Mississippi, 2009

Tornado and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, June 12, 2009

June 12, 2009 · NWS MEG · 56 events in 22 counties and zones

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.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
2
Property damage
$4.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
56

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 happened

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.

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 Jun 12, 11:33 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 12, 11:33 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1233 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

.UPDATE...
UPDATED FOR 18Z TAF CYCLE.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1117 AM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009/

UPDATE...
ACTIVE WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH INTO THIS EVENING...
ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF A JONESBORO TO CORINTH LINE.

SURFACE BASED CAPES RANGED FROM 2500 TO 3500 J/KG OVER NORTH MS AND
EAST CENTRAL AR AT 10 AM. THIS AREA WAS JUST SOUTH OF A STALLED
FRONT THAT DROPPED INTO THE MIDSOUTH LAST NIGHT. A SECONDARY
BOUNDARY EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH OF LITTLE ROCK INTO NORTH
MS...WHERE IT BECAME MORE DIFFUSE.

UPSTREAM... A BOWING MCS WAS MOVING FROM NORTHEAST OK INTO
NORTHWEST AR. THIS MCS HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY A MIDLEVEL SHORTWAVE
AND WOULD ARRIVE INTO EASTERN AR AROUND 4 PM GIVEN PRESENT
MOVEMENT. IN THE INTERIM...EXPECT CAP TO BREAK IN THE EARLY
AFTERNOON... YIELDING SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS STORMS ALONG AND
SOUTH OF THE STALLED FRONT. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF SURFACE BASED
INSTABILITY... LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN
ADVANCE OF THE MCS MOVING IN FROM AR.

FORECAST UPDATE RECENTLY SENT.

PWB

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 340 AM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009/

DISCUSSION...

SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
A VERY WEAK FRONT WAS SLOWLY MOVING ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF
THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED
ALONG THIS BOUNDARY EARLIER IN THE NIGHT AND HAVE SINCE MOVED INTO
SOUTHERN PARTS OF MIDDLE TN. THIS BOUNDARY WILL POSE PROBLEMS FOR
THE FORECAST TODAY. A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN OVER
THE REGION AND THE BOUNDARY WILL LIKELY SERVE AS A FOCUS MECHANISM
FOR AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP.

UNFORTUNATELY...MODELS NOT RESOLVING ANY DISCERNIBLE SHORTWAVE
TROUGHS IN THE MOSTLY WESTERLY MID LEVEL FLOW TODAY.
HOWEVER...AFTERNOON HEATING SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO GET THINGS STARTED
BY 4PM THIS AFTERNOON. MODEL SOUNDINGS DIFFER AS TO THE STRENGTH OF
THE CAP BUT BELIEVE THE NAM HAS A BETTER HANDLE ON THE MORE
REALISTIC VERTICAL PROFILE.

FOR TONIGHT...THE DAYTIME CONVECTION WILL EITHER DISSIPATE OR MOVE
OUT OF THE AREA BY EARLY EVENING. THE FOCUS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST
WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER MCS OR TWO HAS DEVELOPED OVER WESTERN
KANSAS AND NORTHEASTERN COLORADO. THE UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME MORE
NORTHWESTERLY AS THE UPPER HIGH BUILDS INTO SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
ALSO THE DEEPENING SFC LOW OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA WILL PROVIDE GOOD
INFLOW WINDS INTO THE APPROACHING STORMS. HAD A TOUGH TIME ARGUING
WITH ONGOING POP FORECAST. NE AR AND NW TN COULD SEE THUNDERSTORMS
WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT FROM THIS COMPLEX. SHOULD THE STORMS MARCH
THROUGH TONIGHT...REMNANTS WILL LIKELY MOVE SOUTHEAST ACROSS PARTS
OF WEST TN AND N MS.

BY SUNDAY THE MIDSOUTH WILL REMAIN ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE
UPPER RIDGE. THUS WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. SUNDAY IS NO EXCEPTION. IN ADDITION TO BEING
ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE HIGH...A STATIONARY FRONT WILL BISECT THE
FORECAST AREA. LOOK FOR THIS BOUNDARY TO BE THE FOCUS OF CONVECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

AC

LONG RANGE...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
00Z LONG RANGE MODELS INDICATE A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY WILL
MOVE BACK NORTH AS A WARM FRONT ACROSS THE MID SOUTH MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY. AS A RESULT...CONTINUED LOW END CHANCE POPS FROM PREVIOUS
FORECAST PACKAGE. FOR TUESDAY NIGHT AND BEYOND...ECMWF/GFS
INDICATE STRONGER UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD INTO
THE REGION...RESULTING IN HIGHS IN THE LOWER 90S AND APPROACHING
THE MIDDLE 90S.

