Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 20, NWS Memphis, TN

March 9, 20265 counties in Tennessee; Benton County, DeSoto County, Marshall County, Mississippi

NWS Memphis, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 9, 2026, 2:13 PM CDT for 5 counties in Tennessee; Benton County, DeSoto County, Marshall County, Mississippi. It was in force for 30 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
Mar 9, 2026, 2:13 PM CDT (19:13 UTC)
Expired
Mar 9, 2026, 2:43 PM CDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Benton County, MS, DeSoto County, MS, Marshall County, MS, Chester County, TN, Fayette County, TN, Hardeman County, TN, McNairy County, TN, Shelby County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 62 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:13 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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 9, 12:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 268 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2026-03-09Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2026-03-09The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 96 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1204 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
96 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
90 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Mar 9, 12:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Issued at 1243 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026
  • A Slight Risk (2/5) for severe thunderstorms is in place Monday afternoon, mainly south of the I-40 corridor, with a threat for very large hail (up to 2 inches) and damaging winds.
  • The active pattern continues through midweek, with severe storm chances both Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • Near-normal temperatures return by the end of the week with dry conditions persisting into the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 9, 12:44 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1244 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 1243 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

- A Slight Risk (2/5) for severe thunderstorms is in place Monday
  afternoon, mainly south of the I-40 corridor, with a threat for
  very large hail (up to 2 inches) and damaging winds.

- The active pattern continues through midweek, with severe storm
  chances both Tuesday and Wednesday.

- Near-normal temperatures return by the end of the week with dry
  conditions persisting into the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(This evening through next Sunday)
Issued at 1243 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

GOES East Low Level Water Vapor channel reveals a compact
shortwave traversing central Arkansas with a deep cutoff upper
low over the Baja Peninsula. At the surface, the latest analysis
places a NW to SE oriented warm front from Corning, AR southeast
through Memphis, TN, and back into Tupelo, MS. The latest GOES
East Visible Imagery shows some clearing behind the front, mainly
over SE Arkansas and portions of N Mississippi. In that area, the
latest RAP mesoanalysis data shows an uncapped atmosphere with
both moderate instability (1200 J/kg of MUCAPE) and moderate
shear (0-6 km shear 35-40 knots) in place. This environment
supports mainly organized multi-cells and potential bowing
structures. Lapse rates aloft are quite impressive with values
above 7.5 C/km between 700 and 500mb. If cells can remain semi-
discrete, large hail up to 2 inches is likely, otherwise
organized cold pools will become the main mode with damaging
winds and marginally severe hail.

The latest KNQA radar scan reveals scattered WAA showers across
the area with a single non-severe storm moving into eastern
Arkansas. To the west, multi-cellular and semi-discrete cells
have been prevalent this morning from the ArkLaTex into the
Little Rock, AR metro. Storm motion has been nearly due east with
storm speeds as high as 55 mph. One report of nickel to quarter
size hail has been reported thus far. There is some evidence of
an organizing cold pool to the northeast of the Little Rock, AR
metro, but storms have remained mostly elevated and sub-severe
thus far.

Downstream and over the Mid-South, the atmosphere will continue
to destabilize over the next 1 to 3 hours. The current SPC
outlook covers the threat well, with a Slight Risk (2/5) located
along the TN/MS stateline and to the south. There is a CIG1 for
large hail 2+ inches, which is well supported by steep lapse
rates aloft and moderate deep layer shear. The latest HRRR
guidance suggests that instability will remain moderate over the
area as MLCAPE values climb to as high as 1500 J/kg over portions
of north Mississippi. Looking more closely at the soundings,
storms could become more surface-based, which would enhance the
damaging wind threat. Storms will affect areas along and south of
I-40 through about 8PM this evening.

