Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2024

Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS Memphis, TN

May 22, 2024Benton County, Henry County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this flash flood warning at May 22, 2024, 5:16 PM CDT for Benton County, Henry County, Tennessee. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 22, 2024, 5:16 PM CDT (22:16 UTC)
Expired: May 22, 2024, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Memphis, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Benton County, TN, Henry County, TN

The radar

The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:15 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 flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 127 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: 89 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -254 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1412 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 184 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 200 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

104 
WGUS54 KMEG 222216
FFWMEG
TNC005-079-230115-
/O.NEW.KMEG.FF.W.0008.240522T2216Z-240523T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
516 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Benton County in Tennessee...
  Southeastern Henry County in Tennessee...

* Until 815 PM CDT.

* At 516 PM CDT, emergency management reported flash flooding in 
  Camden. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding 
  is already occurring. Numerous roads closed throughout the city.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

  SOURCE...Emergency management reported.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law 
enforcement and request they pass this information to the National 
Weather Service when you can do so safely.

&&

LAT...LON 3632 8809 3636 8799 3632 8796 3629 8795
      3622 8795 3619 8794 3616 8792 3612 8792
      3605 8799 3603 8800 3600 8800 3598 8802
      3597 8821 3613 8821

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED

$$

JPR

1 follow-up statement

640 
WGUS74 KMEG 230111
FFSMEG

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
811 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

TNC005-079-230121-
/O.EXP.KMEG.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-240523T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Benton TN-Henry TN-
811 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
BENTON AND SOUTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Please continue to heed remaining road 
closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3632 8809 3636 8799 3632 8796 3629 8795
      3622 8795 3619 8794 3616 8792 3612 8792
      3605 8799 3603 8800 3600 8800 3598 8802
      3597 8821 3613 8821

$$

AC3

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at May 22, 4:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 22, 4:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
400 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...New SYNOPSIS, DISCUSSION...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 359 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

An unsettled period of weather will continue across the Mid-South
tonight through next Tuesday. This will bring a potential for
showers and thunderstorms each day across the Mid-South. Some of
these thunderstorms have the potential to become strong to severe
each day through at least Sunday night. Drier weather will begin
to return by next Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Tuesday)
Issued at 359 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

An active afternoon across the Mid-South as a moderate to strong
instability combined with 40-50 kts shear, and favorable upper-
level divergence to produce severe thunderstorms and heavy
rainfall across the Mid-South. Latest surface analysis places a
surface low near Duluth, MN with a cold front extending south into
Indiana, the Missouri Bootheel, and back into Western Arkansas and
the Red River Valley. As of 3 PM CDT, temperatures are in the
upper 70s to lower 80s even where convective activity has occurred
over the past 2 to 3 hours.

Short-term models including the latest CAMs indicate the potential
for strong to severe thunderstorms to continue across portions of
the Mid-South, mainly for areas in West Tennessee near the
Tennessee River and most of north Mississippi except for areas
along and east of a line from Tutwiler to Aberdeen, Ms. Otherwise,
there may be a bit of a minimum in convective coverage this
evening as the MCS departs.

Subtle shortwave troughs embedded in nearly zonal flow aloft will
move across the Lower Mississippi Valley into the upcoming
Memorial Day weekend. Moderate to strong instability combined
with 0-6 km Bulk Shear values between 30-40 kts suggest the
potential for strong to severe thunderstorms Thursday especially
during peak heating and again during the day on Friday. Damaging
winds and large hail will remain the primary severe weather
threats along with a potential for heavy rainfall.

Long-term model trends suggest the potential for a better threat
of severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon into Sunday night as a
stronger mid-level trough moves through the region. High pressure
will bring a gradual end to rain chances on Tuesday.

CJC

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1223 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

Timing of convective impacts remains the primary concern this
period as multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are
anticipated. As of 1730Z, storms continue to pop up and impact all
sites except for TUP. This initial round of storms should persist
into early evening, with another round approaching MEM shortly
after sunset.

Given uncertainty of precipitation impacts overnight, kept PROB30
groups in at all sites for TSRA. Showers and storms will remain
possible through the end of the period. Otherwise, winds will be
mainly out of the south with VFR CIGs anticipated.

ANS

&&

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

PUBLIC FORECAST...CJC
AVIATION...ANS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:12 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
412 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

TNZ052-053-090-091-222145-
Hardeman TN-Chester TN-Madison TN-McNairy TN-
412 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN HARDEMAN...NORTHERN
MCNAIRY...SOUTHEASTERN MADISON AND CHESTER COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM
CDT...

At 411 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bolivar, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Henderson, Bolivar, Chickasaw State Forest, Chickasaw State Park,
Silerton, Masseyville, Robertson, McNairy, Bethel Springs, Toone,
Hornsby, Finger, Medon, Forty Forks, Pinson, Rose Creek, Good Hope,
Pine Top, Beech Bluff, and Hickory Corners.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
west Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3511 8900 3527 8911 3561 8864 3527 8841
TIME...MOT...LOC 2111Z 240DEG 39KT 3525 8897

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

ARS

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:14 PM CDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
414 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

TNZ053-089>091-222145-
Hardeman TN-Fayette TN-Chester TN-McNairy TN-
414 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL FAYETTE...CENTRAL
HARDEMAN...WEST CENTRAL MCNAIRY AND SOUTHWESTERN CHESTER COUNTIES
THROUGH 445 PM CDT...