CJC

&&

.AVIATION...
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  89  74  89  74 /  50  50  30  20
MKL  86  68  86  70 /  50  40  30  10
JBR  86  70  88  71 /  50  50  30  20
TUP  89  72  88  72 /  50  50  30  10

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...NONE.
MO...NONE.
MS...NONE.
TN...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 12, 10:29 AM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 12, 12:26 PM CST, 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
126 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

ARZ058-MSZ007-010-011-121900-
PHILLIPS AR-TUNICA MS-COAHOMA MS-QUITMAN MS-
126 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  EAST CENTRAL PHILLIPS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
  NORTHERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
  NORTHERN QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHWESTERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50
MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER FRIARS POINT AT 126 PM CDT...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN COAHOMA...PHILLIPS...QUITMAN AND TUNICA COUNTIES...
INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HELENA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES BEAVERDAM LAKE...FLOWER
LAKE...HORSESHOE LAKE AND MOON LAKE.

.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT
AREA.
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 12:36 PM CST, 34 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
136 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

MSZ022-023-121900-
CALHOUN MS-CHICKASAW MS-
136 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  SOUTHEASTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHERN CHICKASAW COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50
MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOUSTON AT 136 PM
CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN CALHOUN AND CHICKASAW COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR
HOUSTON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT
AREA.
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 12:59 PM CST, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
159 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

MSZ016-017-024-121930-
LEE MS-ITAWAMBA MS-MONROE MS-
159 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  SOUTHERN ITAWAMBA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHEASTERN LEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  NORTHERN MONROE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50
MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SHANNON AT 159 PM CDT...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN ITAWAMBA...LEE AND MONROE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS
NEAR AMORY...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT
AREA.
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 1:02 PM CST, 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
202 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

MSZ015-021>023-121930-
PONTOTOC MS-YALOBUSHA MS-CALHOUN MS-CHICKASAW MS-
202 PM CDT FRI JUN 12 2009

...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR...

  CENTRAL CALHOUN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  NORTHWESTERN CHICKASAW COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  SOUTHWESTERN PONTOTOC COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
  EAST CENTRAL YALOBUSHA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50
MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 37 MILES NORTHEAST OF BANNER AT 203 PM CDT. THE
STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY.

PEOPLE IN CALHOUN...CHICKASAW...PONTOTOC AND YALOBUSHA COUNTIES
SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ALERT
AREA.

The radar

The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

40 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 3 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Calhoun

When
June 12, 1:10 PM CST to 1:15 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, 3 mi N of Bruce
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.023, -89.350

Hail, Calhoun

When
June 12, 1:12 PM CST to 1:17 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, 0.85 mi NNE of Bruce
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.992, -89.346

Hail, Monroe

When
June 12, 1:45 PM CST to 1:50 PM CST
Where
Monroe County, Aberdeen
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
33.820, -88.550

Hail, Panola

When
June 12, 2:05 PM CST to 2:10 PM CST
Where
Panola County, Batesville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.320, -89.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
June 12, 2:07 PM CST to 2:11 PM CST
Where
Monroe County, Becker
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
33.930, -88.480

Straight line winds knocked down a few trees on Highway 25 South near Becker.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When
June 12, 2:10 PM CST to 2:15 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, 3.34 mi NE of Bruce Hasting Arpt to 3.42 mi NE of Bruce Hasting Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.034, -89.279

Straight line winds knocked a few trees down near the intersection of County Road 137 and County Road 141 northeast of Bruce.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
June 12, 2:20 PM CST to 2:25 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 1.31 mi WSW of Oxford to 0.75 mi W of Oxford
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.362, -89.541

Straight line winds knocked down several large limbs and a few small trees on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford.

