Alert archive / Mississippi / Tornado Warnings in 2015
Tornado Warning 23, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Dec 23, 2015, 4:56 PM CST for Alcorn County, Benton County, Tippah County, Mississippi; Hardeman County, McNairy County, Tennessee. It was in force for 49 min. 5 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
- Dec 23, 2015, 4:56 PM CST (22:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 23, 2015, 5:45 PM CST
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Emergency
- Tornado emergency
- Tornado
- Observed
- Damage threat
- Catastrophic
- Hail
- 2.0 in
Counties Alcorn County, MS, Benton County, MS, Tippah County, MS, Hardeman County, TN, McNairy County, TN
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 5:05 PM CST | TORNADO | 1 S Pocahontas, TN | A TRAILER WAS FLIPPED OVER AND THROWN OVER 200 FEET. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. |
| Dec 23, 5:07 PM CST | TORNADO | 2 S Middleton, TN | SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF MIDDLETON NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE BORDER. |
| Dec 23, 5:07 PM CST | TORNADO | Walnut, MS | WEDGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND ON HIGHWAY 72 JUST EAST OF WALNUT MISSISSIPPI. |
| Dec 23, 5:26 PM CST | TORNADO | 1 S Selmer, TN | HOUSES ARE LEVELED IN THE FALCON COMMUNITY OF SELMER. NO INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME. ROADS ARE BARRICADED. |
| Dec 23, 5:30 PM CST | TORNADO | Selmer, TN | HEAVY DEBRIS REPORTED IN SELMER. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 11:57 AM CST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 9 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KBYH), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 113 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
- 343 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -24 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 568 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 58 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 331 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 353 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 0.9
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
983
WFUS54 KMEG 232256
TORMEG
MSC003-009-139-TNC069-109-232345-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0023.151223T2256Z-151223T2345Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
456 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR NORTHERN TIPPAH COUNTY...NORTHEASTBENTON
COUNTY...SOUTHERN HARDEMAN COUNTY...AND MCNAIRY COUNTY.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHEASTERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHWESTERN ALCORN COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHWESTERN TIPPAH COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI...
MCNAIRY COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
SOUTHEASTERN HARDEMAN COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
* UNTIL 545 PM CST
* AT 454 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO WAS
OBSERVED NEAR CANAAN...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF RIPLEY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR NORTHERN TIPPAH COUNTY...NORTHEAST
BENTON COUNTY...SOUTHERN HARDEMAN COUNTY...AND MCNAIRY COUNTY. TAKE
COVER NOW. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DEADLY TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS
MAY BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE
HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE.
* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
BIG HILL POND STATE PARK AND POCAHONTAS AROUND 510 PM CST.
SELMER AROUND 525 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
CYPRESS...CHALYBEATE...BETHEL SPRINGS...CAFFEY...FORTY FORKS...
BROWNFIELD...OLD LAWTON...NEW CANAAN...RAMER AND BRODY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TO REPEAT...A LARGE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE...TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE
TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID
WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE
CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.
A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 8906 3496 8913 3525 8873 3525 8872
3537 8856 3512 8837 3509 8837
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 237DEG 55KT 3495 8904
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC
HAIL...2.00IN
$$4 follow-up statements
775
WWUS54 KMEG 232313
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
513 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
MSC003-009-139-232322-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
BENTON MS-ALCORN MS-TIPPAH MS-
513 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN BENTON...NORTHWESTERN ALCORN
AND NORTHWESTERN TIPPAH COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR NORTHEASTERN
MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN TENNESSEE.
LAT...LON 3499 8879 3500 8881 3508 8889 3525 8873
3525 8872 3537 8856 3512 8837 3509 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 237DEG 55KT 3510 8875
$$
TNC069-109-232345-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
MCNAIRY TN-HARDEMAN TN-
513 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR MCNAIRY
AND SOUTHEASTERN HARDEMAN COUNTIES...
AT 512 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO WAS
LOCATED NEAR BIG HILL POND STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
SELMER AROUND 525 PM CST.
OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM INCLUDE
CYPRESS...STANTONVILLE...PURDY...BETHEL SPRINGS...FORTY FORKS...
MARTIN CAMP...OLD LAWTON...MCNAIRY...RAMER AND GOOD HOPE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8879 3500 8881 3508 8889 3525 8873
3525 8872 3537 8856 3512 8837 3509 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 237DEG 55KT 3510 8875
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.25IN
$$344
WWUS54 KMEG 232319
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
519 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
TNC069-232328-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
HARDEMAN TN-
519 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HARDEMAN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR WESTERN
TENNESSEE.
LAT...LON 3503 8870 3505 8875 3513 8878 3525 8873
3525 8872 3537 8856 3512 8837 3509 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 237DEG 55KT 3515 8865
$$
TNC109-232345-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
MCNAIRY TN-
519 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR CENTRAL
MCNAIRY COUNTY...