At 414 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Somerville, or 15 miles west of Bolivar, moving east at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Bolivar, Chickasaw State Forest, Whiteville, Somerville, Silerton,
Robertson, Toone, Hornsby, Hickory Valley, Laconia, Pine Top,
Woodville, Middleburg, Lacy, Hebron, Pattersonville, Van Buren, and
Shandy.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
west Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3510 8934 3528 8938 3541 8875 3514 8869
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 260DEG 43KT 3521 8928

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

ARS

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:16 PM CDT, 1 hour before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
416 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

MSZ002-012-013-222145-
Lafayette MS-Marshall MS-Panola MS-
416 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LAFAYETTE...SOUTHERN MARSHALL
AND EASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM CDT...

At 415 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
John W Kyle State Park, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Oxford, Batesville, Holly Springs National Forest, John W Kyle State
Park, Sardis, Como, Pope, Cambridge, Harmontown, Springdale, Burgess,
Bethlehem, Denmark, Courtland, Abbeville, Taylor, Malone, Keel,
Delay, and Glenville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
northeastern and northwestern Mississippi.

&&

LAT...LON 3452 8999 3456 8975 3455 8967 3457 8967
      3462 8930 3426 8925 3420 8995
TIME...MOT...LOC 2115Z 258DEG 29KT 3439 8975

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPR

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:41 PM CDT, 35 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
441 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

TNZ053-090-091-222215-
Hardeman TN-Chester TN-McNairy TN-
441 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HARDEMAN...NORTHERN
MCNAIRY AND SOUTHWESTERN CHESTER COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM CDT...

At 441 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bolivar, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Bolivar, Selmer, Silerton, Masseyville, Robertson, McNairy, Bethel
Springs, Hornsby, Finger, Forty Forks, New Lawton, Martin Camp, Rose
Creek, Good Hope, Pine Top, Woodville, Old Lawton, Lacy, Hickory
Corners, and Montezuma.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
west Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3513 8907 3531 8910 3544 8848 3517 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 258DEG 30KT 3524 8901

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

ARS

Special weather statement, May 22, 4:42 PM CDT, 34 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
442 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

MSZ013>015-222215-
Lafayette MS-Pontotoc MS-Union MS-
442 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LAFAYETTE...SOUTHWESTERN UNION
AND NORTHWESTERN PONTOTOC COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM CDT...

At 441 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Oxford, moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Oxford, Water Valley, Holly Springs National Forest, Springdale,
Burgess, Cambridge, Tula, Denmark, Pinedale, Etta, Paris, Thaxton,
Taylor, Toccopola, Altus, Keel, Esperanza, Delay, College Hill
Station, and College Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CDT for
northeastern and northwestern Mississippi.

&&

LAT...LON 3419 8951 3419 8967 3446 8969 3450 8926
      3450 8924 3451 8917 3419 8913 3418 8951
TIME...MOT...LOC 2141Z 270DEG 19KT 3436 8953

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

JPR

Local storm report, May 22, 4:59 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
459 PM CDT Wed May 22 2024

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

0120 PM     Flash Flood      Harrisburg              35.56N 90.72W
05/22/2024                   Poinsett           AR   Emergency Mngr

            Flash flooding reported throughout
            Harrisburg with multiple road closures.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 22, 11:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Shelby, Tipton	40 min
May 22, 11:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Lake	34 min
May 22, 12:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Shelby, Tipton	48 min
May 22, 12:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Benton	36 min
May 22, 12:29 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Obion	31 min
May 22, 12:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Obion, Weakley	49 min
May 22, 12:49 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Tipton	26 min
May 22, 12:53 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Haywood	37 min
May 22, 12:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Shelby, Tipton	52 min
May 22, 1:00 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Obion, Weakley	2 hr
May 22, 1:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Lauderdale	50 min
May 22, 1:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Shelby, Tipton	47 min
May 22, 1:32 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Madison	28 min
May 22, 1:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Henry	27 min
May 22, 1:48 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Henry	27 min
May 22, 1:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	MEG	Lauderdale, Tipton	48 min
May 22, 2:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, Shelby, Tipton	49 min
May 22, 2:12 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Henry	3 hr
May 22, 2:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Shelby	46 min
May 22, 2:16 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Shelby	101 min
May 22, 2:19 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Gibson, Henry, Weakley	41 min
May 22, 2:21 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	MEG	Carroll, Gibson, Weakley	2 hr
May 22, 2:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Lauderdale, Obion	51 min
May 22, 2:32 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Madison	43 min
May 22, 2:48 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Carroll, Chester, Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson and 2 more	42 min
May 22, 3:06 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Dyer	37 min
May 22, 3:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Madison and 2 more	51 min
May 22, 3:11 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	MEG	Benton, Henry	94 min
May 22, 3:23 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MEG	Benton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin and 3 more	33 min
May 22, 4:12 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Chester, Hardeman	33 min
May 22, 4:14 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Hardeman	31 min
May 22, 4:41 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	MEG	Hardeman, McNairy	34 min
May 22, 5:11 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	MEG	Carroll	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2024 Every flash flood warning in 2024

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.