During the afternoon and evening of April 9th and overnight hours of the 10th, an outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes occurred across the ArkLaMiss region and pushed east through northern Louisiana and into northern Mississippi. While the majority of the severe weather occurred out of the NWS Jackson, MS service area, several reports of large hail and wind damage were reported along with a…
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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 JAN wrote it up.
During the afternoon and evening of April 9th and overnight hours of the 10th, an outbreak of severe storms and tornadoes occurred across the ArkLaMiss region and pushed east through northern Louisiana and into northern Mississippi. While the majority of the severe weather occurred out of the NWS Jackson, MS service area, several reports of large hail and wind damage were reported along with a few tornadoes. One of the strongest storms moved east across Ashley County Arkansas. This storm produced an EF2 tornado over the southwest and southern sections, and contained a swath of quarter to golf ball sized hail which occurred across the entire length of the county.
In looking at this event, which occurred over two days (April 9-10), in a regional view, this was likely the biggest severe weather and tornado outbreak during the spring of 2009. This event contained numerous strong tornadoes along with hundreds of large hail reports which stretched from the Southern Plains to several other southern States.
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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 9, 8:21 PM CST, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
921 PM CDT THU APR 9 2009
.UPDATE...MADE SOME SMALL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HOURLY VALUES THROUGH
TONIGHT. DEWPOINTS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO INCREASE AND VALUES TO THE WEST
ARE NOT AS HIGH AS THE MODELS SUGGEST. KEPT VALUES IN THE LOWER 60S
TO THE SOUTH. A CAP REMAINS OVER JAN AND SHV FOR NOW...BUT WITH LINE
OF STORMS QUICKLY TRACKING EAST WILL CONTINUE ISOLATED SEVERE WORDING
IN THE FORECAST. GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA AND LAKE WIND
ADVISORY WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE EXTENDED OR REISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA MAY RELAX BRIEFLY
IN THE MORNING...BUT SHOULD QUICKLY TIGHTEN AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES
TOWARD THE REGION. CLOUDS AND WINDS WILL LIKELY KEEP TEMPERATURES
NEAR 70 THROUGH THE EVENING...SO TWEAKED HOURLY VALUES. THE FORECAST
WAS GOOD. WILL UPDATE TO REMOVE THE LKY.
&&
.AVIATION...THERE MAY BE A FEW LOW CLOUDS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA
WITH THUNDERSTORMS...BUT AT THIS TIME IT LOOKS WINDS WILL REMAIN
ABOVE 3KFT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH WESTERN
ARKANSAS AND SHOULD BE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AROUND
MIDNIGHT...BUT SHOULD MOVE THROUGH QUICKLY. LOOK FOR THUNDERSTORMS
FROM 6-8Z AT GLH...7-10Z AT JAN/GWO...8-11Z AT GTR AND 10-13Z FOR
MEI AND MAYBE HBG. GUSTY WINDS WILL BE AN ISSUE THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON FOR GLH/GWO AND GTR. SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 18KTS WITH GUSTS
TO 30KTS WILL BE LIKELY FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS IN THOSE AREAS. WINDS
WILL INCREASE AFTER 18Z AT ALL OTHER SITES AND CONTINUE THROUGH AT
LEAST 3Z. SIMILAR WIND SPEEDS CAN BE EXPECTED.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
JACKSON 63 81 51 72 / 26 20 10 2
MERIDIAN 62 81 50 72 / 28 24 13 2
VICKSBURG 63 80 52 73 / 22 13 8 3
HATTIESBURG 64 83 59 77 / 24 24 13 7
NATCHEZ 64 82 53 73 / 17 11 7 7
GREENVILLE 61 74 46 69 / 32 18 10 0
GREENWOOD 61 76 47 69 / 32 24 11 0
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR MSZ018-019-025>027-
034>036-040>042-047.
LA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR LAZ007>009-015-016-
023>026.
AR...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR ARZ074-075.
