Alert archive / Arkansas / Special Weather Statements in 2011
Special Weather Statement, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this special weather statement at May 20, 2011, 3:16 PM CDT for Greene County, Lawrence County, Randolph County, Arkansas. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- May 20, 2011, 3:16 PM CDT (20:16 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2011, 4:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 44 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
Counties Greene County, AR, Lawrence County, AR, Randolph County, AR
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:19 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 hours before the alert went out and 166 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
- 1204 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -113 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 766 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 55 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 28 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Service Notice</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
<main class="wrap">
<section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
<div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
<h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
<p id="message1">
The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
</p>
<p id="message2">
Please try again in a few minutes.
</p>
<p class="small" id="detail">
If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
</p>
</section>
</main>
<script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at May 20, 1:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 1:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 121 PM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1051 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011/ UPDATE... MADE SOME EDITS TO THE GRIDS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY...MAINLY TO PUSH BACK THUNDERSTORM TIMING TO LATE AFTERNOON. GOOD SURFACE HEATING SHOULD ALLOW FOR MODERATE DESTABILIZATION BUT SHEAR IS PRETTY WEAK SO I EXPECT THE ORGANIZED SEVERE THREAT TO REMAIN JUST WEST OF THE CWA. REFERENCE SPC MCD825 FOR MORE INFORMATION. BORGHOFF && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 313 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011/ GULF MOISTURE WILL MAKE A NOTICEABLE RETURN TO THE MIDSOUTH TODAY... IN ADVANCE OF AN UPPER LEVEL LONGWAVE TROF LIFTING INTO THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS. A DOWNSTREAM RIDGE AXIS OVER THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY WILL EFFECTIVELY CAP DEEP CONVECTION FOR MOST OF THE DAY... THOUGH AN ELEVATED CAPPING WARM LAYER WILL ERODE DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH UPPER LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS WEST OF THE MS RIVER. RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT PERIODS... AS SCATTERED CLUSTERS OF STORMS LIFT EASTWARD IN ADVANCE OF SHARP MIDLEVEL TROF AXIS LIFTING INTO THE MID MS VALLEY. AREAS NORTH OF I40 WILL SEE GREATEST RAIN POTENTIAL...THOUGH A FORWARD PROPAGATING MCS COULD BRING AN APPRECIABLE RAIN CHANCE INCREASE TO NORTHEAST MS. HODOGRAPHS APPEAR RATHER UNIMPRESSIVE... AND ANY SEVERE THREAT FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY WOULD BE PRIMARILY LIMITED TO SEVERE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL FLATTEN BY SUNDAY...INTO MONDAY. WITH LOW AMPLITUDE WEST/SOUTHWEST FLOW... AND WEAK CINH... ISOLATED STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY... WITH LITTLE DISCERNIBLE FOCUS AT THIS TIME. NEXT SIGNIFICANT UPPER LEVEL WAVE ARRIVES WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH THE PASSAGE AN UPPER LOW ACROSS THE MID MS RIVER VALLEY. GFS/ECMWF MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT REGARDING TIMING AND AMPLITUDE OF THIS FEATURE. UNDER SUCH A SCENARIO...THE MIDSOUTH WOULD LIKELY SEE A LINEAR MCS ALONG AND AHEAD OF A SURFACE COLD FRONT. 00Z GFS/ECMWF MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE SIGNIFICANTLY BY NEXT WEEKEND...WITH THE ECMWF MAINTAINING NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH... WILE THE GFS CONVERSELY BUILDS AN UPPER RIDGE. EITHER SOLUTION WOULD BE DRY...BUT THERE EXISTS REDUCED FORECAST CONFIDENCE FOR TEMPERATURES LATE NEXT WEEK. PWB && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE (1PM FRI - 1PM SAT) VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF TODAY AT ALL OF THE TAF SITES (OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS). THERE MAY BE A FEW STORMS NEAR JBR AND MEM LATER THIS AFTERNOON AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES NORTH ACROSS ARKANSAS. MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY LIKELY LATER TONIGHT ALONG WITH INCREASED CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THESE CONDITIONS WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING WITH A MIX OF VFR/MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES. WINDS WILL REMAIN BRISK FROM THE SOUTH THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS EXPECTED MAINLY DURING PEAK MIXING PERIODS DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS. JLH && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 70 84 72 89 / 30 50 20 30 MKL 66 82 67 87 / 20 40 20 30 JBR 67 83 69 86 / 50 60 30 30 TUP 66 87 68 91 / 10 40 20 20 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 20, 3:34 AM CDT, 11 hours 42 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 334 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-211045- 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- 334 AM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG. MODERATE TO MAJOR RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE ST FRANCIS RIVER AND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. SOME BACKWATER FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE ALONG TRIBUTARIES TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST OF THE MIDSOUTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY... MAINLY TO THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL INCLUDE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT...INTO EARLY THURSDAY. RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER INTO THE UPCOMING WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. PWB
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 20, 3:16 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
316 PM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011
ARZ008-009-017-018-026-202100-
CRAIGHEAD AR-CLAY AR-RANDOLPH AR-GREENE AR-LAWRENCE AR-
316 PM CDT FRI MAY 20 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR...
WESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
WESTERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
WESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING DIME SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND
WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH WAS LOCATED FROM 7 MILES WEST OF
STRAWBERRY TO 24 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CASH AT 316 PM CDT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN CLAY...CRAIGHEAD...GREENE...LAWRENCE AND RANDOLPH
COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BLACK ROCK...BONO...CORNING...
CROWLEYS RIDGE STATE PARK...HOXIE...LAKE CHARLES STATE PARK...LAKE
FRIERSON STATE PARK...POCAHONTAS AND WALNUT RIDGE...SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3606 9137 3650 9099 3651 9045 3595 9053
3571 9104 3571 9105 3588 9105 3589 9128
3589 9136 3590 9137
TIME...MOT...LOC 2016Z 215DEG 32KT 3594 9144 3579 9121
3551 9114The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2:32 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lawrence, Randolph | 43 min |
| May 20, 3:45 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Craighead, Poinsett | 30 min |
| May 20, 4:10 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Greene | 35 min |
| May 20, 4:17 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Craighead | 28 min |
| May 20, 4:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Crittenden, Mississippi, Poinsett | 41 min |
| May 20, 5:36 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Craighead | 24 min |
| May 20, 6:17 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Mississippi | 28 min |
| May 20, 6:27 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Mississippi | 33 min |
Nearby
Special Weather Statements in Arkansas, 2011Every special weather statement in 2011
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.