Alert archive / Arkansas / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Memphis, TN

December 20, 2012Lawrence County, Randolph County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this special weather statement at Dec 20, 2012, 1:36 AM CST for Lawrence County, Randolph County, Arkansas. It was in force for 39 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
Dec 20, 2012, 1:36 AM CST (07:36 UTC)
Expired
Dec 20, 2012, 2:15 AM CST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN

Counties Lawrence County, AR, Randolph County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 153 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:37 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 00:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 190 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 00:00Z on 2012-12-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 00:00Z on 2012-12-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 529 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-260 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
803 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
78 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
529 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
617 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.

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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 Dec 19, 11:47 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 19, 11:47 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1147 PM CST WED DEC 19 2012

.UPDATE...
UPDATED TO ADD 06Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 935 PM CST WED DEC 19 2012/

UPDATE...
DYNAMIC UPPER LOW WAS LIFTING FROM THE ROCKIES INTO THE CENTRAL
PLAINS AT MIDEVENING. PREFRONTAL THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED NEAR THE
NOSE OF A LOW LEVEL THETA E RIDGE EXTENDING FROM THE ARKLATEX NORTHWARD
INTO SOUTHWEST MO. THIS THETA E RIDGE WILL SHIFT EASTWARD INTO THE
MIDSOUTH TONIGHT... WITH THE EASTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER LOW.

00Z NAM SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW UPDRAFTS LIKELY ROOTED IN THE
900 TO 925 MB LAYER ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH DURING THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS. PREFRONTAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY FORM AHEAD OF THE
MAIN FRONT...AS CONVECTIVE INHIBITION ERODES WITH THE APPROACH
OF ELEVATED THETA E RIDGE. THE MAJORITY OF THE DIRECTIONAL SHEAR
WILL OCCUR IN THE LOW LEVEL INVERSION BELOW THE LIFTED PARCEL
LEVEL. ABOVE THIS INVERSION IN THE BUOYANT LAYER... NAM PROGS CAPES
OF 500 TO 700 J/KG FROM THE DELTA...INTO THE MEMPHIS METRO AT
09Z/3AM CST.

FORECAST WAS UPDATED EARLIER WITH ADJUSTMENTS TO PRECIP TIMING AND
POPS. NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES PLANNED AT THIS TIME.

PWB

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 615 PM CST WED DEC 19 2012/

UPDATE...
UPDATED TO ADD 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 330 PM CST WED DEC 19 2012/

DISCUSSION...

TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...
STRONG MODEL AGREEMENT ON THE SHORT TERM FORECAST LEADS TO VERY
HIGH CONFIDENCE FORECAST THROUGH THE NEXT 36 HOURS. SIGNIFICANT
WINDS WILL BE DEVELOPING AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT WILL
PUSH THROUGH THE MID SOUTH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON
THURSDAY WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS LINGERING UNTIL THE LATE
AFTERNOON OR EVENING. AHEAD AND ALONG THE FRONT MAY BE A FEW
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE.

LOW PRESSURE CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ACROSS THE OK PANHANDLE AND WILL
CONTINUE TO DO SO AS IT PUSHES NORTHEAST TOWARDS THE CHICAGO AREA
BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. VERY STRONG GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP ALONG
WITH DEEP AND STRONG WINDS ALOFT WILL ALL COMBINE FOR THE HIGH
WIND POTENTIAL...WITH 50-60 KT WINDS AS LOW AS 1-2K FT ABOVE THE
GROUND OR LESS ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO PUSH THE ENERGY DOWN TO THE SURFACE AND PRODUCE
DAMAGING WINDS AHEAD AND ALONG THE FRONT. VERY LITTLE CAPE OR
INSTABILITY SEEN PER ANY MODEL...EVEN WITH DEWPTS SURGING SLIGHTLY INTO
THE UPPER 50S JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT... MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW VERY
VERTICAL PROFILE AND LITTLE TO GET OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT EXCEPT FOR
THE STRONG WINDS ALOFT THAT ARE SEEN LOWERING AND BUILDING. IT
WILL BE EASY TO GET WINDS GUSTING TO 58+MPH DUE TO THE STRONG
WINDS JUST OFF THE GROUND BY 1-2 K FT. NOT MUCH INDICATION FOR ANY
TORNADO OR HAIL THREAT AT THIS TIME.

PRECIP LOOKS TO ENTER EASTERN ARKANSAS BY LATE THIS EVENING AND
START TO PUSH ACROSS THE MISS RVR BY MIDNIGHT...EXITTING THE
REGION THURSDAY AFTERNOON. COLD FRONT REACHES EASTERN AR BY 3AM
WITH STRONG PUSH OF GUSTY WINDS LIKELY...MOST WILL HEAR OR FEEL IT
WHEN IT ROARS THROUGH...CROSSING THE MS RVR BY 6AM...AND OUT OF
WEST TN AND N MS BY 9AM. AS IT PUSHES THROUGH 50-60 MPH WIND GUSTS WILL
BE VERY MUCH POSSIBLE...AND HIGH SUSTAINED WINDS WILL LINGER IN
THE 20-35 MPH RANGE WITH HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH THE DAY ON THURSDAY UP
TO 50 MPH. MUCH COOLER AIR AND CLOUDY CONDITIONS WILL BE SEEN
THROUGH THE EVENING...POSSIBLE CLEARING BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING
FROM THE WEST. -ABS

FRIDAY THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY...

