Alert archive / Arkansas / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS Memphis, TN

March 28, 20204 counties in Arkansas

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 28, 2020, 6:29 PM CDT for 4 counties in Arkansas. It was in force for 46 min. 1 report 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: Mar 28, 2020, 6:29 PM CDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired: Mar 28, 2020, 7:15 PM CDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Crittenden County, AR, Cross County, AR, Mississippi County, AR, Poinsett County, AR

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:30 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
Mar 28, 7:01 PM CDT	FUNNEL CLOUD	Earle, AR	FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR EARLE MOVING NORTHEAST.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

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, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 82 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.

037 
WUUS54 KMEG 282329
SVRMEG
ARC035-037-093-111-290015-
/O.NEW.KMEG.SV.W.0076.200328T2329Z-200329T0015Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Eastern Poinsett County in eastern Arkansas...
  Southwestern Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas...
  Northwestern Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas...
  Eastern Cross County in eastern Arkansas...

* Until 715 PM CDT.

* At 629 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Village Creek
  State Park, moving northeast at 40 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...
  Wynne, Marked Tree, Earle, Lepanto, Parkin, Tyronza, Village Creek
  State Park, Joiner, Gilmore, Turrell, Birdsong, Three Forks,
  Payneway, Dimple, Deckerville, Fitzgerald Crossing, Menesha,
  Coldwater, Alto and River Front.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

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

&&

LAT...LON 3570 9039 3570 9037 3548 9010 3541 9017
      3514 9066 3515 9078 3522 9084
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 226DEG 36KT 3522 9071 

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

SGW

1 follow-up statement

257 
WWUS54 KMEG 290008
SVSMEG

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

ARC035-037-093-111-290018-
/O.EXP.KMEG.SV.W.0076.000000T0000Z-200329T0015Z/
Poinsett AR-Mississippi AR-Crittenden AR-Cross AR-
708 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN POINSETT...
SOUTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...NORTHWESTERN CRITTENDEN AND EASTERN CROSS
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 715 PM CDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and western Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3570 9039 3570 9037 3548 9010 3541 9017
      3514 9066 3515 9078 3522 9084
TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 226DEG 36KT 3548 9038 

$$

SGW

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, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 3:37 PM CDT, 2 hours 52 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, 4 hours 9 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, 5:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before

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

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

0513 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL HANGARS DAMAGED AT AIRPORT. SEVERE DAMAGE IN
            DOWNTOWN JONESBORO. CARS FLIPPED AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
            POSSIBLE INJURIES.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:23 PM CDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before

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

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

0515 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SE CHERRY VALLEY        35.40N  90.75W
03/28/2020                   CROSS              AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE FUNNEL SPOTTED OVER BIRD EYE.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:33 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

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

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

0525 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            POSSIBLE TRAIN DERAILMENT WITH POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS
            MATERIAL SPILL. GAS LEAKS SCATTERED ACROSS TOWN.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:42 PM CDT, 47 minutes before

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

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

0530 PM     TORNADO          CALDWELL                35.08N  90.82W
03/28/2020                   ST. FRANCIS        AR   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND IN GREENE COUNTY APPROX 6 MILES NW OF
            CALDWELL.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:51 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

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

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

0457 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT A SHOPPING MALL AND OTHER
            BUILDINGS. POSSIBLE INJURIES.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:54 PM CDT, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
554 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

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

0530 PM     TORNADO          CARDWELL                36.05N  90.29W
03/28/2020                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND IN GREENE COUNTY APPROX 6 MILES NW OF
            CARDWELL MO.

&&

CORRECTED COUNTY/STATE...LOCATION...REMARKS

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, 5:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Clay, Greene	34 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, 6:56 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.