Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 16, NWS Memphis, TN
NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2026, 3:31 PM CDT for Crittenden County, Cross County, Arkansas. It was in force for 12 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Apr 28, 2026, 3:31 PM CDT (20:31 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 28, 2026, 3:43 PM CDT
- In force
- 12 min
- Issued by
- NWS Memphis, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 0.75 in
Counties Crittenden County, AR, Cross County, AR
The radar
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 39 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:34 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 tornado 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2:32 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Jackson, MS (KJAN), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 328 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
- 619 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -288 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 862 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 44 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 262 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 282 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 7.7
The text
As transmitted.
569
WFUS54 KMEG 282031
TORMEG
ARC035-037-282115-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0016.260428T2031Z-260428T2115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
331 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Northern Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas...
Southeastern Cross County in eastern Arkansas...
* Until 415 PM CDT.
* At 331 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Parkin, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* Locations impacted include...
West Memphis, Marion, Earle, Parkin, Crawfordsville, Sunset,
Jericho, Jennette, Turrell, Clarkedale, Smithdale, Three Forks,
Booker, Gammon, Cunningham Corner, McDonald, Harvard, Cloar,
Vincent, and Ebony.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 40 in Arkansas between mile markers 265 and 280.
Interstate 55 in Arkansas between mile markers 4 and 21.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter or an interior room on the
lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are
outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3531 9064 3539 9018 3538 9017 3537 9015
3530 9014 3530 9016 3528 9017 3526 9016
3525 9014 3515 9013 3514 9040 3515 9040
3515 9061
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 262DEG 33KT 3524 9054
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
AC32 follow-up statements
089
WWUS54 KMEG 282039
SVSMEG
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
339 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
ARC037-282049-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260428T2115Z/
Cross AR-
339 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and west Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 9050 3539 9018 3538 9017 3537 9015
3530 9014 3530 9016 3528 9017 3526 9016
3525 9014 3515 9013 3514 9040 3515 9040
3515 9050
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 262DEG 33KT 3525 9045
$$
ARC035-282115-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260428T2115Z/
Crittenden AR-
339 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CRITTENDEN COUNTY...
At 339 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Earle, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
West Memphis, Marion, Earle, Crawfordsville, Sunset, Jericho,
Jennette, Turrell, Clarkedale, Three Forks, Booker, Gammon,
Cunningham Corner, Harvard, Cloar, Vincent, Ebony, Lansing, Julius,
and Blanton.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 40 in Arkansas between mile markers 265 and 280.
Interstate 55 in Arkansas between mile markers 4 and 21.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a storm shelter or an interior room on the
lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are
outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest
substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 9050 3539 9018 3538 9017 3537 9015
3530 9014 3530 9016 3528 9017 3526 9016
3525 9014 3515 9013 3514 9040 3515 9040
3515 9050
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 262DEG 33KT 3525 9045
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
$$
AC3952
WWUS54 KMEG 282043
SVSMEG
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
343 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
ARC035-282053-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260428T2115Z/
Crittenden AR-
343 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CRITTENDEN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for eastern
Arkansas...and west Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 9050 3539 9018 3538 9017 3537 9015
3530 9014 3530 9016 3528 9017 3526 9016
3525 9014 3515 9013 3514 9040 3515 9040
3515 9050
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 262DEG 33KT 3526 9040
$$
AC3What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Apr 28, 2:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Issued at 220 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
- Another round of severe weather is expected this afternoon into the late evening hours. All hazards will be on the table, particularly damaging winds.
- Another chance for showers and thunderstorms arrives on Friday with a weak reinforcing cold front. Otherwise, generally dry and progressively cooler weather is expected through the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 2:21 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 221 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 ...New MESOSCALE UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 220 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 - Another round of severe weather is expected this afternoon into the late evening hours. All hazards will be on the table, particularly damaging winds. - Another chance for showers and thunderstorms arrives on Friday with a weak reinforcing cold front. Otherwise, generally dry and progressively cooler weather is expected through the weekend. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR SEVERE WEATHER... Issued at 220 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 Large-scale forcing for ascent associated with an approaching mid- level shortwave trough will enhance lift across the Mid-South through this evening. This wave is accompanied by another band of strong mid-level flow that will maintain strong deep-layer vertical shear. The boundary layer continues to destabilize with MLCAPE near 3000 J/kg, per the latest RAP analysis, with 0-3 km CAPE approaching 150 J/kg in some areas. The combination of instability and shear will maintain the convection moving into eastern AR, and facilitate upscale growth into a mixed-mode mess of supercells and multicell clusters/line segments. Damaging wind and hail look to be the most likely hazards. However, 0-1 SRH is progged to increase later this afternoon to perhaps ~150 m2/s2 (the strongest SRH seen on the SPC mesoanalysis substantially lags behind the convection). WFO Memphis is entering warning operations and will forego the issuance of the SPS for subsevere storms. The latest intel suggests that the first wave of convection will move across the area between now and sunset with a secondary wave late this evening. Confidence is much lower on the secondary wave, and a lot will depend on how much recovery the air mass experiences post-convection. MJ && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Monday) Issued at 111 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 A very brief lull in convection is underway this late morning across the