A stationary front was located across the Mid-South during the day on June 12th, 2009. During the early morning hours, a mesoscale convective system developed over Eastern Oklahoma and tracked east into the Mid-South during the afternoon and evening hours.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.
A stationary front was located across the Mid-South during the day on June 12th, 2009. During the early morning hours, a mesoscale convective system developed over Eastern Oklahoma and tracked east into the Mid-South during the afternoon and evening hours. A derecho tracked across the Mid-South producing numerous reports of damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding. Wind speeds were reported as high as 80 mph. Isolated tornadoes occurred along the bow echo. In addition, scattered thunderstorms developed over ahead of the bow echo and produced large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding as well.
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 Jun 12, 1:57 PM CST, 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 257 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 .DISCUSSION... DERECHO CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL AR AT DISCUSSION TIME. THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE WITH 70 MPH PLUS WINDS REPORTED OVER AR. AHEAD OF THIS IMPRESSIVE SYSTEM... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS DISCRETE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL HAD DEVELOPED OVER NORTH MS...WHERE SURFACE BASE CAPES WERE IN EXCESS OF 4500 J/KG. ENVIRONMENTAL SHEAR WAS MARGINAL...BUT CANNOT RULE OUT A FEW BRIEF SPIN UPS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DERECHO AS IT LIFTS EAST. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 388 WAS RECENTLY EXTENDED EAST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF NORTH MS AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF WEST TN. THROUGH MONDAY...THE MIDSOUTH WILL REMAIN ON THE PERIPHERY OF A 592DM 500MB RIDGE CENTERED OVER TX. THIS WILL PUT THE FORECAST AREA IN THE FAVORED TRACK FOR ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM CLUSTERS DROPPING EAST SOUTHEAST FROM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. GFS DEVELOPS ONE SUCH SYSTEM OVER KS/OK THIS EVENING...BRINGING IT INTO THE MIDSOUTH LATE TONIGHT. THUS FAR...NO ACTIVITY OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS... BUT AN INSTABILITY AXIS WITH MID 70S DEWPOINTS WAS BUILDING NORTH INTO CENTRAL OK. WILL CONTINUE WITH CHANCE TO LIKELY POPS OVERNIGHT...THROUGH THERE MAY BE UP TO 10 HOURS OF RELATIVE QUITE FOLLOWING THIS AFTERNOON/S DERECHO. FEW CHANGES THROUGH THE EXTENDED. 12Z GFS SOLUTION BEGINNING TO PULL AWAY FROM EARLIER RUNS BY SUPPRESSING THE UPPER RIDGE WEST...TO THE FOUR CORNERS AND DROPPING HEIGHTS IN THE MS RIVER VALLEY. 12Z ECMWF MAINTAINS THE ROBUST UPPER RIDGE OVER THE LOWER MS RIVER VALLEY THROUGH LATE NEXT WEEK. GIVEN THE LARGE MODEL DISPARITY...WILL MAINTAIN THE WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPS THROUGH LATE NEXT WEEK...IN LINE WITH EARLIER FORECASTS. RAIN CHANCES BEYOND TUESDAY APPEAR LIMITED. PWB && .AVIATION... FOR 18Z TAF CYCLE VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON WHICH ARE NOT IN THE TAFS. HOWEVER...TAFS COVER SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS ARKANSAS AND HAVE ESTIMATED TIMES OF FOR THIS SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH. STORMS THIS EVENING MAY BE STRONG. SOME FOG/MIST POSSIBLE EARLY TOMORROW. TLSJR && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 74 91 74 88 / 60 20 20 40 MKL 68 89 70 87 / 50 30 10 40 JBR 69 89 70 87 / 50 20 30 40 TUP 71 89 71 90 / 60 30 10 40 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1129 AM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-131100- ALCORN-BENTON MS-CALHOUN-CARROLL-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-CLAY-COAHOMA- CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROCKETT-CROSS-DESOTO-DECATUR-DUNKLIN-DYER- FAYETTE-GIBSON-GREENE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY- ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-LEE MS-MADISON- MARSHALL-MCNAIRY-MISSISSIPPI-MONROE-OBION-PANOLA-PEMISCOT- PHILLIPS-POINSETT-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-RANDOLPH-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TIPTON-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA- UNION-WEAKLEY-YALOBUSHA- 1129 AM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...SOUTH OF A LINE FROM WALNUT RIDGE ARKANSAS TO JACKSON TENNESSEE TO SAVANNAH TENNESSEE. A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES NORTH OF THIS LINE. A VERY UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE AND A STALLED SURFACE FRONT WILL PREVAIL OVER THE MIDSOUTH TODAY. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG AND TO THE SOUTH OF THE COLD FRONT... WHICH EXTENDS ALONG NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA. THESE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRECEDE THE POSSIBLE ARRIVAL OF A THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX MOVING INTO THE MIDSOUTH FROM CENTRAL ARKANSAS. ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT...THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH THIS EVENING WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH... WITH A SECONDARY THREATS OF LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOODING. THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT LIKELY BE GREATEST NEAR THE STALLED FRONT...WHERE STORMS ARE MORE LIKELY TO TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR ALL OF MIDSOUTH ON SATURDAY. THE SLIGHT RISK WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY FOR NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND WEST TENNESSEE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE MODERATE RISK AREA. PWB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
259 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HAIL 5 N BRUCE 34.06N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER HAIL 5 MILES NORTH OF BRUCE.
