Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 175, NWS Memphis, TN

May 4, 2020Decatur County, Hardin County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2020, 7:48 PM CDT for Decatur County, Hardin County, Tennessee. It was in force for 27 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
May 4, 2020, 7:48 PM CDT (00:48 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2020, 8:15 PM CDT
In force
27 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Decatur County, TN, Hardin County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 157 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:50 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 4, 2:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 161 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2020-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 17 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1666 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
164 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

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 May 4, 6:49 PM CDT, 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 6:49 PM CDT, 59 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
649 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020

.UPDATE...

Updated for 00Z Aviation Discussion.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 303 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020/

DISCUSSION...
Current radar imagery shows activity finally moving into eastern
Arkansas. Current mesoanalysis and short range models shows the
environment is favorable for damaging winds and hail. Instability
and low level shear will ramp up as a warm front lifts northward
towards Missouri. The tornado threat seems to ramp up for this
afternoons storms with low level helicity values increasing but
the main threats will likely be damaging wind and large hail.
Short range models indicate showers continuing until 8 PM for the
first round. The tornado threat should diminish as the second
round of showers moves through later tonight into tomorrow morning
as a cold front approaches the area. There could be some
potential for storms later in the evening Tuesday but confidence
is low.

Temperatures tonight into tomorrow will generally be in the upper
60s. Cooler air will move into the area as the front passes allowing
for breezy conditions and high temperatures to be in the mid 70s.

Showers will finally end by Wednesday as the trough finally moves to
our east. Dry weather will persist through Thursday allowing for
pleasant weather. Highs Wednesday and Thursday will generally be in
the upper 60s to lower 70s. Lows will generally be in the lower
50s.

The next chance for showers and thunderstorms will approach the area
Thursday night into Friday morning as a cold front moves towards the
area. So far, instability looks to be minimal but there could be the
potential for strong to severe storms. It's a little too early to
mention in the HWO at this time but we will continue to monitor.

Temperatures will drop this weekend into the 60s as a large upper
trough over the Great Lakes and the eastern U.S. will push cooler
air into the Mid-South. Lows this weekend will be in the 40s with
the potential for a freeze. Will continue to monitor.

SGW

&&

.AVIATION...
/00z TAFs/

Convection continues to progress to the east across West Tennessee
this evening potentially impacting MKL. Gusty winds and hail are
possible with this convection. Another round of storms is possible
tonight as a cold front moves through the area. There still
remains some uncertainty as to how well this will hold together
while moving towards the area. Maintained the use of VCTS at JBR
at 05/03Z, however, did not include the mention of VCSH/VCTS
anywhere else. Will need to monitor.

Cigs will improve as the frontal boundary lifts north resulting in
increasing southerly winds. Gusty winds will shift to the
northwest with the passage of the cold front early Tuesday.
Additional MVFR cigs near 2000ft are possible as early as 05/10Z
Tuesday.

17

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 4:05 AM CDT, 15 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
405 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020

ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-051115-
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-
405 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Severe storms are possible north of a Helena-West Helena,
Arkansas to Tupelo, Mississippi line this afternoon into this
evening. The best chance for severe weather will be across
Northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel and Northwest Tennessee.
The most likely time for severe weather will be between 2 pm and
midnight. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats
though a tornado is possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

SJM

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 4, 6:27 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
627 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020

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

0623 PM     HAIL             BLUE GOOSE              35.70N  88.58W
05/04/2020  M1.25 INCH       HENDERSON          TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            QUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL IN BLUE GOOSE

&&
Local storm report, May 4, 6:29 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
629 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020

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

0625 PM     HAIL             HUMBOLDT                35.82N  88.91W
05/04/2020  M1.75 INCH       GIBSON             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&
Special weather statement, May 4, 6:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
633 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020

TNZ020-021-050000-
Carroll TN-Gibson TN-
633 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 700 PM CDT
FOR...

West central Carroll County in western Tennessee...
Gibson County in western Tennessee...

At 633 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Dyer, or 8 miles
northwest of Trenton, moving southeast at 70 mph.

Dangerous cloud to ground lightning is also possible with this
thunderstorm.

People in west central Carroll and Gibson Counties should monitor
this storm closely.

LAT...LON 3593 8835 3587 8880 3602 8918 3603 8916
      3609 8916 3621 8908 3620 8907
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 296DEG 71KT 3607 8905

SGW
Local storm report, May 4, 6:36 PM CDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
636 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020

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

0627 PM     HAIL             MEDINA                  35.80N  88.77W
05/04/2020  E1.00 INCH       GIBSON             TN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN MEDINA

&&

SMW
Local storm report, May 4, 6:45 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
645 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020

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

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     8 S DYERSBURG           35.92N  89.38W
05/04/2020                   DYER               TN   PUBLIC

            MPING REPORT OF TREES UPROOTED SOUTH OF DYERSBURG.

&&
Local storm report, May 4, 6:54 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 7:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Carroll, Decatur18 min
May 4, 7:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDecatur, Henderson34 min
May 4, 7:26 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGChester, Crockett, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison2 hr
May 4, 7:30 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChester15 min
May 4, 7:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDecatur15 min
May 4, 7:53 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGChester, Decatur, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy, Madison2 hr
May 4, 8:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChester, Hardin45 min
May 4, 8:02 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChester, Hardin43 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2020Every 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.