Alert archive / Mississippi / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 286, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2025, 2:20 PM CDT for 4 counties in Mississippi. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 20, 2025, 2:20 PM CDT (19:20 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2025, 3:00 PM CDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.25 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Benton County, MS, Lafayette County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Union County, MS
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 98 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:20 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.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 1:09 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Little Rock, AR (KLZK), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 65 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1276 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 59 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 94 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 106 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 20, 12:46 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 12:46 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before
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</html>In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 20, 1:53 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
153 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ009-MOZ113-201915-
Clay AR-Dunklin MO-
153 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN CLAY AND
NORTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM CDT...
At 153 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Saint Francis, or near Piggott, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Saint Francis, Valley Ridge, Providence, St. Francis, Campbell,
Morris State Park, Wilhelmina, Chalk Bluff Natural Area, Clarkton,
Piggott, Chalk Bluff Battlefield Park, Baird, Pollard, McGuires,
Townley, Malden, and Holcomb.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and southeastern Missouri.
&&
LAT...LON 3659 8996 3654 8995 3653 8996 3643 8996
3635 9020 3644 9029 3663 9004 3663 8996
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 237DEG 46KT 3643 9013
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MJSpecial weather statement, May 20, 1:55 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
155 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ026-027-035-036-201930-
Poinsett AR-Craighead AR-Cross AR-Crittenden AR-
155 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CRAIGHEAD...EASTERN
POINSETT...NORTHWESTERN CRITTENDEN AND NORTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTIES
THROUGH 230 PM CDT...
At 155 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northeast of Cherry Valley, or 8 miles southeast of Harrisburg,
moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Payneway, Wiley Crossing, Birdeye, Tulot, Deckerville, Marked Tree,
Weona Junction, Weona, Hatchie Coon, Stewart, Dub, Colton, Twist,
Lepanto, Bay Village, Coldwater, Alto, Judd Hill, Bunney, and Lake
Poinsett State Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3577 9029 3544 9029 3544 9027 3530 9066
3549 9079
TIME...MOT...LOC 1855Z 239DEG 32KT 3547 9063
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CMASpecial weather statement, May 20, 2:05 PM CDT, 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
205 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
MSZ002-012-013-201930-
Lafayette MS-Marshall MS-Panola MS-
205 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN LAFAYETTE...
SOUTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM
CDT...
At 205 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
John W Kyle State Park, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Malone, Keel, Blackwater, Teckville, Sardis, Burgess, Cambridge,
Glenville, College Hill Station, Abbeville, College Hill, Harmontown,
Hayes Crossing, Spraggins, Holly Springs National Forest, Laws Hill,
Oxford, John W Kyle State Park, and Batesville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for northwestern
Mississippi.
&&
LAT...LON 3447 8998 3456 8973 3455 8967 3458 8967
3465 8946 3436 8931 3425 8987
TIME...MOT...LOC 1905Z 246DEG 34KT 3438 8979
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CMASpecial weather statement, May 20, 2:10 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
210 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
ARZ035-048-201945-
St. Francis AR-Cross AR-
210 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN ST. FRANCIS AND
CROSS COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 210 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Fair Oaks, or 13 miles west of Wynne, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Wynne, Hydrick, Rosenbaum, River Front, Fitzgerald Crossing,
Wittsburg, Village Creek State Park, Fair Oaks, Brushy Lake, McElroy,
Vanndale, Mersman, Colt, Fair Field, Cherry Valley, Ellis Chapel,
Levesque, Hamlin, Princedale, and L'angville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas.
&&
LAT...LON 3527 9104 3542 9074 3518 9058 3506 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 246DEG 34KT 3518 9102
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CMASpecial weather statement, May 20, 2:16 PM CDT, 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
216 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
TNZ021-022-052-054-055-201945-
Carroll TN-Henderson TN-Madison TN-Benton TN-Decatur TN-
216 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT HENDERSON...SOUTHWESTERN
BENTON...SOUTHEASTERN CARROLL...CENTRAL MADISON AND NORTHERN DECATUR
COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 216 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Blue Goose, or 9 miles east of Jackson, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Hickory Flat, Dollar, Bemis, Cedar Grove, Jeannette, Beech Bluff,
Jackson, Westover, Madison Hall, Lexington, Union Cross, Juno,
Holladay, Gilmore, Maple Grove, Blue Goose, Timberlake, Hinson
Springs, Cozette, and East Union.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for west
Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3571 8803 3557 8856 3559 8857 3559 8860
3558 8862 3555 8863 3548 8886 3568 8900
3598 8816 3574 8801
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 245DEG 34KT 3565 8865
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
CMASpecial weather statement, May 20, 2:18 PM CDT, 2 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
218 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
MOZ113-115-TNZ001-201945-
Pemiscot MO-Dunklin MO-Lake TN-
218 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PEMISCOT...EAST CENTRAL DUNKLIN
AND SOUTHWESTERN LAKE COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM CDT...