0245 PM HAIL ABERDEEN 33.83N 88.55W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH MONROE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
0250 PM HAIL BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN OVER RT 149
&&
JEBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 307 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 MSZ013>015-122045- UNION MS-LAFAYETTE MS-PONTOTOC MS- 307 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHWESTERN PONTOTOC COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHWESTERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... CENTRAL LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER BURGESS AT 308 PM CDT. THE STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN LAFAYETTE...PONTOTOC AND UNION COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HOLLY SPRINGS NATIONAL FOREST AND OXFORD...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 313 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 MSZ002-008-122045- MARSHALL MS-TATE MS- 313 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... WEST CENTRAL MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... EASTERN TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF SENATOBIA AT 314 PM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM IS NOT EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE AND NO WARNINGS ARE ANTICIPATED. PEOPLE IN MARSHALL AND TATE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR SENATOBIA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT AREA.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
314 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HAIL 5 N BRUCE 34.06N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER HAIL 5 MILES NORTH OF BRUCE.
0245 PM HAIL ABERDEEN 33.83N 88.55W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH MONROE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
0250 PM HAIL BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN OVER RT 149
0305 PM HAIL BATESVILLE 34.32N 89.94W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH PANOLA MS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
343 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HAIL 5 N BRUCE 34.06N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER HAIL 5 MILES NORTH OF BRUCE.
0245 PM HAIL ABERDEEN 33.83N 88.55W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH MONROE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
0250 PM HAIL BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN OVER RT 149
0305 PM HAIL BATESVILLE 34.32N 89.94W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH PANOLA MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0310 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NE BRUCE 34.04N 89.28W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN AT INTERSECTION COUNTY RD 1378 AND HWY 141
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
345 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM HAIL 5 N BRUCE 34.06N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER HAIL 5 MILES NORTH OF BRUCE.
0245 PM HAIL ABERDEEN 33.83N 88.55W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH MONROE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
0250 PM TSTM WND DMG BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN OVER RT 149
0250 PM HAIL BRUCE 33.99N 89.34W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0305 PM HAIL BATESVILLE 34.32N 89.94W
06/12/2009 E1.00 INCH PANOLA MS TRAINED SPOTTER
0310 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NE BRUCE 34.04N 89.28W
06/12/2009 CALHOUN MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREE DOWN AT INTERSECTION COUNTY RD 1378 AND HWY 141
0320 PM HAIL OXFORD 34.36N 89.53W
06/12/2009 E0.75 INCH LAFAYETTE MS TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JEBThe Little Rock radar (KLZK), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:51 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds knocked trees and power lines down across St. Francis County. Twelve structures received minor damage in Forrest City. Additional structures across the county received minor damage as well.
Straight line winds blew several trees and power lines down between Fisher and Waldenburg along Highway 49.
Straight line winds knocked down a few trees in Lexa.
Straight line winds knocked down power lines in Vanndale and across the rest of Cross County. In addition, some structural damage occurred in Vanndale including two mobile homes and a farm shop. One person received minor injuries from the storm.
Straight line winds blew trees down in Helena-West Helena.
Straight line winds knocked down trees near Horseshoe Lake.
Straight line winds blew numerous trees and power lines down in West Memphis. Vehicle windows at the hospital parking lot in West Memphis were blown out. Trailers were blown over in the vicinity of West Memphis and Marion.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 2009
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: 178053, 177510, 177498, 177501, 177513, 177555, 177562.