We will see a break from showers and thunderstorms for about
24 hours as upper level heights build in wake of the passing
shortwave. Moderate WAA will persist on Tuesday as a weakening
surface low tracks across Kansas City, MO during the day. Out to
the west, the aforementioned cutoff low will begin to lift
northeast and open into a positively-tilted longwave trough as it
moves into west Texas late Tuesday. Weak perturbations, embedded
in deep southwesterly flow aloft, will rotate into the Lower
Mississippi Valley late Tuesday night. With moderate instability,
a strengthening LLJ, and moderate shear in place, a couple of
strong to severe thunderstorms will  develop over central
Arkansas. There is a 30% chance that these strong to severe
storms move into northeast Arkansas late Tuesday night. The main
threats will be large hail and damaging winds. The threat should
diminish early Wednesday morning.

Active weather will continue again on Wednesday as we remain in a
moderately unstable airmass. A split-flow upper level pattern
will be prevalent over the Plains with a potential leading
shortwave moving into the Lower Mississippi Valley early
Wednesday morning. Significant uncertainty still remains as heavy
cloud cover and potentially ongoing convection occurs in the warm
sector. Nonetheless, a high shear and low to moderate instability
setup will occur. The highest chance for severe thunderstorms
will be mainly east of the Mississippi River, where instability
will be maximized by early afternoon and before the cold front
pushes through the area. This is supported well by the REFS
guidance, as it paints an instability axis along the east of the
Mississippi River with up to 1000 J/kg of SBCAPE with up to
60 knots of bulk shear on hand. Uncertainty remains medi than
expected at this time.

A trailing cold front will push through the entire area late
Wednesday ending the threat of strong to severe thunderstorms. A
brief cooldown is expected on Thursday with highs mainly in the
low to mid 50s. Temperatures will rebound by late week as broad
surface high pressure moves into the region. Above normal
temperatures will persist into next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1243 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

A warm front lifting north is supporting TSRA development across
the airspace. Convection will continue to move east- southeast
through the taf period and end at the terminals shortly after
00z. Heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and lowering of CIGs and
visibility is expected at all terminals when thunderstorms move
over the field.

Once rainfall comes to an end, MVFR and IFR ceilings will persist
through daybreak. Improvement of cloud heights will occur, but
MVFR ceilings will still prevail after 12z. Gusty southerly winds
will prevail again tomorrow afternoon.

TUP TAF will carry an AMD NOT SKED. TUP METAR is missing some
weather elements.

DNM

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1243 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

Occasionally gusty winds up to 20 mph will occur each day this
week. However, widespread wetting rainfall will increase fuel
moisture and maintain elevated relative humidity, limiting fire
weather concerns.

&&

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

PUBLIC FORECAST...AC3
AVIATION...DNM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 9, 12:53 PM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 9, 1:16 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 9, 1:39 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 9, 1:45 PM CDT, 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
145 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

ARZ058-MSZ010-091915-
Phillips AR-Coahoma MS-
145 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN PHILLIPS AND WEST
CENTRAL COAHOMA COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM CDT...

At 144 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
White River National Wildlife Refuge, moving east at 45 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...
Elaine, White River National Wildlife Refuge, Crumrod, Sherard, Lake
View, Mellwood, Rena Lara, Mosby Spur, Ferguson, Wabash, Bobo, Modoc,
Green Grove, Hillhouse, Hoop Spur, Lambrook, Catron, Ratio, Lundell,
and Ewal.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3414 9108 3420 9109 3420 9108 3422 9106
      3424 9107 3425 9108 3425 9106 3427 9108
      3429 9107 3429 9106 3433 9105 3434 9100
      3442 9100 3444 9074 3412 9066 3412 9112
TIME...MOT...LOC 1844Z 260DEG 38KT 3425 9115

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

JAB
Special weather statement, Mar 9, 2:03 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
203 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

MSZ007-010-011-091930-
Tunica MS-Coahoma MS-Quitman MS-
203 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN COAHOMA...
SOUTHEASTERN TUNICA AND CENTRAL QUITMAN COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM
CDT...

