A strong cold front moved through the Midsouth during the late afternoon hours of March 24th, 2009 and continued moving south through the early morning hours of March 25th, 2009. A squall line developed along the front producing damaging winds.
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 strong cold front moved through the Midsouth during the late afternoon hours of March 24th, 2009 and continued moving south through the early morning hours of March 25th, 2009. A squall line developed along the front producing damaging winds.
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 Mar 24, 7:12 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 812 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 2009 .DISCUSSION... THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS. HAVE ALREADY CANCELLED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 60. WIND ADVISORY HAS ALSO EXPIRED AND WINDS HAVE DECREASED ENOUGH THAT AN EXTENSION WAS NOT NEEDED. HAVE UPDATED FORECAST TO REMOVE BOTH THE WATCH AND THE ADVISORY. ARS && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 648 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 2009/ UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. DISCUSSION... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WINDY CONDITIONS...AND HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL TONIGHT ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS. LATEST MODELS WERE IN FAIR TO GOOD GENERAL AGREEMENT. USED PRIMARILY A BLEND OF THE LATEST 12Z GFS/ECMWF MODELS. THINK THE NAM MODEL IS TOO SLOW WITH THE HANDLING OF WEATHER FEATURES. AT 330 PM CDT ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH AND FORECAST AREA...WINDY AND WARM CONDITIONS WERE OCCURRING WITH SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S. SOUTH WINDS WERE 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 40 MPH MAINLY ACROSS NE AR AND MO BOOTHEEL. AN INTENSIFYING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A COLD FRONT WAS MOVING ACROSS WEST AR WITH BOWING SEGMENTS ALONG IT. THROUGH 9 PM CDT...DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER ARE POSSIBLE ALONG A SQUALL LINE ACROSS PARTS OF NE AR AND MO BOOTHEEL WHERE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT. SOME LOW LEVEL DRY AIR AND HIGH MIXING HEIGHTS MAY ENHANCE DOWNDRAFTS IN THIS AREA. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS MAY OCCUR AS WELL. TORNADO POTENTIAL REMAINS LOW WITH HIGH CLOUD BASES...AROUND 5000 FT AGL...SURFACE DEWPOINTS ONLY IN THE UPPER 50S...AND LOW INSTABILITY WITH LIFTED INDICES 0 TO -2. SOUTH WINDS 25 MPH OR HIGHER WITH GUSTS 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE IN THE WIND ADVISORY AREA THROUGH 8 PM CDT BEFORE DIMINISHING. WALNUT RIDGE HAS ALREADY GUSTED TO 42 KTS WITH NO SHOWERS/STORMS NEARBY. AFTER 9 PM CDT...THE SEVERE THREAT WILL DIMINISH AS THE MAIN LINE OF SHOWERS/STORMS MOVE INTO A DRIER AND MORE STABLE AIRMASS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL THEN BE THE MAIN HAZARD WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAINFALL LIKELY ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. WENT 100 PERCENT FOR RAIN CHANCES OVER THE AREA TONIGHT. AREAS WEST OF THE MS RIVER WILL DRY OUT AFTER MIDNIGHT WHILE NE MS WILL GET WET MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. WEDNESDAY...KEPT HIGH RAIN CHANCES SOUTH OF A CHARLESTON TO CORINTH MS LINE FOR MAINLY MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WHERE THE MOISTURE BOUNDARY WILL LINGER. AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES MAY BE POSSIBLE IN THESE LOCATIONS. OTHERWISE...EXPECT SOME CLEARING WEST TO EAST WITH DRIER AIR MOVING IN. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE WILL AFFECT THE AREA AND BRING HEAVY RAINFALL TO NORTH MS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40...SO KEPT HIGH RAIN CHANCES IN THESE AREAS. DOUBT THAT SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR IN THE FORECAST AREA AS THE WARM SECTOR WILL LIKELY STAY SOUTH OF THE AREA. AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40 MAY REMAIN DRY. THURSDAY...CLEARING CAN BE EXPECTED BEHIND THE LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE. DECREASED/REMOVE RAIN CHANCES AND INCREASED TEMPERATURES WITH SOME SUN EXPECTED. HIGHS SHOULD REACH THE LOWER TO MID 70S. THURSDAY NIGHT...ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO LIFT MOISTURE NORTHWARD AND BRING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO MUCH OF THE AREA. MOST OF THESE STORMS SHOULD REMAIN ELEVATED...BUT INSTABILITY WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...SO HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE. THERE IS A LOW POTENTIAL FOR SURFACE BASED STORMS OVER NORTH MS WHICH WIND COULD BE AN ISSUE. