Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, May 5 to 6, 2003

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, May 5 to 6, 2003
Start: 2003-05-05T16:20
End: 2003-05-06T06:00
Location: Mississippi

May 5 to 6, 2003 · NWS MEG · 33 events in 16 counties and zones

17 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 2 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 33

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 5, 2:50 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 5, 2:50 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
350 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

AN ACTIVE SVR WX EPISODE TODAY. THE FNTL BNDRY TO OUR NW WILL NOT
MAKE MUCH PROGRESS INTO THE FA DURING THE NEXT 48 TO 60 HRS. EXPECT
TUESDAY TO BE SIMILAR TO TODAY AS THE ATMS REMAINS UNSTABLE AS
INDICATED BY FCST SOUNDINGS. ALL OF THE FA EXCEPT FAR NE AR IS IN A
HIGH RISK FOR TONITE WITH A MODERATE RISK FOR THE WRN HALF OF THE FA
TUESDAY AND SLIGHT ELSEWHERE. ONGOING CONVECTION THAT HAS BEEN
PRODUCING TORNADOES THIS AFTN WILL CONT THRU TONITE AS AN UPR LVL SW
LIFTS NEWD OUT OF TX TWD THE MIDSOUTH REGION OVERNITE. THE WX PATTERN
REMAINS UNSETTLED THRU NEXT MONDAY AS SW FLOW ALOFT CONTS ACROSS THE
SE STATES AND A SERIES OF UPR LVL TROFS MOVE ACROSS THE CNTRL PLAINS
INTO THE GTLKS REGION. WILL CONT THE CURRENT FCST OF CHC TSTMS EACH
DAY. HOPEFULLY THE WEEKEND WILL BE A LITTLE MORE QUIET THAN TODAY.
HEAVIEST RAINS OCCURRED ACROSS WRN TN LAST NITE INTO TODAY AND THE
FOCUS SHUD BE ACROSS NRN MS FOR HEAVY RAINS. DO NOT THINK FLOODING
WILL BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM SO DID NOT ISSUE A WATCH.

.MEG...TOR WATCH FOR ENTIRE MIDSOUTH THRU 10 PM CDT TONITE.

Hazardous weather outlook, May 5, 3:05 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-061000-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
405 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...NORTH
MISSISSIPPI...WEST TENNESSEE AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI AS
WELL AS PORTIONS OF MUCH OF EAST ARKANSAS AND WEST TENNESSEE. THE
HISK RISK AREA IS GENERALL SOUTH OF A LINE FROM WYNNE TO DYERSBURG
TO PARIS. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER THE REST
OF THE MIDSOUTH. WARM HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR AHEAD OF A SLOW MOVING
COLD FRONT TO THE WEST WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE PERIODS OF
THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE MID SOUTH. SOME STORMS WILL BE SEVERE THIS
AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. STRONG TO VIOLENT LARGE TORNADOES ARE
POSSIBLE. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL ALSO BE LIKELY OVER THE
ENTIRE MIDSOUTH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS NORTHEAST
ARKANSAS AND THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THERE
IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER OVER THE REST OF THE MID SOUTH
TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THE COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN TO THE WEST
TUESDAY AND MOVE INTO THE MID SOUTH WEDNESDAY THEN RETREAT BACK TO
THE NORTH THURSDAY. WARM HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL CONTINUE TO
COVER THE MID SOUTH AND CAUSE PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH SOME
STORMS POSSIBLY SEVERE THROUGH DAY SEVEN.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE LIKELY TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY AND MAY BE
POSSIBLE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES. FOR ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION...CHECK OUR
WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/MEG.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 5, 1:40 PM CST, 2 hours 40 minutes before

TNZ052-052015-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
240 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...MADISON COUNTY.

A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 23 MILES
WEST OF BEMIS AT 240 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

PEOPLE IN MADISON COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITY OF JACKSON...SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

Special weather statement, May 5, 2:13 PM CST, 2 hours 7 minutes before

TNZ053-054-052045-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
313 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...CHESTER AND HENDERSON
COUNTIES.

A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 16 MILES
WEST OF MIFFLIN AT 313 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

PEOPLE IN CHESTER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITY OF
LEXINGTON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

Special weather statement, May 5, 2:32 PM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

TNZ055-052100-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
332 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...DECATUR COUNTY.

A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO WAS LOCATED 21 MILES
WEST OF DECATURVILLE AT 332 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

PEOPLE IN DECATUR COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

Special weather statement, May 5, 3:16 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

ARZ018-052145-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
416 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...GREENE COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES WEST OF WALCOTT AT 416 PM
CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN GREENE COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF MARMADUKE AND
PARAGOULD...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

Special weather statement, May 5, 3:51 PM CST, 29 minutes before

MOZ115-052230-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
451 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...PEMISCOT COUNTY.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 20 MILES WEST OF DENTON AT 451 PM
CDT...MOVING EAST AT 80 MPH.

PEOPLE IN PEMISCOT COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CARUTHERSVILLE...
HAYTI AND STEELE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

Special weather statement, May 5, 4:06 PM CST, 14 minutes before

ARZ026-052230-

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
506 PM CDT MON MAY 5 2003

THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR...CRAIGHEAD COUNTY.