At 203 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Jonestown, or 9 miles north of Clarksdale, moving east at 40 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...
Clarksdale, Marks, Jonestown, Friars Point, Crenshaw, Sledge, Belen,
Darling, Kings, Coahoma, Lyon, Lula, Falcon, Gerlach Mill, Rudyard,
Moon, Barksdale, Clover Hill, Matagorda, and Rich.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3438 9066 3441 9058 3443 9057 3445 9057
      3458 9022 3457 9021 3456 9022 3455 9020
      3424 9019 3420 9061 3436 9066
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 259DEG 37KT 3433 9052

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

JAB
Special weather statement, Mar 9, 2:04 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
204 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

MSZ001>003-TNZ088>090-091930-
Marshall MS-DeSoto MS-Benton MS-Hardeman TN-Fayette TN-Shelby TN-
204 PM CDT Mon Mar 9 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN DESOTO...MARSHALL...
NORTHWESTERN BENTON...FAYETTE...SOUTHWESTERN HARDEMAN AND
SOUTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTIES THROUGH 230 PM CDT...

At 204 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles east of Arlington to near Collierville
to Lewisburg. Movement was southeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea 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...
Collierville, Germantown, Olive Branch, Holly Springs, Bolivar, Wall
Doxey State Park, Lamar, Arlington, Somerville, Byhalia, Snow Lake
Shores, Mt Pleasant, Lewisburg, Michigan City, Red Banks, Canaan,
Lagrange, Slayden, Marianna, and Eads.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 40 in Tennessee between mile markers 29 and 36.
 Interstate 22 in Mississipppi between mile markers 5 and 40.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3493 8913 3456 8939 3473 8972 3477 8972
      3477 8981 3483 8992 3514 8970 3537 8957
      3522 8896
TIME...MOT...LOC 1904Z 293DEG 38KT 3529 8953 3512 8963 3488 8980

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

DNM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 9, 1:11 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryMEGBenton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Fayette, Hardeman and 5 more8 hr
Mar 9, 12:53 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGFayette37 min
Mar 9, 1:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton37 min
Mar 9, 1:39 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGShelby36 min
Mar 9, 1:49 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGShelby3 hr
Mar 9, 2:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGFayette, Hardeman26 min
Mar 9, 2:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGHardeman32 min
Mar 9, 3:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGHardin, McNairy36 min
Mar 9, 3:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGHardeman, Hardin, McNairy22 min
Mar 9, 1:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTate29 min
Mar 9, 2:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCoahoma, Quitman27 min
Mar 9, 2:47 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPanola, Quitman, Tate28 min
Mar 9, 3:22 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPrentiss23 min
Mar 9, 3:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGLafayette34 min
Mar 9, 3:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGChickasaw31 min
Mar 9, 3:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLafayette, Marshall, Pontotoc, Union51 min
Mar 9, 4:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGItawamba34 min
Mar 9, 4:16 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGTallahatchie29 min
Mar 9, 4:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLafayette, Pontotoc47 min
Mar 9, 4:32 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGLafayette2 hr
Mar 9, 4:37 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGItawamba, Lee, Prentiss, Union118 min
Mar 9, 4:43 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGLafayette, Lee, Pontotoc34 min
Mar 9, 4:45 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningMEGLee, Prentiss108 min
Mar 9, 4:55 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGLafayette100 min
Mar 9, 5:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun44 min
Mar 9, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc45 min
Mar 9, 5:25 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGItawamba, Prentiss, Tishomingo70 min
Mar 9, 5:28 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGLafayette, Lee, Marshall, Pontotoc, Union68 min
Mar 9, 5:34 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGChickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe61 min
Mar 9, 5:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCalhoun, Chickasaw28 min
Mar 9, 5:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGItawamba, Lee, Monroe42 min
Mar 9, 12:11 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGCross, Lee, St. Francis34 min
Mar 9, 12:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, Lee, St. Francis45 min
Mar 9, 1:45 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementMEGPhillips30 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Mississippi, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.