Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 124, NWS Memphis, TN

April 12, 2020Cross County, Poinsett County, St. Francis County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 12, 2020, 9:25 PM CDT for Cross County, Poinsett County, St. Francis County, Arkansas. It was in force for 50 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Apr 12, 2020, 9:25 PM CDT (02:25 UTC)
Expired: Apr 12, 2020, 10:15 PM CDT
In force: 50 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Cross County, AR, Poinsett County, AR, St. Francis County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:28 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 12, 8:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 88 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1099 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 91 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 109 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 96 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Apr 12, 8:33 PM CDT, 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 12, 8:33 PM CDT, 52 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
833 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

.DISCUSSION...

Skies are cloudy across much of the Mid-South this evening with
temperatures from the mid 50s to around 70 degrees. The first
area of thunderstorms is finally moving out of the eastern side of
the Mid-South with another large area of thunderstorms about to
enter the region from the west. Some of these thunderstorms could
produce damaging winds and large hail so a Severe Thunderstorm
Watch has been issued for roughly the western half of the Mid-
South until 1 AM CDT.

ARS

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 412 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020/

UPDATE...Updated to remove the Tornado watch from North
Mississippi. Redevelopment looks questionable at this time.
Adjusted pops/weather accordingly.

30

PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 223 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020/

DISCUSSION...

SEVERE WEATHER IS STILL POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

A tornado watch remains in effect for North Mississippi. The last
few HRRR runs backed off of the 2nd round of thunderstorms this
evening, but has now increased coverage once again. However, the
surface low that was once well defined, tracking just South of
Memphis is much more diffuse as it tracks into West TN. The warm
front remains to our South but should begin to surge North over
the next few hours ushering in mid-60 degree dew points into
portions of North Mississippi. As this deeper moisture arrives, a
shortwave trough and 70kt mid level jet will shift across the
area. Low level shear remains impressive, 0-1km SRH in excess of
400 m2/s2 should be more than sufficient to support supercellular
storms capable of producing tornadoes and widespread damaging
wind. The main limiting factor will be surface based instability,
which will remain limited until the warm front surges North. The
highest potential for a strong long tracked tornado will likely be
right along or just North of the warm front before sunset.

It is highly uncertain if additional storms will develop along the
cold front but if they do, conditions will be favorable for fast
moving short lived tornadoes as well as damaging wind. By
Midnight, the threat of any severe weather should be over.

Cooler conditions will arrive tomorrow.  Expect temperatures
around 15 degrees below normal Monday and Tuesday with highs in
the 50s followed by a warming trend Wednesday and Thursday. By
Thursday we should see highs in the middle to upper 60s across
most of the Midsouth. There could be frost across portions of West
Tennessee, the Missouri Bootheel and Northeast Arkansas Tuesday
and Wednesday mornings.

A broad trough will deepen over much of the Eastern US Early in
the work week, a weak disturbance rounding the base of the trough
could result in a few light showers Tuesday, but otherwise dry
conditions are expected through Friday.

Expect near to slightly below normal temperatures Friday into the
weekend. No organized storm systems are expected though it looks
like a few additional showers are possible Friday night.

30

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF cycle

Low clouds will continue to cover much of the Mid-South tonight
and will remain through the overnight hours. Showers and
thunderstorms are moving across portions of north Mississippi at
this time. Additional showers and thunderstorms will move into the
region late tonight. Winds will be mainly from the south at 10 to
15 knots this evening before gradually shifting to the west and
increasing to 15 to 20 knots and gusty overnight.

ARS

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Clay-Craighead-
     Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lee AR-Mississippi-Phillips-
     Poinsett-St. Francis.

     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday for Clay-Craighead-
     Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lee AR-Mississippi-Phillips-
     Poinsett-St. Francis.

MO...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Dunklin-Pemiscot.

     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday for Dunklin-Pemiscot.

MS...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday 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.

     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday 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...Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Benton TN-Carroll-
     Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Hardeman-
     Hardin-Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Lake-Lauderdale-Madison-
     McNairy-Obion-Shelby-Tipton-Weakley.

     Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday for Benton TN-Carroll-
     Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Hardeman-
     Hardin-Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Lake-Lauderdale-Madison-
     McNairy-Obion-Shelby-Tipton-Weakley.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 12, 8:39 PM CDT, 46 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
839 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-140345-
Alcorn-Benton MS-Benton TN-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-Lee AR-Lee MS-
Madison-Marshall-McNairy-Mississippi-Monroe-Obion-Panola-Pemiscot-
Phillips-Poinsett-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-Shelby-St. Francis-
Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tipton-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Weakley-
Yalobusha-
839 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas...
the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Severe thunderstorms are still possible across much of the
Midsouth. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats
with thunderstorms that become severe. An isolated tornado is
possible.