AT 518 PM CST...A CONFIRMED LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO
WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTHWEST OF SELMER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
THE PEROPLE IN SELMER ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM AND NEED TO TAKE
COVER NOW.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
HAZARD...DAMAGING TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR CONFIRMED TORNADO.
IMPACT...YOU ARE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. FLYING DEBRIS MAY
BE DEADLY TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES
WILL BE DESTROYED. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO
HOMES...BUSINESSES AND VEHICLES IS LIKELY AND COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION IS POSSIBLE.
THIS TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF
CENTRAL MCNAIRY COUNTY...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
STANTONVILLE...PURDY...FORTY FORKS...BETHEL SPRINGS...MARTIN CAMP...
OLD LAWTON...MCNAIRY...RAMER...GOOD HOPE AND PEBBLE HILL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.
A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TAKE
IMMEDIATE TORNADO PRECAUTIONS. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
&&
LAT...LON 3503 8870 3505 8875 3513 8878 3525 8873
3525 8872 3537 8856 3512 8837 3509 8838
TIME...MOT...LOC 2318Z 237DEG 55KT 3515 8865
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
HAIL...1.25IN
$$785
WWUS54 KMEG 232327
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
527 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
TNC109-232345-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
MCNAIRY TN-
527 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM CST FOR CENTRAL
MCNAIRY COUNTY...
AT 527 PM CST...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR SELMER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.
HAZARD...TORNADO.
SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION.
IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT
SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE
TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR. TREE DAMAGE IS
LIKELY.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SELMER...BETHEL SPRINGS...EASTVIEW...STANTONVILLE...GOOD HOPE...
PURDY...FORTY FORKS...NEW LAWTON...MARTIN CAMP AND OLD LAWTON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORNADOES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. DO NOT
WAIT TO SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW.
&&
LAT...LON 3509 8858 3514 8866 3523 8868 3534 8854
3518 8842 3516 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 237DEG 55KT 3523 8851
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN
$$271
WWUS54 KMEG 232341
SVSMEG
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
541 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
TNC109-232351-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-151223T2345Z/
MCNAIRY TN-
541 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL MCNAIRY COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 545
PM CST...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.
THEREFORE THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST FOR WESTERN
TENNESSEE.
LAT...LON 3509 8858 3514 8866 3523 8868 3534 8854
3518 8842 3516 8840
TIME...MOT...LOC 2340Z 237DEG 55KT 3523 8851
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2:53 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Coahoma | 36 min |
| Dec 23, 3:00 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Coahoma | 23 min |
| Dec 23, 3:13 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Coahoma, Quitman | 47 min |
| Dec 23, 3:35 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Panola | 40 min |
| Dec 23, 3:41 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie | 49 min |
| Dec 23, 3:53 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tate | 52 min |
| Dec 23, 4:12 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Panola, Tallahatchie | 48 min |
| Dec 23, 4:32 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Benton, Marshall, Tippah | 43 min |
| Dec 23, 4:34 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Panola, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha | 41 min |
| Dec 23, 4:45 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Marshall | 45 min |
| Dec 23, 4:59 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Yalobusha | 46 min |
| Dec 23, 5:19 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Tippah, Union | 41 min |
| Dec 23, 5:20 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Quitman, Tallahatchie | 40 min |
| Dec 23, 5:24 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Benton, Tippah, Union | 51 min |
| Dec 23, 5:34 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Tippah, Union | 41 min |
| Dec 23, 5:50 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Alcorn, Prentiss | 40 min |
| Dec 22, 10:01 PM CST | River Flood Advisory | MEG | Decatur, Hardin | 4 days |
| Dec 23, 11:46 AM CST | River Flood Advisory | MEG | Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale | 4 days |
| Dec 23, 2:04 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lake, Obion | 41 min |
| Dec 23, 2:49 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Dyer, Lake, Obion | 3 hr |
| Dec 23, 2:50 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Dyer | 25 min |
| Dec 23, 2:53 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Dyer | 37 min |
| Dec 23, 3:51 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Fayette, Shelby, Tipton | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 4:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Tipton | 35 min |
| Dec 23, 4:18 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crockett, Gibson, Weakley | 27 min |
| Dec 23, 4:21 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Crockett, Gibson, Weakley | 24 min |
| Dec 23, 4:27 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Carroll, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Obion, Weakley | 3 hr |
| Dec 23, 4:33 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Carroll, Crockett, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Madison | 42 min |
| Dec 23, 4:45 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Gibson, Henry, Weakley | 45 min |
| Dec 23, 5:10 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Henry, Weakley | 35 min |
| Dec 23, 5:31 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Chester, Decatur, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy | 44 min |
| Dec 23, 5:32 PM CST | Flash Flood Warning | MEG | Chester, Henderson, Madison | 3 hr |
| Dec 23, 5:40 PM CST | Tornado Warning | MEG | Decatur, Hardin, McNairy | 35 min |
| Dec 23, 5:55 PM CST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Henderson | 23 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Mississippi, 2015Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2015Every tornado warning in 2015Tornadoes in 2015
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.