Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Watches in 2021

Tornado Watch 552

December 10, 20217 states

The Storm Prediction Center issued this tornado watch at Dec 10, 2021, 3:07 PM CST for 7 states. It was in force for 11 hr.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Dec 10, 2021, 3:07 PM CST (21:07 UTC)
Expired
Dec 11, 2021, 2:00 AM CST
In force
11 hr
Issued by
the Storm Prediction Center
Largest hail expected
2 in
Strongest gust expected
65 kt
All 139 counties

Arkansas County, AR, Clark County, AR, Clay County, AR, Cleburne County, AR, Cleveland County, AR, Conway County, AR, Craighead County, AR, Crittenden County, AR, Cross County, AR, Dallas County, AR, Faulkner County, AR, Fulton County, AR, Garland County, AR, Grant County, AR, Greene County, AR, Hot Spring County, AR, Independence County, AR, Izard County, AR, Jackson County, AR, Jefferson County, AR, Lawrence County, AR, Lee County, AR, Lincoln County, AR, Lonoke County, AR, Mississippi County, AR, Monroe County, AR, Montgomery County, AR, Perry County, AR, Phillips County, AR, Pike County, AR, Poinsett County, AR, Pope County, AR, Prairie County, AR, Pulaski County, AR, Randolph County, AR, Saline County, AR, Sharp County, AR, St. Francis County, AR, Stone County, AR, Van Buren County, AR, White County, AR, Woodruff County, AR, Yell County, AR, Alexander County, IL, Edwards County, IL, Franklin County, IL, Gallatin County, IL, Hamilton County, IL, Hardin County, IL, Jackson County, IL, Jefferson County, IL, Johnson County, IL, Massac County, IL, Monroe County, IL, Perry County, IL, Pope County, IL, Pulaski County, IL, Randolph County, IL, Saint Clair County, IL, Saline County, IL, Union County, IL, Wabash County, IL, Washington County, IL, Wayne County, IL, White County, IL, Williamson County, IL, Gibson County, IN, Pike County, IN, Posey County, IN, Spencer County, IN, Vanderburgh County, IN, Warrick County, IN, Ballard County, KY, Caldwell County, KY, Calloway County, KY, Carlisle County, KY, Crittenden County, KY, Daviess County, KY, Fulton County, KY, Graves County, KY, Henderson County, KY, Hickman County, KY, Hopkins County, KY, Livingston County, KY, Lyon County, KY, Marshall County, KY, McCracken County, KY, McLean County, KY, Trigg County, KY, Union County, KY, Webster County, KY, Bollinger County, MO, Butler County, MO, Cape Girardeau County, MO, Carter County, MO, Crawford County, MO, Dent County, MO, Dunklin County, MO, Howell County, MO, Iron County, MO, Jefferson County, MO, Madison County, MO, Mississippi County, MO, New Madrid County, MO, Oregon County, MO, Pemiscot County, MO, Perry County, MO, Reynolds County, MO, Ripley County, MO, Saint Francois County, MO, Sainte Genevieve County, MO, Scott County, MO, Shannon County, MO, Stoddard County, MO, Texas County, MO, Washington County, MO, Wayne County, MO, Coahoma County, MS, DeSoto County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Panola County, MS, Quitman County, MS, Tate County, MS, Tunica County, MS, Carroll County, TN, Crockett County, TN, Dyer County, TN, Fayette County, TN, Gibson County, TN, Hardeman County, TN, Haywood County, TN, Henry County, TN, Lake County, TN, Lauderdale County, TN, Madison County, TN, Obion County, TN, Shelby County, TN, Tipton County, TN, Weakley County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:12 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 SPC expected

The probabilities SPC published with the watch, for the watch area over its life.

Two or more tornadoes
90%
One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes
70%
Ten or more severe wind reports
70%
One or more gusts of 65 knots or more
30%
Ten or more severe hail reports
40%
One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more
30%
Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports
95%