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL MAY BE POSSIBLE. FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...THERE STILL IS A POSSIBILITY FOR A SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IN THE AREA AS MOIST VERY UNSTABLE AIR MOVES NORTHWARD AND A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM/COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST. LATEST MODELS ARE IN SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THE TIMING AND ACTUAL HANDLING OF WEATHER FEATURES. THE GFS IS MORE BULLISH AND AGGRESSIVE WITH A QUICKER...MORE ROBUST SOLUTION WITH HIGHER INSTABILITY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT...MUCAPES 1000 TO 3000 J/KG WITH A WARM FRONT SURGING NORTHWARD. THE ECMWF IS SLOWER AND LESS AGGRESSIVE WITH MOISTURE/INSTABILITY. AT THIS TIME...APPEARS MOST SEVERE WEATHER ACTIVITY WILL BE FRIDAY NIGHT. STILL APPEARS APPEAR TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER MUCH OF THE AREA WITH AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 HAVING THE BEST THREAT. THIS SYSTEM DEFINITELY BEARS WATCHING. SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS AND STORMS MAY LINGER EAST OF THE MS RIVER DURING THE MORNING HOURS...BUT APPEARS DRY SLOT WILL ALLOW FOR DRYING/CLEARING OVER MUCH OF THE AREA. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AND A WIND ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. WENT ABOVE MEXMOS FOR TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S AND LOWER 70S. SUNDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY...DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM/COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. MODELS ARE IN MUCH DISAGREEMENT...SO KEPT RAIN CHANCES ON THE LOW SIDE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REBOUND FROM BELOW NORMAL READINGS SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL TUESDAY. RURAL LOCATIONS SUNDAY NIGHT MAY DIP INTO THE LOWER/MID 30S WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVERHEAD...WHICH MAY POSE SOME FROST PROBLEMS AS THE GROWING SEASON APPEARS TO BE GETTING STARTED. MBS AVIATION... 00Z TAFS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS WAY EAST CURRENTLY ACROSS KJBR...01-03Z AT KMEM...02-04Z AT KMKL...AND EVENTUALLY TO KTUP AROUND 05-07Z. REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND CEILINGS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. ONCE LINE OF STORMS MOVES THROUGH...MVFR CEILINGS AROUND 2500 FEET WILL DEVELOP AS WESTERLY SURFACE WINDS DECREASE BETWEEN 6 TO 10 KTS...MAINLY BETWEEN 06-10Z. SKIES WILL CLEAR BY 14Z WITH POSSIBLE EXCEPTION AT KTUP WHERE MVFR TO VFR CEILINGS WILL BE POSSIBLE. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIGHT...GENERALLY UNDER 8 KTS AFTER 12Z. KNS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 53 68 53 72 / 100 20 70 10 MKL 53 67 48 71 / 100 40 70 10 JBR 49 66 47 70 / 100 10 40 10 TUP 56 66 54 74 / 100 100 100 30 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1000 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 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>092-252300- 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- 1000 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT HEAVY RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH TONIGHT. THIS MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND SMALL HAIL ARE POSSIBLE SOUTH OF A COFFEEVILLE TO CORINTH MISSISSIPPI LINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A MORE WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE MIDSOUTH FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. A VERY UNSTABLE AIRMASS ALONG WITH STRONG ATMOSPHERIC WINDS WILL BE IN PLACE AHEAD OF A POTENT UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE. THIS SHOULD ALLOW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP DURING THIS PERIOD WITH A THREAT FOR TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LARGE HAIL. FLOODING WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...PARTICULARLY OVER NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AS SEVERAL ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED ACROSS PARTS OF THE MIDSOUTH FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 625 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 2009 ARZ026-027-035-250000- CROSS AR-CRAIGHEAD AR-POINSETT AR- 625 PM CDT TUE MAR 24 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTH CENTRAL CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTHERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... POINSETT COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF HICKORY RIDGE AT 625 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 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 CRAIGHEAD...CROSS AND POINSETT COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HARRISBURG...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:33 UTC.
1 heavy rain, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain caused a motorist's vehicle to hydroplane. The vehicle went off the road and flipped on Interstate 55 near the Desoto County Welcome Center, outside of Hernando. The driver was killed.
Winds were estimated between 70 and 80 mph, 5 miles west of Marks. A large tree and a power pole were knocked down. In addition, damage occurred to the underpinning of a mobile home.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rain, De Soto | 2009-03-24 | 43 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Indirect |
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, March 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: 160900, 159362.