Hail, Lafayette

When
June 12, 2:20 PM CST to 2:25 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, Oxford
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.370, -89.520

Hail, Panola

When
June 12, 2:50 PM CST to 2:55 PM CST
Where
Panola County, Batesville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.320, -89.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Tunica

When
June 12, 3:25 PM CST to 3:40 PM CST
Where
Tunica County, Tunica to Dundee
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.680, -90.380

Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines county wide across Tunica County.

Hail, Panola

When
June 12, 3:35 PM CST to 3:40 PM CST
Where
Panola County, 0.73 mi E of Courtland
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.249, -89.937

Quarter size hail fell 5 miles south of Batesville.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:37 PM CST to 3:42 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 2.23 mi NNE of Hernando to 0.4 mi NE of Hernando
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.849, -89.983

Straight line winds blew numerous trees down in and around Hernando.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:37 PM CST to 3:42 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 0.19 mi NE of Eudora to Eudora
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.832, -90.148

Straight line winds blew several trees down in Eudora.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tate

When
June 12, 3:40 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where
Tate County, 0.58 mi SSE of Strayhorn to 1.6 mi W of Crockett
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.613, -90.145

Straight line winds produced widespread tree damage near Strayhorn. Power lines were also knocked down in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:41 PM CST to 3:46 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 1.65 mi SW of Horn Lake to Horn Lake
Measured
63 kt (72 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.957, -90.054

Straight line winds blew down numerous trees and power lines in and around Horn Lake. Many roofs had shingle damage as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:45 PM CST to 3:50 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 2.22 mi ENE of Aldens to 1.24 mi SSW of Plum Pt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.934, -89.995

Straight line winds blew numerous trees down Southaven. Some trees fell on cars.

Hail, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:50 PM CST to 3:58 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, Olive Branch
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.970, -89.820

Hail, Coahoma

When
June 12, 3:50 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where
Coahoma County, 0.53 mi E of Lyon
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.219, -90.541

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:50 PM CST to 3:58 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, Olive Branch to 1.3 mi SSE of Olive Branch
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.970, -89.820

Straight line winds blew numerous trees and power lines down across Olive Branch.

Hail, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:50 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 1.46 mi ESE of Olive Branch
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.962, -89.796

Quarter size hail fell at the intersection of Hacks Cross Road and Goodman Road in Olive Branch.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coahoma

When
June 12, 3:50 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Coahoma County, Clarksdale to 1.27 mi SE of Clarksdale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$6,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
34.200, -90.580

Straight line winds snapped six power poles in Clarksdale. Several trees and power lines were knocked down as well.

Hail, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:52 PM CST to 3:57 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 0.6 mi W of Cedarview
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.899, -89.831

Thunderstorm Wind, Panola

When
June 12, 3:55 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Panola County, Batesville to 0.69 mi S of Batesville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
34.320, -89.950

Straight line winds knocked down power lines and power poles around Batesville.

Flash Flood, Panola

When
June 12, 3:55 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Panola County, 1.69 mi N of Batesville to 1.68 mi S of Tallahatchee
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
34.344, -89.953

Heavy rain produced flash flooding in and around Batesville. Numerous streets were flooded as a result.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tate

When
June 12, 3:58 PM CST to 4:03 PM CST
Where
Tate County, 2.88 mi NE of Bet to 3.98 mi NE of Bet
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.711, -89.716

Straight line winds destroyed a garage on Wall Hill Road east of Independence.

Hail, Panola

When
June 12, 3:58 PM CST to 4:03 PM CST
Where
Panola County, Batesville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.320, -89.950

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:58 PM CST to 4:03 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 0.55 mi NE of Olive Branch to 2 mi NE of Olive Branch
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
34.975, -89.812

Straight line winds blew trees and power lines down northeast of Olive Branch.