Warnings issued inside it

123 tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings for its counties while it was in force.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 10, 5:28 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHCalloway, Graves, Marshall47 min
Dec 10, 5:51 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKJackson, Lawrence, White, Woodruff39 min
Dec 10, 6:07 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett38 min
Dec 10, 6:21 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKJackson24 min
Dec 10, 6:21 PM CSTTornado WarningSGFLaclede, Pulaski, Texas, Wright39 min
Dec 10, 6:39 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Greene, Mississippi, Poinsett51 min
Dec 10, 6:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Osage48 min
Dec 10, 6:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, White45 min
Dec 10, 6:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDent, Phelps, Pulaski56 min
Dec 10, 6:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne, Faulkner, Independence, White52 min
Dec 10, 7:01 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKFaulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski, White29 min
Dec 10, 7:02 PM CSTTornado WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Gasconade43 min
Dec 10, 7:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGarland, Montgomery, Saline27 min
Dec 10, 7:06 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGCraighead, Greene, Mississippi39 min
Dec 10, 7:12 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHHopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg48 min
Dec 10, 7:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDent, Phelps, Texas46 min
Dec 10, 7:19 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKCleburne, Independence, Jackson, White, Woodruff26 min
Dec 10, 7:26 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKLonoke, Prairie, Pulaski, White49 min
Dec 10, 7:28 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGMississippi47 min
Dec 10, 7:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKFaulkner, Lonoke, Prairie, Pulaski, White46 min
Dec 10, 7:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGarland, Perry, Pulaski, Saline17 min
Dec 10, 7:35 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Warren40 min
Dec 10, 7:38 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKLonoke, Prairie, Pulaski, White37 min
Dec 10, 7:44 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLonoke, Prairie, Pulaski46 min
Dec 10, 7:47 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKIndependence, Jackson, White43 min
Dec 10, 7:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Dallas, Garland, Hot Spring, Montgomery, Pike56 min
Dec 10, 7:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Washington26 min
Dec 10, 8:02 PM CSTTornado WarningLZKJackson, White, Woodruff43 min
Dec 10, 8:04 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatMEGPemiscot41 min
Dec 10, 8:10 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHNew Madrid23 min
Dec 10, 8:12 PM CSTFlash Flood WarningLZKFaulkner, Garland, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline and 2 more3 hr
Dec 10, 8:14 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKLonoke, Prairie, Pulaski, White, Woodruff46 min
Dec 10, 8:14 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Greene34 min
Dec 10, 8:19 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHChristian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg41 min
Dec 10, 8:20 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCross, Poinsett40 min
Dec 10, 8:24 PM CSTTornado WarningSGFDouglas, Texas, Wright18 min
Dec 10, 8:26 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHCaldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Trigg34 min
Dec 10, 8:28 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGLake, Obion30 min
Dec 10, 8:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLZKLonoke, Prairie, White, Woodruff46 min
Dec 10, 8:29 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHFulton, Hickman61 min
Dec 10, 8:29 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Saint Louis, City of Saint Louis30 min
Dec 10, 8:34 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXCrawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Osage41 min
Dec 10, 8:39 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJackson, Woodruff37 min
Dec 10, 8:41 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDouglas, Howell, Texas, Wright34 min
Dec 10, 8:43 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Dallas, Grant, Hot Spring, Saline47 min
Dec 10, 8:45 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Pike45 min
Dec 10, 8:48 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHChristian, Hopkins, Muhlenberg42 min
Dec 10, 8:53 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHButler, New Madrid, Scott, Stoddard52 min
Dec 10, 8:57 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett48 min
Dec 10, 8:59 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Crittenden, Cross, Poinsett31 min
Dec 10, 9:05 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHGraves, Marshall40 min
Dec 10, 9:07 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXFranklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Warren and 1 more38 min
Dec 10, 9:10 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFDent, Shannon, Texas35 min
Dec 10, 9:13 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKJackson, Woodruff47 min
Dec 10, 9:18 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Mississippi, Poinsett42 min
Dec 10, 9:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKGrant, Jefferson, Pulaski, Saline41 min
Dec 10, 9:21 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHAlexander, Johnson, Pulaski, Union39 min
Dec 10, 9:24 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Mississippi, Poinsett51 min
Dec 10, 9:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMEGCrittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett50 min
Dec 10, 9:25 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHMcLean, Muhlenberg20 min
Dec 10, 9:26 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHGraves9 min
Dec 10, 9:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHMississippi, New Madrid, Scott49 min
Dec 10, 9:27 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatLZKConway, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Van Buren, Yell48 min
Dec 10, 9:37 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Dallas40 min
Dec 10, 9:40 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHGraves, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall50 min
Dec 10, 9:45 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHMarshall15 min
Dec 10, 9:49 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHJohnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski41 min
Dec 10, 9:52 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGMississippi38 min
Dec 10, 9:59 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSGFShannon31 min
Dec 10, 10:00 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXIron, Reynolds45 min
Dec 10, 10:01 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGMississippi44 min
Dec 10, 10:02 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleburne, Conway, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren25 min
Dec 10, 10:05 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMadison, Saint Clair25 min
Dec 10, 10:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKDallas, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson42 min
Dec 10, 10:09 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHCaldwell, Christian, Hopkins, Lyon51 min
Dec 10, 10:14 PM CSTTornado WarningLSXIron, Madison, Reynolds46 min
Dec 10, 10:17 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie31 min
Dec 10, 10:17 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHCaldwell13 min
Dec 10, 10:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMonroe, Randolph, Saint Clair41 min
Dec 10, 10:26 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXReynolds20 min
Dec 10, 10:27 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson, Obion, Weakley48 min
Dec 10, 10:30 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHMassac, Pope45 min
Dec 10, 10:31 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHCaldwell, Hopkins29 min
Dec 10, 10:34 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGObion27 min
Dec 10, 10:36 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHHopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg39 min
Dec 10, 10:44 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHHopkins, Muhlenberg31 min
Dec 10, 10:46 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee, St. Francis44 min
Dec 10, 10:47 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHBollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry21 min
Dec 10, 10:50 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger, Wayne25 min
Dec 10, 10:51 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXClinton, Saint Clair, Washington39 min
Dec 10, 10:55 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLSXMadison18 min
Dec 10, 10:58 PM CSTTornado Warning EmergencyTornado observedCatastrophic damage threatPAHMcLean, Muhlenberg17 min
Dec 10, 10:59 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGHenry, Weakley46 min
Dec 10, 11:06 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHBollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry39 min
Dec 10, 11:10 PM CSTTornado WarningLSXClinton, Marion, Washington50 min
Dec 10, 11:11 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHCrittenden, Hopkins, Union, Webster36 min
Dec 10, 11:17 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHWebster28 min
Dec 10, 11:19 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCleveland, Dallas, Grant, Jefferson27 min
Dec 10, 11:20 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMississippi15 min
Dec 10, 11:25 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Lee, St. Francis9 min
Dec 10, 11:33 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Union, Williamson42 min
Dec 10, 11:37 PM CSTTornado WarningPAHSpencer34 min
Dec 10, 11:37 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatMEGHenry27 min
Dec 10, 11:40 PM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHCalloway15 min
Dec 10, 11:42 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKClark, Dallas, Ouachita48 min
Dec 10, 11:48 PM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden42 min
Dec 10, 11:52 PM CSTTornado WarningMEGCrittenden34 min
Dec 11, 12:02 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Lee, St. Francis43 min
Dec 11, 12:03 AM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatPAHChristian, Trigg42 min
Dec 11, 12:05 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGShelby22 min
Dec 11, 12:08 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPAHFranklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Saline, Wayne, White and 1 more32 min
Dec 11, 12:17 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKCalhoun, Cleveland, Dallas, Ouachita30 min
Dec 11, 12:30 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden30 min
Dec 11, 12:36 AM CSTTornado Warning Tornado observedMEGFayette, Hardeman, Haywood24 min
Dec 11, 12:46 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee, Phillips, St. Francis44 min
Dec 11, 12:48 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Lee, St. Francis42 min
Dec 11, 12:57 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Crockett, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood and 1 more48 min
Dec 11, 12:59 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman, Shelby31 min
Dec 11, 1:05 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningLZKArkansas, Cleveland, Desha, Lincoln55 min
Dec 11, 1:25 AM CSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Gibson, Hardeman and 2 more65 min
Dec 11, 1:32 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGCarroll, Chester, Henderson, Madison28 min
Dec 11, 1:46 AM CSTFlash Flood WarningPAHCalloway, Christian, Todd, Trigg8 hr
Dec 11, 1:53 AM CSTTornado WarningMEGBenton, Carroll, Decatur, Henderson25 min