Mid-South. There will be a messy convective scheme unraveling over the next 2-3 hours as a strong cold front makes its final approach. Severe thunderstorms are ongoing over NW AR and SW MO, which will become our main focus for this afternoon. According to the latest CAMs, convective mode will be multicellular with a high potential for bowing segments, especially across the Mississippi Delta. These bowing segments will feature our highest damaging wind threat - most likely in the 3-7PM time frame today. It's worth noting that there continue to be considerable timing discrepancies even in the highest resolution models this afternoon. The grand ensemble of the HREF attempts to smooth out these inconsistencies, but the HRRR has handled the observed convection best so far and it favors an earlier solution by 2-3 hours compared to the remaining CAMs. Hazard-wise, all threats are on the table today. As previously alluded to, the convective mode favors a significant damaging wind threat across north Mississippi this afternoon. While this is the primary hazard, the low level shear profile is supportive of embedded tornadoes, some of which could become strong (EF-2+). Digging into some point soundings, there is noteworthy curvature in the lowest level of the hodographs indicative of rotating supercells. Midlevel lapse rates have been very impressive throughout this multi-day event and will continue to support very large hail this afternoon at over 7 degC/km. Somewhat of a sleeper threat may be the heavy rainfall. While these storms will be fairly progressive in their eastward movement, a training situation may unfold across the southern half of our area. PWATs are above the 97.5th percentile for this time of year, which will support very efficient rainfall rates passing over the same areas within a few hours of each other. Storm total QPF is manageable for most of the area at around 1.5 inches through tomorrow, but it creeps up to near 2.5 inches along our southernmost zones. Especially with the Memphis metro, flooding will be a sneaky hazard today. After the convection moves through tonight, we should be all clear of severe weather no later than 1AM. This is a very slow- moving front and thus we'll still have some straggling post- frontal showers over north MS for much of the day Wednesday. Following this frontal passage and a weak reinforcing front on Friday, cool high pressure will settle in nicely for the next few days. Temperatures take a steady dive and end up about 10 degrees below normal by this weekend with highs in the 60s. As southerly flow returns on the back side of the exiting high pressure system, we warm back up to near normal next week. However, the long range forecast does favor a 30-40% chance of below normal precipitation so we may be entering another mild pattern. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 111 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 Multiple TSRA clusters will track eastward out of central AR into the Midsouth late afternoon. The HRRR model has been relatively consistent with its depiction of convective timing of the initial TSRA through the TAF sites. For this evening, the HRRR has since trended toward the other CAMs that depict SHRA and isolated TSRA near MEM over the latter half of the late evening inbound push. There is some question with regard to available convective instability. But should an area of organized post-frontal SHRA develop, vertical thermal profiles suggest at least a sparse coverage TSRA could be supported through 08Z. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 111 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026 Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move through this afternoon and evening, resulting in 1-2" of rain areawide to mitigate fire danger. Dry conditions with minRH values below 40% will materialize on Thursday, before additional moisture returns on Friday. The weekend looks dry again with minRH dipping back below 40%. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. && MESOSCALE UPDATE...MJ PUBLIC FORECAST...CAD AVIATION...PWB
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 28, 11:56 AM CDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1156 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0425 AM Hail 3 WNW Olive Branch 34.97N 89.87W
04/28/2026 E0.75 Inch DeSoto MS Public
&&
MJLocal storm report, Apr 28, 12:05 PM CDT, 3 hours 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1205 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0222 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSE Garland 35.56N 89.73W
04/28/2026 Tipton TN 911 Call Center
Large tree limbs down across Highway 59.
&&
MJLocal storm report, Apr 28, 12:25 PM CDT, 3 hours 6 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1225 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ESE Steele 36.08N 89.83W
04/27/2026 Pemiscot MO Broadcast Media
Significant roof damage to elementary
school.
&&
MJLocal storm report, Apr 28, 1:05 PM CDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
105 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0200 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 NNE Holladay 35.94N 88.11W
04/28/2026 Benton TN Emergency Mngr
Numerous trees and a few power lines down
across southern Benton County.
&&
MJLocal storm report, Apr 28, 1:17 PM CDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
117 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Adair 35.73N 89.00W
04/28/2026 Crockett TN Emergency Mngr
Trees and power lines down along Joe Edwards
Rd east of Bells.
&&
MJLocal storm report, Apr 28, 2:55 PM CDT, 36 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Memphis TN
255 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0241 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 NNW Millington 35.35N 89.90W
04/28/2026 Shelby TN Fire Dept/Rescue
multiple trees down in the Flag City mobile
home community in Millington.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Memphis, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 9:41 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Clay | 28 min |
| Apr 27, 10:09 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay, Greene | 51 min |
| Apr 27, 10:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi | 66 min |
| Apr 27, 11:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Greene, Mississippi | 66 min |
| Apr 28, 12:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Poinsett | 47 min |
| Apr 28, 12:25 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Craighead, Poinsett | 10 min |
| Apr 28, 12:49 AM CDT | Tornado Warning | MEG | Craighead, Poinsett | 26 min |
| Apr 28, 12:53 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Mississippi | 52 min |
| Apr 28, 1:13 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Mississippi, Poinsett | 47 min |
| Apr 28, 1:56 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 49 min |
| Apr 28, 2:25 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, St. Francis | 20 min |
| Apr 28, 3:27 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Craighead, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett | 48 min |
| Apr 28, 3:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett, St. Francis | 46 min |
| Apr 28, 3:38 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Lee, Phillips | 52 min |
| Apr 28, 3:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Crittenden, Mississippi | 49 min |
| Apr 28, 4:35 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Mississippi | 40 min |
| Apr 28, 4:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay | 51 min |
| Apr 28, 5:37 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MEG | Clay | 18 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Arkansas, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.