Alert archive / Arkansas / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Memphis, TN

April 28, 2026Crittenden County, Cross County, Arkansas

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 28, 2:32 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2026-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 619 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Jackson, MS at 12:00Z on 2026-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 262 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

AC3
2 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

$$

AC3
952 
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 

$$

AC3

What 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

&&

MJ
Local 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.

&&

MJ
Local 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.

&&

MJ
Local 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.

&&

MJ
Local 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.

&&

MJ
Local 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 9:41 PM CDTTornado WarningMEGClay28 min
Apr 27, 10:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay, Greene51 min
Apr 27, 10:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMEGClay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi66 min
Apr 27, 11:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Greene, Mississippi66 min
Apr 28, 12:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett47 min
Apr 28, 12:25 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett10 min
Apr 28, 12:49 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGCraighead, Poinsett26 min
Apr 28, 12:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Mississippi52 min
Apr 28, 1:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Mississippi, Poinsett47 min
Apr 28, 1:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMississippi49 min
Apr 28, 2:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, St. Francis20 min
Apr 28, 3:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCraighead, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett48 min
Apr 28, 3:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Cross, Mississippi, Poinsett, St. Francis46 min
Apr 28, 3:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLee, Phillips52 min
Apr 28, 3:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrittenden, Mississippi49 min
Apr 28, 4:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGMississippi40 min
Apr 28, 4:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay51 min
Apr 28, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGClay18 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.