Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Memphis, TN

April 28, 2026Haywood County, Lauderdale County, Tipton County, Tennessee

NWS Memphis, TN issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2026, 4:45 PM CDT for Haywood County, Lauderdale County, Tipton County, Tennessee. It was in force for 20 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, 4:45 PM CDT (21:45 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2026, 5:05 PM CDT
In force
20 min
Issued by
NWS Memphis, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Haywood County, TN, Lauderdale County, TN, Tipton County, TN

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:44 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 256 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 2026-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 82 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2026-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 138 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
82 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-202 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1019 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
138 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
142 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

743 
WFUS54 KMEG 282145
TORMEG
TNC075-097-167-282215-
/O.NEW.KMEG.TO.W.0017.260428T2145Z-260428T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Memphis TN
445 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

The National Weather Service in Memphis has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Tipton County in west Tennessee...
  Southeastern Lauderdale County in west Tennessee...
  Northwestern Haywood County in west Tennessee...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 445 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 7 miles southwest of Nutbush, or 8 miles northeast of
  Covington, moving northeast at 50 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...
  Brownsville, Covington, Ripley, Nutbush, Belle Eagle, Forked Deer,
  Henning, Cotton Lake, Christmasville, Orysa, Rudolph, Tibbs,
  Durhamville, Gift, Oakview, Turnpike, Edward Grove, Toulon, and
  Rialto.

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 3565 8918 3549 8954 3566 8966 3581 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2145Z 244DEG 43KT 3561 8951 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

AC3
3 follow-up statements
401 
WWUS54 KMEG 282150 RRA
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
450 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

TNC167-282200-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260428T2215Z/
Tipton TN-
450 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN TIPTON 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 west
Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3552 8946 3569 8953 3581 8936 3565 8918
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 244DEG 43KT 3564 8944 

$$

TNC075-097-282215-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260428T2215Z/
Lauderdale TN-Haywood TN-
450 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE AND NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD COUNTIES...

At 450 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Nutbush, or 9 miles southeast of Ripley, moving
northeast at 50 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...
Brownsville, Nutbush, Belle Eagle, Forked Deer, Christmasville,
Orysa, Rudolph, Tibbs, Durhamville, Oakview, Turnpike, Edward Grove,
and Toulon.

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 3552 8946 3569 8953 3581 8936 3565 8918
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 244DEG 43KT 3564 8944 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

AC3
036 
WWUS54 KMEG 282157
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
457 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

TNC097-282207-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260428T2215Z/
Lauderdale TN-
457 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAUDERDALE 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 west
Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3565 8918 3556 8938 3568 8945 3573 8943
      3575 8943 3578 8941 3581 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 244DEG 43KT 3568 8934 

$$

TNC075-282215-
/O.CON.KMEG.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260428T2215Z/
Haywood TN-
457 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD COUNTY...

At 457 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Nutbush, or 7 miles northwest of Brownsville, moving
northeast at 50 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...
Brownsville, Belle Eagle, Forked Deer, Nutbush, Oakview, Edward
Grove, Christmasville, Toulon, Rudolph, and Tibbs.

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 3565 8918 3556 8938 3568 8945 3573 8943
      3575 8943 3578 8941 3581 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 244DEG 43KT 3568 8934 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

AC3
868 
WWUS54 KMEG 282205
SVSMEG

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
505 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

TNC075-282214-
/O.CAN.KMEG.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260428T2215Z/
Haywood TN-
505 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD 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 west
Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3565 8918 3556 8938 3568 8945 3573 8943
      3575 8943 3578 8941 3581 8936
TIME...MOT...LOC 2203Z 244DEG 43KT 3572 8924 

$$

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, 2 hours 24 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, 2 hours 24 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, 4 hours 49 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, 4 hours 40 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, 4 hours 20 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, 3 hours 40 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, 3 hours 28 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, 1 hour 50 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, 10:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatMEGDyer, Lake, Lauderdale66 min
Apr 27, 11:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lauderdale, Madison66 min
Apr 28, 12:01 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDecatur, Henderson44 min
Apr 28, 12:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy, Madison49 min
Apr 28, 12:13 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGDecatur, Henderson20 min
Apr 28, 12:32 AM CDTTornado WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson26 min
Apr 28, 12:53 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGDyer, Lauderdale52 min
Apr 28, 1:00 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Crockett, Gibson, Haywood, Henderson, Madison45 min
Apr 28, 1:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLauderdale, Tipton47 min
Apr 28, 1:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGBenton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Henderson, Madison36 min
Apr 28, 1:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGTipton49 min
Apr 28, 2:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby, Tipton20 min
Apr 28, 2:42 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Shelby, Tipton48 min
Apr 28, 3:27 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Shelby48 min
Apr 28, 3:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman21 min
Apr 28, 4:20 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Decatur, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy, Madison38 min
Apr 28, 3:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGShelby, Tipton46 min
Apr 28, 3:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton49 min
Apr 28, 3:59 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGFayette, Hardeman, Shelby46 min
Apr 28, 4:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Madison and 2 more40 min
Apr 28, 4:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy, Shelby52 min
Apr 28, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGCarroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood and 4 more49 min
Apr 28, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGChester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy and 1 more56 min
Apr 28, 5:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMEGLake18 min
Apr 28, 5:46 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGGibson59 min
Apr 28, 6:07 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningMEGCrockett, Dyer, Gibson3 hr
Apr 28, 6:35 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMEGShelby103 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 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.