Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 73, NWS Memphis, TN

March 28, 2020Clay County, Greene County, Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 28, 2020, 5:16 PM CDT for Clay County, Greene County, Arkansas. It was in force for 34 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: Mar 28, 2020, 5:16 PM CDT (22:16 UTC)
Expired: Mar 28, 2020, 5:50 PM CDT
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Clay County, AR, Greene County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:21 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 28, 2:10 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 180 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: 172 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -331 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 810 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 177 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 162 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

446 
WUUS54 KMEG 282216
SVRMEG
ARC021-055-282300-
/O.NEW.KMEG.SV.W.0073.200328T2216Z-200328T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
516 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  North central Greene County in eastern Arkansas...
  Central Clay County in eastern Arkansas...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 516 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Peach
  Orchard, or 10 miles south of Corning, moving northeast at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Piggott, Corning, Chalk Bluff Natural Area, Lafe, Knobel, St.
  Francis, Pollard, McDougal, Peach Orchard, Saint Francis, Crockett,
  Stonewall, Tipperary, Hickoria, Knob and Chalk Bluff Battlefield
  Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3650 9016 3648 9016 3648 9014 3647 9015
      3647 9014 3646 9014 3644 9013 3643 9014
      3618 9057 3624 9072 3650 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2216Z 221DEG 52KT 3626 9060 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

MJ

3 follow-up statements

172 
WWUS54 KMEG 282220
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
520 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARC021-055-282300-
/O.CON.KMEG.SV.W.0073.000000T0000Z-200328T2300Z/
Greene AR-Clay AR-
520 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT
FOR NORTH CENTRAL GREENE AND CENTRAL CLAY COUNTIES...

At 520 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Knobel, or 7
miles south of Corning, moving northeast at 60 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Piggott, Corning, Chalk Bluff Natural Area, Lafe, Knobel, St.
Francis, Pollard, McDougal, Peach Orchard, Saint Francis, Crockett,
Stonewall, Tipperary, Hickoria, Knob and Chalk Bluff Battlefield
Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3650 9016 3648 9016 3648 9014 3647 9015
      3647 9014 3646 9014 3644 9013 3643 9014
      3618 9057 3624 9072 3650 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2220Z 221DEG 52KT 3630 9055 

TORNADO...POSSIBLE
HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

MJ

025 
WWUS54 KMEG 282241
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
541 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARC055-282251-
/O.CAN.KMEG.SV.W.0073.000000T0000Z-200328T2300Z/
Greene AR-
541 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
    
The severe 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 700 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.

LAT...LON 3650 9016 3648 9016 3648 9014 3647 9015
      3647 9014 3646 9014 3644 9013 3643 9014
      3626 9043 3627 9060 3650 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 224DEG 33KT 3644 9038 

$$

ARC021-282300-
/O.CON.KMEG.SV.W.0073.000000T0000Z-200328T2300Z/
Clay AR-
541 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN CLAY COUNTY...

At 541 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over McDougal, or 9
miles west of Chalk Bluff Natural Area, moving northeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Piggott, Corning, Chalk Bluff Natural Area, St. Francis, Pollard,
McDougal, Saint Francis, Crockett, Knob, Tipperary, Hickoria and
Chalk Bluff Battlefield Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3650 9016 3648 9016 3648 9014 3647 9015
      3647 9014 3646 9014 3644 9013 3643 9014
      3626 9043 3627 9060 3650 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 224DEG 33KT 3644 9038 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

MJ

419 
WWUS54 KMEG 282250
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
550 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARC021-282259-
/O.CAN.KMEG.SV.W.0073.000000T0000Z-200328T2300Z/
Clay AR-
550 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN CLAY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.

LAT...LON 3650 9016 3648 9016 3648 9014 3647 9015
      3647 9014 3646 9014 3644 9013 3643 9014
      3626 9043 3627 9060 3650 9055
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 221DEG 52KT 3654 9027 

$$

MJ

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 Mar 28, 3:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 3:37 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
337 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

.DISCUSSION...

Latest surface analysis places a 993mb low pressure system over
southwestern Iowa, with a warm front extending eastward through
north central Illinois, and a cold front extending southward
through western Missouri and into Little Rock, Arkansas. Storms
have begun to fire just ahead ahead of the cold front in Central
and eastern Arkansas. So far, storms have remained mainly sub-
severe, as shear is likely overwhelming the thermodynamic
environment. However, the storms are moving into our area, which
is moderately unstable with 1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE available on
tap.

A tornado watch has been issued for the majority of Arkansas,
including all of eastern Arkansas until 7PM. The main risk with
these storms appears to be damaging winds and large hail attm,
with a low end tornado threat, as low level helicity is currently
below 100 m2/s2. However, the risk for QLCS-type tornadoes will
likely increase this evening, as the low level jet picks up and
storms organize into quasi linear segments. Ample instability in
the 1500-2500 MLCAPE range combined with 0-6 km shear of 80kts,
and a coincident 100 kt 500mb jet streak, should be enough for a
strong line of storms to maintain through late this evening. The
primary risk still appears to be damaging winds with a secondary
threat of large hail and short-lived isolated tornadoes. The
threat will end after midnight as the front exits northeast
Mississippi. A few trailing post-frontal showers are possible
overnight as the main trough lifts out of the area.