At 217 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Deering, or near Kennett, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Scobeville, New Survey, Denton, Gobler, Covington, Tinkerville,
Stewart, Shade, Caruthersville, Bakerville, Hathaway, Deering, Hayti,
Stanley, Deer Land, West Kennett, Pascola, Rives, Canady, and
Hayward.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM CDT for southeastern
Missouri...and west Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3640 8967 3641 8963 3623 8945 3622 8948
3621 8949 3619 8956 3619 8962 3618 8963
3617 8961 3606 8999 3622 9010 3639 8986
3639 8975 3642 8974 3643 8973
TIME...MOT...LOC 1917Z 240DEG 23KT 3618 8997
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DNMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 6:22 AM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MEG | Shelby | 3 hr |
| May 20, 8:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardeman | 47 min |
| May 20, 8:29 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy | 46 min |
| May 20, 9:17 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, McNairy | 43 min |
| May 20, 9:54 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Hardin, McNairy | 39 min |
| May 20, 9:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Decatur, Hardin | 31 min |
| May 20, 9:59 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Decatur, Hardin | 31 min |
| May 20, 2:16 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Henderson, Madison | 29 min |
| May 20, 2:25 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lauderdale, Tipton | 50 min |
| May 20, 2:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Henderson | 49 min |
| May 20, 2:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Decatur, Henderson | 35 min |
| May 20, 3:04 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Carroll, Crockett, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Madison | 41 min |
| May 20, 3:05 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lake, Obion, Weakley | 40 min |
| May 20, 3:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Carroll, Gibson, Henderson, Madison | 50 min |
| May 20, 3:11 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lauderdale, Tipton | 49 min |
| May 20, 3:13 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Shelby, Tipton | 47 min |
| May 20, 3:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Henry, Obion, Weakley | 48 min |
| May 20, 3:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Fayette, Haywood, Shelby, Tipton | 38 min |
| May 20, 3:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Carroll, Henderson, Henry | 47 min |
| May 20, 4:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Benton, Carroll, Henderson | 51 min |
| May 20, 4:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Henry, Weakley | 50 min |
| May 20, 4:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Carroll, Crockett, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Henry and 2 more | 44 min |
| May 20, 4:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Fayette, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison | 31 min |
| May 20, 4:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Henderson, Henry and 1 more | 52 min |
| May 20, 11:40 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Tishomingo | 20 min |
| May 20, 1:39 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Panola | 36 min |
| May 20, 2:05 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Lafayette | 25 min |
| May 20, 2:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Benton, Tippah, Union | 18 min |
| May 20, 3:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Coahoma | 44 min |
| May 20, 3:44 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tate, Tunica | 46 min |
| May 20, 3:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 41 min |
| May 20, 3:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo | 32 min |
| May 20, 4:26 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tate, Tunica | 49 min |
| May 20, 5:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Marshall, Panola | 40 min |
| May 20, 5:34 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Panola, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha | 41 min |
| May 20, 5:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lafayette | 19 min |
| May 20, 5:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union | 53 min |
| May 20, 5:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Tallahatchie | 36 min |
| May 20, 6:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Lafayette, Pontotoc, Union | 20 min |
| May 20, 6:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Calhoun, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Yalobusha | 50 min |
| May 20, 6:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Calhoun, Lafayette, Pontotoc | 18 min |
| May 20, 1:53 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Clay | 22 min |
| May 20, 1:55 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Poinsett | 35 min |
| May 20, 2:10 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | MEG | Cross | 35 min |
| May 20, 2:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, Poinsett, St. Francis | 44 min |
| May 20, 2:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, Mississippi, St. Francis | 27 min |
| May 20, 2:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Mississippi, Poinsett | 18 min |
| May 20, 3:00 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 45 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Mississippi, 2025Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025
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.