Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 48, NWS Memphis, TN

May 9, 2021Fayette County, Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at May 9, 2021, 5:11 PM CDT for Fayette County, Shelby County, Tipton County, Tennessee. It was in force for 21 min. 3 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
May 9, 2021, 5:11 PM CDT (22:11 UTC)
Expired
May 9, 2021, 5:32 PM CDT
In force
21 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Fayette County, TN, Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:12 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
May 9, 5:17 PM CDTTORNADOWnw Atoka, TNTORNADO SPOTTED ON CAMP GROUND ROAD.
May 9, 5:18 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Nw Munford, TNPOWER LINES AND TREES DOWN AT RUGH ROAD AND PLANTATION RD.
May 9, 5:18 PM CDTTORNADOWnw Munford, TNEXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON GLEN SPRINGS ROAD. THE 2300 TO 2600 BLOCK.

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 9, 2:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 10.2 hours before the alert went out and 74 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 2021-05-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 203 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 2021-05-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 446 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
203 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-439 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
759 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
446 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
571 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

660 
WFUS54 KMEG 092211
TORMEG
TNC047-157-167-092300-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0048.210509T2211Z-210509T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
511 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Eastern Tipton County in western Tennessee...
  Northwestern Fayette County in western Tennessee...
  Northeastern Shelby County in western Tennessee...

* Until 600 PM CDT.
    
* At 511 PM CDT, doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm
  producing a tornado was located near Munford, or 9 miles north of
  Millington, moving southeast at 25 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...
  Covington, Arlington, Munford, Brighton, Dixonville, Tipton, Atoka,
  Mason, Gallaway, Gilt Edge, Burlison, Braden, Barretville, Egypt,
  Belmont, Quito, Redwood, Rosemark, Idaville and Beaver.

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 3545 9000 3552 8995 3551 8992 3552 8991
      3554 8991 3555 8989 3559 8988 3558 8987
      3559 8985 3548 8947 3540 8947 3540 8946
      3523 8960
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 304DEG 22KT 3547 8987 

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

$$
2 follow-up statements
932 
WWUS54 KMEG 092224
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
524 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

TNC157-092234-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-210509T2300Z/
Shelby TN-
524 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
western Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3552 8984 3555 8985 3557 8978 3548 8947
      3540 8947 3540 8946 3530 8954 3534 8963
      3537 8963 3537 8965 3539 8964 3539 8970
      3541 8971 3540 8976 3544 8984 3549 8986
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 281DEG 20KT 3546 8978 

$$

TNC047-167-092300-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-210509T2300Z/
Tipton TN-Fayette TN-
524 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN TIPTON AND NORTHWESTERN FAYETTE COUNTIES...
    
At 524 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Munford, or 10
miles southwest of Covington, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Emergency management confirmed tornado.

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...
Covington, Munford, Brighton, Atoka, Mason, Gallaway, Gilt Edge,
Burlison, Braden, Egypt, Belmont, Canaan Grove, Longtown,
Gainesville, Clopton, Idaville, Crosstown, Beaver, Akins Corner and
Keeling.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 3552 8984 3555 8985 3557 8978 3548 8947
      3540 8947 3540 8946 3530 8954 3534 8963
      3537 8963 3537 8965 3539 8964 3539 8970
      3541 8971 3540 8976 3544 8984 3549 8986
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 281DEG 20KT 3546 8978 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$
752 
WWUS54 KMEG 092232
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
532 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

TNC047-167-092242-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0048.000000T0000Z-210509T2300Z/
Tipton TN-Fayette TN-
532 PM CDT Sun May 9 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN TIPTON AND NORTHWESTERN
FAYETTE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
                
The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
western Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3552 8984 3555 8985 3557 8978 3548 8947
      3540 8947 3540 8946 3530 8954 3534 8963
      3537 8963 3537 8965 3539 8964 3539 8970
      3541 8971 3540 8976 3544 8984 3549 8986
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 304DEG 22KT 3543 8973 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 9, 7:10 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDyer35 min
May 9, 8:39 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGObion36 min
May 9, 9:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCrockett25 min
May 9, 3:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGDyer44 min
May 9, 3:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDyer, Lauderdale28 min
May 9, 4:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLauderdale, Tipton28 min
May 9, 4:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGBenton31 min
May 9, 5:00 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCarroll30 min
May 9, 5:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Henderson, Madison36 min
May 9, 5:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Hardeman, McNairy36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes 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.