Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Memphis, TN

March 28, 2020Dyer County, Lake County, Obion County, Tennessee; Pemiscot County, Missouri

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Mar 28, 2020, 7:21 PM CDT for Dyer County, Lake County, Obion County, Tennessee; Pemiscot County, Missouri. It was in force for 24 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, 7:21 PM CDT (00:21 UTC)
Expired: Mar 28, 2020, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Pemiscot County, MO, Dyer County, TN, Lake County, TN, Obion County, TN

The radar

The Paducah radar (KPAH), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:21 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 tornado 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, 6:34 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 173 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: 768 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 82 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 194 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

115 
WFUS54 KMEG 290021
TORMEG
MOC155-TNC045-095-131-290045-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0022.200329T0021Z-200329T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
721 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri...
  Northwestern Dyer County in western Tennessee...
  Southwestern Obion County in western Tennessee...
  Lake County in western Tennessee...

* Until 745 PM CDT.
    
* At 721 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
  producing a tornado was located over Caruthersville, moving
  northeast at 35 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...
  Caruthersville, Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tiptonville, Ridgely,
  Cottonwood Grove, Hornbeak, Samburg, Wynnburg, Cronanville,
  Hathaway, Sunkist Beach, Blue Bank, Proctor City, Jacksonville,
  Broadmoor, Madie, Mooring, Haynes, Tennemo and Lassiter Corner.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter or an interior room on the
lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are
outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3631 8925 3611 8960 3621 8971 3636 8956
      3634 8954 3635 8952 3638 8951 3640 8952
      3646 8947 3646 8945
TIME...MOT...LOC 0021Z 224DEG 31KT 3620 8962 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

SGW

1 follow-up statement

340 
WWUS54 KMEG 290035
SVSMEG

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

MOC155-TNC045-095-131-290045-
/O.EXP.KMEG.TO.W.0022.000000T0000Z-200329T0045Z/
Pemiscot MO-Dyer TN-Obion TN-Lake TN-
735 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL PEMISCOT...NORTHWESTERN
DYER...SOUTHWESTERN OBION AND LAKE COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM
CDT...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for southeastern
Missouri...and western Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3631 8925 3611 8960 3621 8971 3636 8956
      3634 8954 3635 8952 3638 8951 3640 8952
      3646 8947 3646 8945
TIME...MOT...LOC 0035Z 224DEG 31KT 3628 8952 

$$

SGW

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Mar 28, 6:52 PM CDT, 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 6:52 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Memphis TN
652 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

.UPDATE...
Updated for Aviation Forecast Discussion below.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 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...
00Z TAFs

Storms have been slower to translate east than earlier depicted by
the short range convection-allowing models. Other than TSRA timing
this evening, TAFs remain largely unchanged from the 18Z package.
VFR will prevail areawide on Sunday.

PWB

&&

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

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 28, 2:20 PM CDT, 5 hours 1 minute 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, 5:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 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, 1 hour 30 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, 1 hour 27 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

Local storm report, Mar 28, 6:43 PM CDT, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
643 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 AND PLANES DAMAGED AT JONESBORO
            MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. SEVERE DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN JONESBORO.
            CARS FLIPPED AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED. POSSIBLE INJURIES.

&&

CORRECTED REMARKS

Local storm report, Mar 28, 7:02 PM CDT, 19 minutes before

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

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

0701 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     EARLE                   35.27N  90.47W
03/28/2020                   CRITTENDEN         AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR EARLE MOVING NORTHEAST.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 7:15 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

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

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

0713 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     ROBINSONVILLE           34.82N  90.32W
03/28/2020                   TUNICA             MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED OVER TUNICA RIVERPARK
            ROBINSONVILLE MS.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 28, 7:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Shelby	43 min
Mar 28, 7:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lauderdale, Tipton	38 min
Mar 28, 7:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Shelby	49 min
Mar 28, 7:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby and 1 more	35 min
Mar 28, 8:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lauderdale, Tipton	24 min
Mar 28, 8:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Hardeman, Shelby	49 min
Mar 28, 8:35 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Crockett, Gibson, Haywood	40 min
Mar 28, 8:48 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	MEG	Hardeman, Haywood, Madison	27 min
Mar 28, 8:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crockett, Haywood, Madison	39 min
Mar 28, 8:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Chester, Hardeman, McNairy	52 min
Mar 28, 8:57 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Benton	33 min
Mar 28, 9:07 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Gibson, Henderson, Madison	38 min
Mar 28, 9:28 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Chester, McNairy	32 min
Mar 28, 9:36 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Chester, Decatur, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy	39 min
Mar 28, 9:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Henderson, Henry	53 min
Mar 28, 10:15 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Decatur, Hardin	45 min
Mar 28, 10:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Hardin	16 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2020 Tornado Warnings in Missouri, 2020 Every tornado warning in 2020 Tornadoes 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.