Tornado, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:58 PM CST to 4:01 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 1.8 mi SW of Olive Branch to 1.8 mi SSW of Olive Branch Arpt
Rating
EF2
Path length
2.88 mi
Path width
75 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$4.0 million
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates
34.952, -89.843

A tornado touched down at the truck weighing scales on Highway 78 about 1 mile southeast of Goodman Road in Olive Branch. The tornado had a non continuous track to the east-northeast for 2.9 miles and ended a few hundred yards east of Hacks Cross Road about one half mile south of Goodman Road. The maximum estimated winds were 125 mph. There was widespread damage along the tornado track in Olive Branch. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Four homes were destroyed while numerous other homes suffered some degree of damage. Streets that suffered the heaviest damage included Roberta Street, College Street, Blocker Street, Chickasaw Drive, Cherokee Drive, Sequoia Lane, Seminole Drive and Magnolia Drive. Several schools and public buildings were also damaged including the Olive Branch Elementary, Middle and High Schools, the Chickasaw Elementary School, the Olive Branch Community Center and the Olive Branch City Shop. The Olive Branch Middle School alone suffered $500,000 in damage. The tornado cleanup costs totaled $350,000 for the city of Olive Branch. There was one minor injury associated with the tornado in Olive Branch.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When
June 12, 3:59 PM CST
Where
De Soto County, 1.46 mi SW of Olive Branch
Measured
68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
34.956, -89.839

Winds were measured at 78 mph at an observation site located in Olive Branch City Park.

Thunderstorm Wind, Quitman

When
June 12, 4:00 PM CST to 4:05 PM CST
Where
Quitman County, 0.69 mi NNW of Marks to Marks
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.258, -90.277

Straight line winds blew trees and power lines down in Marks.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When
June 12, 4:00 PM CST to 4:05 PM CST
Where
Marshall County, Byhalia to 1.17 mi SW of Byhalia
Measured
70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.880, -89.680

Straight line winds knocked a tree down onto a house in Byhalia. A car wash also destroyed from the wind. Several additional trees and power lines were knocked down as well. Some of the trees fell onto houses causing considerable damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
June 12, 4:10 PM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, 3.23 mi WNW of Enid Lake to 2.58 mi WNW of Enid Lake
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.160, -89.905

Straight line winds blew numerous trees down at the Wallace Creek Campground on the north side of Enid Dam.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tallahatchie

When
June 12, 4:15 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where
Tallahatchie County, 0.05 mi SW of Paynes to 2.8 mi W of Teasdale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
33.919, -90.071

Straight line winds blew numerous trees down and damaged seven structures across Tallahatchie County. The roof was torn off a mobile home. Most of the damage occurred between the Panola County line and Paynes along Highway 35.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
June 12, 4:15 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 0.82 mi N of Harmontown to Harmontown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.542, -89.649

Straight line winds knocked down a few trees in Harmontown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
June 12, 4:15 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, Oakland to 0.55 mi NE of Oakland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Injuries
0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.050, -89.920

Straight line winds blew numerous trees and power lines down in Oakland. One tree fell on a roof of a house and caused some damage. One wall of a former grocery store collapsed due to the high winds. A few sheds were damaged as well. One firefighter was injured during the clean-up.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lafayette

When
June 12, 4:15 PM CST to 4:35 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, 0.51 mi NE of Burgess to 4.72 mi E of Cambridge
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.355, -89.663

Straight line winds produced county wide damage across LaFayette County. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Two homes were severely damaged in the county. In the city of Oxford, three additional homes received damage. Two trees fell down on vehicles on the Thacker Loop in Oxford.

Flash Flood, Lafayette

When
June 12, 4:24 PM CST to 6:24 PM CST
Where
Lafayette County, Oxford to 1.18 mi SW of Oxford
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.370, -89.520

Heavy rain produced street flooding at the University of Mississippi.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
June 12, 4:25 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, Water Vly to 1.5 mi S of Water Vly
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.170, -89.630

Straight line winds blew a few trees and power lines down in Water Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When
June 12, 4:30 PM CST to 4:35 PM CST
Where
Benton County, 1.44 mi W of Hickory Flat to 1.1 mi W of Hickory Flat
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
34.618, -89.205

Straight line winds flipped an 18-wheeler on it's side on Highway 78 at the Hickory Flat exit.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yalobusha

When
June 12, 4:35 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where
Yalobusha County, 0.8 mi NNW of Bruce Jct to 0.7 mi NE of Bruce Jct
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
33.980, -89.686

Straight line winds knocked down a few large trees and power lines in Coffeeville. One tree fell on a house and caused considerable damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
June 12, 4:39 PM CST to 4:44 PM CST
Where
Union County, Myrtle to 1.16 mi S of Myrtle
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
34.570, -89.120

Straight line winds knocked down trees and produced some minor damage to one home near Myrtle.