Pacific high pressure will build into the Mid-South for Sunday,
leading to dry and pleasant conditions. Expect high temperatures
mainly in the upper 60s to lower 70s. High pressure will quickly
slide by Monday as another system develops to our southwest. A
quick moving shortwave will eject across the Desert Southwest on
Monday and make its way into the Texas Panhandle late Monday
night. A surface low is expected to develop and track eastward
through northern Louisiana and Central Mississippi during the day
on Tuesday. This will enhance shower and thunderstorm activity
across our area on Monday night and Tuesday. Due to the track of
the low, the severe threat will stay to our south and mainly along
the Gulf Coast. The system will likely be a heavy rainfall
producer for us and that's about it. The surface low is expected
to push southeast of the area by late Tuesday night, with Canadian
high pressure building into the Mid-South from the northwest.
This will lead to a few consecutive days of dry and near normal
temperatures. The next weather maker looks to arrive this weekend
as a cold front moves across the Mississippi Valley.

AC3

&&

.AVIATION...
/18Z TAFs/

MVFR CIGs are expected to prevail for most of the day today along
with strengthening southerly winds and gusts up to 25 kts. A line
of showers and thunderstorms is expected to move quickly across
the Mid-South late evening. Showers should move into JBR by 22Z
then progress eastward through the night. Temporary IFR conditions
due to heave rain is likely in association with thunderstorms
along with gusty winds with thunderstorms. Winds will diminish
overnight to less than 10kt, shifting southwest to west. Skies
will likely clear by early morning and persist through Sunday.

SGW

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 28, 2:20 PM CDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
220 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-292130-
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-
220 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A tornado watch is in effect until 7PM CDT for all of eastern
Arkansas. Additional convective watches are possible downstream
later tonight.

Severe thunderstorms containing damaging winds, large
hail, and a few tornadoes are possible beginning early this
evening through approximately midnight for the entire Mid-South.
The greatest threat for severe thunderstorms will exist mainly
along and north of the I-40 corridor.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible this afternoon and evening.

AC3

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:28 PM CDT, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
428 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0425 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SW WALDENBURG           35.56N  90.93W
03/28/2020                   POINSETT           AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD SOUTH OF WALDENBURG.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:30 PM CDT, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
430 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0428 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 S WEINER              35.59N  90.90W
03/28/2020                   POINSETT           AR   PUBLIC

            FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED SOUTH OF WEINER.

&&

Special weather statement, Mar 28, 4:37 PM CDT, 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
437 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARZ009-018-MOZ113-282200-
Greene AR-Clay AR-Dunklin MO-
437 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR...

Northeastern Greene County in eastern Arkansas...
Eastern Clay County in eastern Arkansas...
Northeastern Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri...

At 437 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing penny size hail was
located near Marmaduke, moving northeast at 60 mph.

People in northeastern Greene...eastern Clay and northeastern Dunklin
Counties should monitor this storm closely.

LAT...LON 3663 8996 3645 8996 3639 8997 3611 9040
      3624 9055 3650 9032 3650 9022 3652 9022
      3654 9021 3655 9019 3657 9018 3659 9019
      3661 9016 3661 9017 3662 9015 3663 9015
TIME...MOT...LOC 2137Z 225DEG 51KT 3624 9041

MJ

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:50 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
450 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0447 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     CASH                    35.80N  90.93W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR CASH.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:02 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
502 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0457 PM     TORNADO          JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TORNADO ON GROUND GOING THROUGH JONESBORO HIGHWAY
            67 AND DOWNTOWN ON STADIUM BLVD.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:12 PM CDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
512 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0503 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 ENE JONESBORO         35.83N  90.65W
03/28/2020  M74 MPH          CRAIGHEAD          AR   ASOS

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 28, 4:19 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Craighead, Poinsett	26 min
Mar 28, 4:37 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Clay	23 min
Mar 28, 4:39 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Greene	2 hr
Mar 28, 4:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Craighead, Poinsett	34 min
Mar 28, 4:47 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Craighead, Poinsett	28 min
Mar 28, 4:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay	25 min
Mar 28, 5:09 PM CDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threat	MEG	Craighead, Greene	36 min
Mar 28, 5:27 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	48 min
Mar 28, 5:51 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	28 min
Mar 28, 6:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Mississippi	47 min
Mar 28, 6:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Phillips	49 min
Mar 28, 6:29 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett	46 min
Mar 28, 6:56 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Mississippi	34 min
Mar 28, 6:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lee, Phillips	48 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.