NOT MUCH CHANGE NEEDED FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST...DECENT
AGREEMENT THROUGH THE WEEKEND...THEN SOME MODEL DISAGREEMENT FOR
CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE THE REGION
FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...WITH SLOW WARMING EACH DAY AND AMPLE SUNSHINE.
MODELS ARE INDICATING SIGNIFICANT STORMS TO IMPACT AREA LATE IN
THE FORECAST PERIOD ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY...BUT STILL SOME
DIFFERENCES IN WHAT THOSE IMPACTS WILL BE...AS SOME MODELS SHOWING
PUSH OF WARMER AIR AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE HEAVY RAIN AND
THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...AND THIS LOOKING LIKE A MORE LIKELY
SCENARIO AT THIS TIME. EITHER WAY AROUND CHRISTMAS DAY SOME FORM
OF PRECIP LOOKS VERY LIKELY...AND AS WE GET CLOSER INTO TIME WILL
BE ABLE TO REFINE MORE TO HOW EXACTLY THE AREA WILL BE IMPACTED.
DEFINITELY A SYSTEM TO WATCH...THOUGH TRENDS WOULD SUGGEST THE
SNOW THREAT IS LESSER WITH TODAY'S RUNS AND THE THE ENSEMBLE MEANS
SHOWING US MAINLY IN THE WARM SECTOR OF THIS STORM. -ABS
&&
.AVIATION...
06Z TAF CYCLE

PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONTINUES
TO TIGHTEN IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING SURFACE LOW OVER SOUTHWEST
MISSOURI. S/SW 925 MB WINDS AT NQA ARE ALREADY AT 51 KTS AND IS
EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO AROUND 60 KTS INTO THE REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT.
THUS...HAVE INCLUDED LLWS IN TAFS TONIGHT/THROUGH AT LEAST 20/12Z.

A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT JBR/MEM MAINLY
BETWEEN 09-13Z...AND MKL/TUP BETWEEN 12-16Z. SOUTHEAST/SOUTH WINDS
WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20 KTS SUSTAINED WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30
KTS OVERNIGHT...VEER WEST/NORTHWEST WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE THURSDAY
MORINING...AND GRADUALLY DIMINISH THURSDAY NIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS
ANTICIPATED TO DETERIORATE TO MVFR CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT WITH A
POTENTIAL FOR IFR CONDITIONS WITHIN THUNDERSTORMS. CONDITIONS WILL
GRADUALLY IMPROVE TO VFR CONDITIONS THURSDAY MORNING AT ALL SITES.

CJC

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM  53  54  29  49 /  90  30   0   0
MKL  55  57  27  47 /  90  80   0   0
JBR  47  50  27  46 / 100  20   0   0
TUP  57  59  28  49 /  90  90   0   0

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
     CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
     PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.

MO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.

MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY 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...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THURSDAY FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
     CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
     HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
     OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 20, 1:19 AM CST, 17 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
119 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-
MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-210930-
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-
119 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012

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 WEATHER SOUTH AND WEST OF A LINE
FROM WYNNE ARKANSAS...BOLIVAR TENNESSEE...TO COFFEEVILLE
MISSISSIPPI AS A STRONG COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE REGION. THE
MAIN THREAT WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS.

A FEW STRONG STORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE
ABOVE LINE. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT.

A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH STARTING
AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

A LINGERING STRONG STORM MAY BE POSSIBLE EAST OF A LINE FROM
JACKSON TN TO TUPELO MS THURSDAY MORNING. STRONG WINDS WILL BE THE
MAIN THREAT.

A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH FOR
THURSDAY.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT.

JAB

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 20, 1:36 AM CST, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 20, 3:15 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCoahoma, Quitman, Tunica30 min
Dec 20, 3:30 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDeSoto45 min
Dec 20, 3:47 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPanola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica28 min
Dec 20, 3:49 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCoahoma, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman and 4 more41 min
Dec 20, 4:03 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDeSoto, Marshall42 min
Dec 20, 4:31 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGBenton, Marshall44 min
Dec 20, 4:32 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLafayette, Panola, Yalobusha43 min
Dec 20, 5:10 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGAlcorn, Benton, Prentiss, Tippah, Union35 min
Dec 20, 5:12 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw, Lee, Pontotoc33 min
Dec 20, 5:45 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGAlcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union45 min
Dec 20, 5:48 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe57 min
Dec 20, 3:13 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLake47 min
Dec 20, 3:32 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDyer, Lauderdale43 min
Dec 20, 4:08 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDyer, Lake, Obion37 min
Dec 20, 4:20 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lauderdale, Tipton40 min
Dec 20, 4:26 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGFayette34 min
Dec 20, 4:52 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGHardeman38 min
Dec 20, 4:58 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCarroll, Chester, Gibson, Madison47 min
Dec 20, 5:29 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGMcNairy46 min
Dec 20, 2:04 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCross, Poinsett41 min
Dec 20, 2:18 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCraighead27 min
Dec 20, 2:37 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLee, Phillips23 min
Dec 20, 2:41 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLee, St. Francis49 min
Dec 20, 2:50 AM CSTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCraighead, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett40 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Arkansas, 2012Every special weather statement in 2012

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.