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When
June 12, 4:45 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, 3.4 mi WSW of Banner to Sarepta
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.077, -89.453

Straight line winds blew numerous trees and power lines down across the northern half of Calhoun County. Concord Baptist Church located in the northwest portion of Calhoun County sustained damage when a few trees fell onto the church.

Flash Flood, Pontotoc

When
June 12, 4:45 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, Ecru to 0.54 mi N of Ecru
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
34.350, -89.030

Heavy rain produced street flooding in Ecru.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tippah

When
June 12, 4:45 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where
Tippah County, 1.93 mi NW of Falkner to 1.62 mi WNW of Falkner
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
34.868, -88.956

Winds were estimated at 70 mph near Falkner. Small to medium branches were snapped off several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
June 12, 4:50 PM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where
Union County, 0.4 mi WNW of Interprise to 1.03 mi SSW of New Albany
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.472, -89.157

Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines in New Albany and across the rest of Union County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pontotoc

When
June 12, 4:52 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Pontotoc County, Ecru to Pontotoc
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.350, -89.030

Straight line winds damaged four houses in Ecru. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in the city of Pontotoc and across the rest of Pontotoc County. A few porches were damaged in the city of Pontotoc as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tippah

When
June 12, 4:55 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Tippah County, Walnut to 0.88 mi NW of Dumas
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.950, -88.880

Straight line winds knocked a tree down on a house in Dumas. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down throughout in Tippah County. Six power poles were destroyed as well. One tree fell across a vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Alcorn

When
June 12, 5:00 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Alcorn County, Corinth to Kendrick
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.930, -88.520

Straight line winds blew knocked numerous trees and power lines down across Alcorn County. Two homes sustained major roof damage. Additional homes received minor damage. One barn was damaged from the winds as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
June 12, 5:05 PM CST
Where
Lee County, (Tup)lemons Arpt Tup
Measured
72 kt (83 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
34.270, -88.770

Tupelo Airport registered a sustained wind of 64.2 mph with a gust of 82.4 mph as a line of thunderstorms moved over the airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When
June 12, 5:06 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where
Lee County, Guntown to Tupelo
Measured
70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.450, -88.670

Straight line winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines across Lee County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Prentiss

When
June 12, 5:10 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where
Prentiss County, 1.02 mi N of Booneville to 0.89 mi WNW of Booneville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.665, -88.548

Straight line winds ripped a roof off a business in Downtown Booneville. A few trees fell on a house at North Lake Street as well.

Thunderstorm Wind, Itawamba

When
June 12, 5:15 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where
Itawamba County, Fairview to Evergreen
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
34.370, -88.320

Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines over the northwest half of the county between Evergreen, Dorsey and Fairview including the Highway 363 corridor.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chickasaw

When
June 12, 5:20 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where
Chickasaw County, Houston to Okolona
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
33.900, -89.000

Straight line winds blew a few trees and power lines down across Chickasaw County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tishomingo

When
June 12, 5:25 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where
Tishomingo County, Tishomingo to Golden
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
34.630, -88.230

Straight line winds blew trees down across southern portions of the Tishomingo County including Tishomingo, Belmont, and Golden.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
June 12, 5:25 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where
Monroe County, 1.34 mi ENE of Amory to Amory
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
33.990, -88.480

Straight line winds blew large trees down on a few roads. Power lines were also knocked down in portions of Amory causing power outages. A tree fell on a house causing damage to the roof.

Thunderstorm Wind, Monroe

When
June 12, 5:30 PM CST to 5:35 PM CST
Where
Monroe County, 3.16 mi W of Hatley to 4.44 mi NNE of Splunge
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
33.976, -88.425

Straight line winds blew trees and power lines down across the north central and northeast portions of Monroe County. The roof of a baseball dug out was blown off at the Hatley School.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Mississippi in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2009Warnings in Mississippi, June 2009

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: 177481, 177482, 177483, 177484, 177485, 177491, 177492, 177493, 177494, 177539, 177567, 177572, 177582, 177628, 177638, 177642, 177647, 177650, 177658, 177664, 185385, 177661, 185471, 185472, 177675, 177676, 177840, 184469, 177681, 177844, 177846, 177923, 177928, 177934, 177954, 177956, 177967, 177971, 177998, 177999, and more.