Tornado Watch 26

Issued

Mar 17, 2021, 5:53 AM CDT (10:53 UTC)

Expired

Mar 17, 2021, 1:00 PM CDT

In force

7 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

2 in

Strongest gust expected

60 kt

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:55 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.

Two or more tornadoes

60%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

30%

Ten or more severe wind reports

50%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

10%

Ten or more severe hail reports

50%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

40%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

80%

• Mesoscale Discussion 196 Severe potential...watch likelyMar 17, 5:34 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 198 Tornado watch 26Mar 17, 7:38 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 200 Severe potential...tornado watch likelyMar 17, 10:56 AM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 203 Severe potential...tornado watch likelyMar 17, 12:15 PM CDT

104 
WWUS20 KWNS 171050
SEL6  
SPC WW 171050
ARZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-171800-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 26
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
550 AM CDT Wed Mar 17 2021

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Southeast Arkansas
  Northern Mississippi
  Extreme southwest Tennessee

* Effective this Wednesday morning and afternoon from 550 AM
  until 100 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
    inches in diameter possible
  Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY...Clusters of storms with embedded supercell structures will
likely persist through about midday from southeast Arkansas into
northern Mississippi and adjacent southwest Tennessee.  The storm
environment will gradually become more favorable for a few tornadoes
this morning, including the possibility of an isolated strong
tornado.  Otherwise, large hail and damaging winds can be expected
with the supercell clusters.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles
north and south of a line from 5 miles north of Pine Bluff AR to 40
miles east northeast of Tupelo MS. For a complete depiction of the
watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 24...WW 25...

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24035.

...Thompson

Tornado Watches in Mississippi, 2021Tornado Watches in Arkansas, 2021Tornado Watches in Tennessee, 2021Every tornado watch in 2021

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.