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for all of the Midsouth as in
excess of 5 inches of rainfall is possible now through midnight.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect for the entire Mid-South through
the overnight hours. Sustained winds of 25 mph with gusts to 40
mph are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Frost is possible in portions of Northeast Arkansas, the Missouri
Bootheel, and Northwest TN Wednesday morning and possibly again
Thursday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon into
evening in support of severe weather operations. Please relay any
information about observed severe weather to the NWS while
following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 12, 4:42 PM CDT, 4 hours 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
442 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BOONEVILLE              34.66N  88.57W
04/12/2020                   PRENTISS           MS   SOCIAL MEDIA

            A PORCH WAS DAMAGED AND A METAL ROOF PULLED OFF OF
            GARAGE.

&&

MJ

Local storm report, Apr 12, 4:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
445 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 E SAVANNAH            35.22N  88.20W
04/12/2020                   HARDIN             TN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED 7900 BLOCK OF HIGHWAY 203 AT BURNT
            CHURCH.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 12, 4:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
447 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE SAVANNAH           35.20N  88.21W
04/12/2020                   HARDIN             TN   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN FROM BURNT CHURCH THROUGH PYBURN,
            COUNCE AND OLIVET COMMUNITIES.

&&

Local storm report, Apr 12, 5:30 PM CDT, 3 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
530 PM CDT SUN APR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0305 PM     TSTM WND DMG     NEW ALBANY              34.49N  89.02W
04/12/2020                   UNION              MS   BROADCAST MEDIA

            SCATTERED TREES DOWN IN NEW ALBANY.

&&

Special weather statement, Apr 12, 6:14 PM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
614 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

MSZ016-017-023-024-122345-
Itawamba MS-Monroe MS-Lee MS-Chickasaw MS-
614 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 645 PM CDT
FOR...

Southern Itawamba County in northeastern Mississippi...
Northern Monroe County in northeastern Mississippi...
Southeastern Lee County in northeastern Mississippi...
East central Chickasaw County in northeastern Mississippi...

At 614 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located over New Wren, or near
Okolona, moving northeast at 55 mph.

Very heavy rain is also possible with this thunderstorm.

People in southern Itawamba...northern Monroe...southeastern Lee and
east central Chickasaw Counties should monitor this storm closely.

LAT...LON 3402 8821 3385 8868 3401 8878 3435 8827
      3425 8818
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 241DEG 57KT 3398 8865

SGW

Special weather statement, Apr 12, 9:13 PM CDT, 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
913 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

ARZ027-035-048-130245-
Poinsett AR-St. Francis AR-Cross AR-
913 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 945 PM CDT
FOR...

Western Poinsett County in eastern Arkansas...
Western St. Francis County in eastern Arkansas...
Western Cross County in eastern Arkansas...

At 912 PM CDT...strong thunderstorms producing wind gusts up to 50
mph was located along a line extending from 6 miles south of Oil
Trough to near Patterson to near Dobbs Landing. Movement was east at
45 mph.

People in western Poinsett...western St. Francis and western Cross
Counties should monitor this storm closely.

LAT...LON 3500 9104 3571 9104 3571 9101 3532 9076
      3491 9077 3491 9110 3487 9110 3487 9112
      3491 9112 3491 9115 3500 9115
TIME...MOT...LOC 0212Z 256DEG 38KT 3553 9145 3519 9125 3475 9123

MJ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 12, 8:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Coahoma	54 min
Apr 12, 9:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica	43 min
Apr 12, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie and 3 more	55 min
Apr 12, 10:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, DeSoto, Lafayette, Marshall and 5 more	47 min
Apr 12, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Alcorn, Benton, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Marshall and 5 more	53 min
Apr 12, 10:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Alcorn, Itawamba, Monroe, Prentiss, Tishomingo	50 min
Apr 13, 12:12 PM CDT	River Flood Advisory	MEG	DeSoto	8 hr
Apr 13, 12:12 PM CDT	River Flood Advisory	MEG	Coahoma, Tunica	8 hr
Apr 13, 6:06 PM CDT	Frost Advisory	MEG	Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto and 16 more	39 hr
Apr 12, 7:06 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Crockett, Dyer, Lauderdale	9 days
Apr 12, 9:21 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Madison	3 days
Apr 12, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Shelby	40 min
Apr 12, 10:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton	44 min
Apr 12, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, Tipton	51 min
Apr 12, 11:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy and 1 more	66 min
Apr 12, 11:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Carroll, Dyer, Gibson	24 min
Apr 13, 12:05 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Henry, Lake, Obion, Weakley	40 min
Apr 13, 1:43 AM CDT	High Wind Warning	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer and 15 more	4 hr
Apr 13, 4:22 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Decatur, Perry	21 days
Apr 13, 4:22 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	MEG	Benton, Henry, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart	4 days
Apr 13, 6:06 PM CDT	Freeze Watch	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer and 14 more	24 hr
Apr 12, 9:13 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Cross	32 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arkansas, 2020 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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.