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF JONESBORO AT 506
PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BROOKLAND...
JONESBORO...LAKE CITY AND MONETTE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM
CLOSELY.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coahoma

When: May 5, 4:20 PM CST to 4:25 PM CST
Where: Coahoma County, Clarksdale
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 34.200, -90.583

A couple of trees were blown down.

Hail, Coahoma

When: May 5, 4:55 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Coahoma County, Clarksdale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 34.200, -90.583

Hail, Pontotoc

When: May 5, 6:00 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, Pontotoc
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.250, -89.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Pontotoc

When: May 5, 6:00 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, Pontotoc
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 34.250, -89.000

Several trees and power lines were knocked down.

Hail, Lee

When: May 5, 6:22 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Tupelo
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 34.267, -88.717

Thunderstorm Wind, Tallahatchie

When: May 5, 6:25 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Tallahatchie County, Charleston
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.000, -90.050

Several trees were blown down.

Hail, Coahoma

When: May 5, 6:26 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Coahoma County, Clarksdale
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 34.200, -90.583

Lightning, Tallahatchie

When: May 5, 6:30 PM CST to 6:35 PM CST
Where: Tallahatchie County, Charleston
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.951, -90.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storage shed was destroyed by a lightning strike.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When: May 5, 6:40 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Lafayette County, Oxford
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.367, -89.517

Several trees and power lines were knocked down.

Hail, Tallahatchie

When: May 5, 6:45 PM CST to 6:50 PM CST
Where: Tallahatchie County, Webb
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.950, -90.350

Lightning, Yalobusha

When: May 5, 7:00 PM CST to 7:05 PM CST
Where: Yalobusha County, Oakland
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.028, -89.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A lumber mill was damaged by a lightning strike.

Hail, Yalobusha

When: May 5, 7:25 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where: Yalobusha County, Countywide
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.033, -89.700

Hail, Union

When: May 5, 7:30 PM CST to 7:45 PM CST
Where: Union County, Countywide
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.467, -88.967

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: May 5, 7:55 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, Calhoun City
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.850, -89.317

A large was blown down on top of a house.

Hail, Chickasaw

When: May 5, 8:00 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw County, 1 mi S of Houston
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.883, -89.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Chickasaw

When: May 5, 8:25 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw County, Countywide
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.900, -88.950

Numerous trees were blown down across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: May 5, 9:16 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County, Countywide
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.833, -89.300

Numerous trees were knocked down across the county.

Flash Flood, Lee

When: May 5, 10:00 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Tupelo
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.290, -88.680 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One home was flooded. Several roads were closed due to flooding.

Hail, Chickasaw

When: May 5, 10:15 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Chickasaw County, Countywide
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.900, -88.950

Hail, Lee

When: May 5, 10:30 PM CST to 10:35 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Nettleton
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 34.100, -88.633

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: May 5, 10:30 PM CST to 10:35 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Tupelo
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.267, -88.717

Several trees and power lines were knocked down.

Hail, Monroe

When: May 5, 10:46 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, Amory
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.983, -88.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When: May 5, 10:50 PM CST to 10:55 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, Amory
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.983, -88.500

Some large tree limbs were blown down.

Hail, Monroe

When: May 5, 11:06 PM CST to 11:10 PM CST
Where: Monroe County, Smithville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.067, -88.400

Hail, Tate

When: May 6, 12:29 AM CST to 12:35 AM CST
Where: Tate County, Coldwater
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.683, -89.967

Hail, Union

When: May 6, 1:02 AM CST to 1:10 AM CST
Where: Union County, New Albany
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.500, -89.000

Hail, Tate

When: May 6, 1:12 AM CST to 1:20 AM CST
Where: Tate County, Senatobia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.617, -89.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Tunica

When: May 6, 1:25 AM CST to 1:30 AM CST
Where: Tunica County, 2 mi N of Tunica
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.717, -90.383

Several trees were blown down.

Hail, De Soto

When: May 6, 1:45 AM CST to 1:50 AM CST
Where: De Soto County, Olive Branch
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 34.967, -89.817

One home was damaged by the hail.

Hail, Tunica

When: May 6, 2:00 AM CST to 2:05 AM CST
Where: Tunica County, Tunica
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 34.683, -90.383

Flash Flood, Marshall

When: May 6, 2:45 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall County, Byhalia
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 34.762, -89.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few streets were flooded in downtown Byhalia.

Flash Flood, Alcorn

When: May 6, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Alcorn County, Corinth
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.881, -88.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some trees were knocked down due to the flooding. Several roads were flooded.

Flash Flood, Tippah

When: May 6, 5:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Tippah County, Ripley
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.768, -88.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some roads were flooded.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, May 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5356294, 5356295, 5356296, 5356297, 5356298, 5356390, 5356299, 5356387, 5356389, 5356300, 5356388, 5356383, 5356301, 5356302, 5356303, 5356304, 5356305, 5356380, 5356371, 5356372, 5356381, 5356373, 5356386, 5356374, 5356375, 5356376, 5356377, 5356378, 5356391, 5356382, 5356379, 5356384, 5356385.