A cold front approached the Mid-South on Independence Day 2009. Showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the front during the late afternoon and early evening hours on the 4th.
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 cold front approached the Mid-South on Independence Day 2009. Showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the front during the late afternoon and early evening hours on the 4th. The storms continued into the morning hours of July 5th before dissipating. A few of these storms became severe with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.
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 Jul 5, 5:37 AM CST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 637 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 12Z TAF DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 308 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009/ DISCUSSION... A COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THROUGH THE MID SOUTH TODAY AND TONIGHT. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE IN THE WARM SECTOR SOUTH AND EAST OF THE FRONT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL REMAIN THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH SURFACE BASED CAPES 1000-1500 J/KG AND PW VALUES IN EXCESS OF TWO INCHES. THE FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTH OF THE REGION BY TUESDAY WHICH WILL BRING AN END TO PRECIPITATION CHANCES. HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WILL BUILD EASTWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. HOT AND INCREASINGLY HUMID WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THE 00 UTC MODEL GUIDANCE HAS THE REGION IN A NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT NEXT WEEKEND. THIS PATTERN ALLOWS FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF MESOCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS MOVING THROUGH MID SOUTH. KEPT THE SLIGHT CHANCE POPS IN DAY 7 OF THE PREVIOUS FORECAST PACKAGE. OKULSKI && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF CYCLE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ALONG A PREFRONTAL TROUGH OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING WITH MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT TUP WITH THUNDERSTORMS. NORTH OF THIS CONVECTION...BUT SOUTH OF A COLD FRONT POSITIONED OVER NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA...ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT...BUT CONFIDENCE REMAINS RATHER LOW AS AIRMASS HAS BEEN VIGOROUSLY WORKED OVER BY OVERNIGHT CONVECTION. HAVE CONTINUED PRIMARILY WITH TEMPO GROUP THIS MORNING AT MEM AND MKL...AND MAINTAINED VCTS AT JBR THIS MORNING AND FOR MEM AND MKL THIS AFTERNOON. KEPT MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS...BUT SOME MVFR CEILINGS ARE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY WITH ANY CONVECTION. POOR VISIBILITIES AND CEILINGS MAY REDEVELOP OVERNIGHT AS MOIST LOW LEVEL AIRMASS REMAINS EVEN BEHIND WEAK FRONT AND LOW CLOUDS/FOG LIKELY TO REDEVELOP AS WINDS BECOME LIGHT NORTHERLY. JLH && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 86 68 88 68 / 60 40 10 10 MKL 83 66 86 64 / 50 30 10 10 JBR 83 66 88 65 / 40 30 10 10 TUP 86 69 88 67 / 70 40 20 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 309 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 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>092-061015- 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- 309 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 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 SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS... SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TODAY AND TONIGHT. DAMAGING WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS THIS MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED THIS MORNING AND MAY BE NEEDED THE REST OF TODAY. OKULSKI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 247 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 MSZ001-007-008-012-050830- DE SOTO MS-TUNICA MS-TATE MS-PANOLA MS- 247 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHERN DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... EASTERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF ROBINSONVILLE TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF DUBBS AT 246 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. AT 235 AM CDT...WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH AT THE TUNICA REGIONAL AIRPORT IN TUNICA COUNTY. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN DESOTO...PANOLA...TATE AND TUNICA COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HERNANDO AND SENATOBIA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 AM CDT. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES ARKABUTLA LAKE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 314 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 MSZ002-003-TNZ089-050845- BENTON MS-MARSHALL MS-FAYETTE TN- 314 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHWESTERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MT PLEASANT AT 314 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN BENTON...FAYETTE AND MARSHALL COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 AM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 344 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 MSZ001-007-008-050915- DE SOTO MS-TUNICA MS-TATE MS- 344 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM WALLS TO 5 MILES WEST OF LITTLE TEXAS AT 344 AM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN DESOTO...TATE AND TUNICA COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HERNANDO...HORN LAKE...OLIVE BRANCH...SENATOBIA AND SOUTHAVEN... SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 AM CDT. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES ARKABUTLA LAKE...BEAVERDAM LAKE AND HORN LAKE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 507 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ARZ036-048-049-058-MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ053-088>092-051300- ALCORN-BENTON-CALHOUN-CHESTER-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-CRITTENDEN-DESOTO- FAYETTE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE(AR)-LEE(MS)-MARSHALL- MCNAIRY-MONROE-PANOLA-PHILLIPS-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-SHELBY- ST. FRANCIS-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION- YALOBUSHA- 507 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 A BROAD AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS THROUGH NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND INTO SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE. STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 35 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXECTED THROUGH 8 AM CDT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 2 INCHES ARE FORECAST IN THIS AREA...EXCEPT HIGHER AMOUNTS NEAR STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS. OKULSKI
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 721 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 MSZ015-016-023-051245- LEE MS-PONTOTOC MS-CHICKASAW MS- 721 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN CHICKASAW COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHWESTERN LEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN PONTOTOC COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RANDOLPH AT 721 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CHICKASAW...LEE AND PONTOTOC COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR PONTOTOC...TRACE STATE PARK AND TUPELO...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 AM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 744 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 MSZ016-017-051330- LEE MS-ITAWAMBA MS- 744 AM CDT SUN JUL 5 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHERN ITAWAMBA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN LEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF VERONA AT 744 AM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN ITAWAMBA AND LEE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR FULTON...TOMBIGBEE STATE PARK...TUPELO AND VERONA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 AM CDT.
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:48 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees in Verona.
Straight line winds blew several trees down in Tupelo.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees in Plantersville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, July 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: 187433, 187434, 187435.