ACROSS CITY. NO HOMES
IMPACTED.
&&
MRMSpecial weather statement, May 24, 5:39 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 539 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 TNZ048-242315- LAUDERDALE TN- 539 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER EDITH AT 539 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THIS STORM IS SHOWING SIGNS OF INCREASING ROTATION AND WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CDT. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES CHISHOLM LAKE.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 4:36 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Craighead, Greene, Lawrence | 5 hr |
| May 24, 5:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 49 min |
| May 24, 6:34 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 26 min |
| May 24, 6:52 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Cross, Poinsett | 38 min |
| May 24, 4:43 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Dyer, Lauderdale | 47 min |
| May 24, 6:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Dyer | 43 min |
| May 24, 6:43 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Crockett, Dyer, Haywood, Lauderdale | 3 hr |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2009Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 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.