Discussions around it

SPC mesoscale discussions over the same counties from four hours before the watch to its end.

The nearest sounding before it

Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 144 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 2021-12-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 547 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 2021-12-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 199 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
547 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
475 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
199 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
200 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
2.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

676 
WWUS20 KWNS 102105
SEL2  
SPC WW 102105
ARZ000-ILZ000-INZ000-KYZ000-MOZ000-MSZ000-TNZ000-110500-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 552
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
300 PM CST Fri Dec 10 2021

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Central and northeastern Arkansas
  Southern Illinois
  Southwestern Indiana
  Western Kentucky
  Southeastern Missouri
  Northwestern Mississippi
  Western Tennessee

* Effective this Friday afternoon and evening from 300 PM until
  1100 PM CST.

* Primary threats include...
  Several tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes likely
  Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 75 mph possible
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
    inches in diameter possible

SUMMARY...Scattered supercell development is expected this afternoon
through early tonight from central Arkansas northeastward toward the
confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.  Other storm
development is expected early tonight along a cold front moving into
Missouri and Arkansas.  The storm environment will favor the
potential for a few strong tornadoes this evening through early
tonight, as well as damaging winds and large hail.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 100 statute miles
east and west of a line from 10 miles west southwest of Pine Bluff
AR to 35 miles northeast of Carbondale IL. For a complete depiction
of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU2).

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.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 24050.

...Thompson

SPC that day

Everything else SPC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 10, 1:35 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCBaxter, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead, Cross and 22 more2 hr
Dec 10, 4:20 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCHempstead, Howard, Little River, Miller, Pike, Sevier85 min
Dec 10, 4:45 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCArkansas, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Grant and 17 more90 min
Dec 10, 5:17 PM CSTTornado WatchSPCAdams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian and 18 more6 hr
Dec 10, 5:27 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCCalhoun, Jersey3 hr
Dec 10, 5:52 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCCrawford, Floyd, Harrison, Perry, Spencer83 min
Dec 10, 5:17 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCAlcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lafayette and 9 more88 min
Dec 10, 2:44 PM CSTMesoscale DiscussionSPCAudrain, Boone, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Cooper and 13 more2 hr

Nearby

Tornado Watches in Arkansas, 2021Tornado Watches in Missouri, 2021Tornado Watches in Illinois, 2021Every tornado watch 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.