Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Memphis, TN

March 17, 2021Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this flash flood warning at Mar 17, 2021, 11:38 AM CDT for Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee. It was in force for 3 hr. 2 reports 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 17, 2021, 11:38 AM CDT (16:38 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2021, 2:45 PM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 7 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:40 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 17, 2:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 N Millington, TNLARGE AREA FLOODED INCLUDING ROADS IN QUITO ESTATES SUBDIVISION IN MILLINGTON.
Mar 17, 2:00 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD3 Sw Munford, TNWATSON ROAD CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 63 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, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2021-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Little Rock, AR at 12:00Z on 2021-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 217 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-262 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1466 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
65 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
217 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
186 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

144 
WGUS54 KMEG 171638
FFWMEG
TNC157-167-171945-
/O.NEW.KMEG.FF.W.0009.210317T1638Z-210317T1945Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1138 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  North Central Shelby County in western Tennessee...
  Central Tipton County in western Tennessee...

* Until 245 PM CDT.

* At 1138 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar.

  IMPACT...Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other
           drainage and low lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Millington, Covington, Meeman Shelby Forest State Park, Munford, 
  Brighton, Dixonville, Tipton, Atoka, Gilt Edge, Burlison, Garland, 
  Crosstown, Egypt, Beaver, Akins Corner, Kerrville, Wilkinsville, 
  Drummonds, Idaville and Quito.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
warned area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. 
If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately. 
Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate 
precautions to protect life and property.

&&

LAT...LON 3561 8969 3561 8956 3553 8948 3531 8993
      3525 9010 3525 9014 3527 9016 3529 9016
      3531 9011 3534 9011

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-2 INCHES IN 3 HOURS 

$$
1 follow-up statement
875 
WGUS74 KMEG 171943
FFSMEG

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
243 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

TNC157-167-171952-
/O.EXP.KMEG.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-210317T1945Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tipton TN-Shelby TN-
243 PM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL TIPTON AND NORTH CENTRAL
SHELBY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 245 PM CDT...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.

Additional rain later today may warrant a new flash flood warning.

LAT...LON 3561 8969 3561 8956 3553 8948 3531 8993
      3525 9010 3525 9014 3527 9016 3529 9016
      3531 9011 3534 9011

$$

TLSJr

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 6:49 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette14 min
Mar 17, 9:04 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman, McNairy3 hr
Mar 17, 12:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGShelby36 min
Mar 17, 12:31 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTipton29 min
Mar 17, 1:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, Tipton42 min
Mar 17, 1:54 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGShelby3 hr
Mar 17, 1:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Decatur, Hardeman, Henderson, Madison47 min
Mar 17, 5:26 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Lauderdale15 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2021Every flash flood warning in 2021

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.