&&
7HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS 1143 PM CDT THU APR 9 2009 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023-025-MSZ018-019-025>028-034>036- 040>042-047-110445- ASHLEY-CHICOT-MOREHOUSE-WEST CARROLL-EAST CARROLL-RICHLAND- MADISON LA-FRANKLIN LA-TENSAS-BOLIVAR-SUNFLOWER-LEFLORE-GRENADA- CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-WASHINGTON-HUMPHREYS-HOLMES-ISSAQUENA-SHARKEY- YAZOO-WARREN- 1143 PM CDT THU APR 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EXTREME SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...WEST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT AND SWING A FRONT INTO THE ARKLAMISS DELTA REGION AFTER MIDNIGHT. STORMS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING SEVERE...MAINLY WEST OF A GRENADA MISSISSIPPI TO RAYVILLE LINE. SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 30 MPH WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT BEFORE SHIFTING WEST ON FRIDAY. THESE WINDS WILL CREATE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS FOR BOATERS ON OPEN WATER. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT MAINLY WEST OF A GRENADA TO NATCHEZ LINE THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL LIKELY CROSS THE REGION FROM LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE TWENTY CORRIDOR. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO MONITOR LATER FORECAST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THIS SYSTEM. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. LAZ024-026-MSZ029-032-037-043-044-048>050-053>055-059>062-110445- CATAHOULA-CONCORDIA-WEBSTER-CHOCTAW-ATTALA-MADISON MS-LEAKE-HINDS- RANKIN-SCOTT-CLAIBORNE-COPIAH-SIMPSON-JEFFERSON-ADAMS-FRANKLIN MS- LINCOLN- 1143 PM CDT THU APR 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT AND SWING A FRONT INTO THE ARKLAMISS REGION. AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO JACKSON TO NATCHEZ WILL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 25 MPH WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT BEFORE SHIFTING WEST WITH STRONGER GUSTS ON FRIDAY. THESE WINDS COULD CREATE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS FOR BOATERS ON OPEN WATER AGAIN ON FRIDAY AND A LAKE WIND ADVISORY MAY AGAIN BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL LIKELY CROSS THE REGION FROM LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE TWENTY CORRIDOR. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO MONITOR LATER FORECAST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THIS SYSTEM. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. MSZ030-031-033-038-039-045-046-051-052-056>058-063>066-072>074- 110445- CLAY-LOWNDES-OKTIBBEHA-WINSTON-NOXUBEE-NESHOBA-KEMPER-NEWTON- LAUDERDALE-SMITH-JASPER-CLARKE-LAWRENCE-JEFFERSON DAVIS-COVINGTON- JONES-MARION-LAMAR-FORREST- 1143 PM CDT THU APR 9 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT AND FRIDAY ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL... DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO MAY OCCUR ON FRIDAY. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY LATE TONIGHT AND SWING A FRONT INTO THE ARKLAMISS DELTA REGION AFTER MIDNIGHT. STORMS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING SEVERE...MAINLY EAST OF A BROOKHAVEN TO WEST POINT LINE DURING FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN INSTABILITY AND MOISTURE WILL BE GREATEST. SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL HIGHER GUSTS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT BEFORE SHIFTING WEST WITH STRONGER GUSTS ON FRIDAY. THESE WINDS COULD CREATE CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS FOR BOATERS ON OPEN WATER AGAIN ON FRIDAY AND A LAKE WIND ADVISORY MAY AGAIN BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY ANOTHER STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL LIKELY CROSS THE REGION FROM LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE TWENTY CORRIDOR. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. RESIDENTS WILL NEED TO MONITOR LATER FORECAST DEVELOPMENTS WITH THIS SYSTEM. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS...MAY BE NEEDED FRIDAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAN. THIS INCLUDES THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1148 PM CDT THU APR 09 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1146 PM HAIL CROSSETT 33.13N 91.97W
04/09/2009 E0.88 INCH ASHLEY AR BROADCAST MEDIA
REPORTED BY SKYWARN SPOTTER THROUGH KTVE
&&
BURSEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON MS
1242 AM CDT FRI APR 10 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 AM HAIL E EUDORA 33.12N 91.26W
04/10/2009 E0.50 INCH CHICOT AR EMERGENCY MNGR
PEA TO DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE
EUDORA CITY LIMITS ALONG HIGHWAY 52.
&&
MMEThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 hail, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A swath of penny to nickel sized hail fell across all of Richland Parish, generally along I-20, as a supercell storm tracked east. Nickel sized hail was observed between Start and Rayville in the Girard Community. Penny sized hail was spotted around Rayville.
The tornado appeared to have started along I-20, just west southwest of Delhi, and it downed a few trees. As the tornado passed just south of Delhi, shingles and roofing were taken off the roof of a couple of apartment buildings and several trees were downed. The tornado then crossed I-20 and entered western Madison Parish. A few more trees were blown down before it dissipated. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
A swath of penny to quarter sized hail fell across all of Madison Parish as a supercell storm tracked east.
The tornado appeared to have started along I-20, just west southwest of Delhi, and it downed a few trees. As the tornado passed just south of Delhi, shingles and roofing were taken off the roof of a couple of apartment buildings and several trees were downed. The tornado then crossed I-20 and entered western Madison Parish. A few more trees were blown down before it dissipated. Maximum winds were around 90 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2009Warnings in Louisiana, April 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: 164031, 164037, 164900, 164899.