A cold front moved into the Mid South and collided with a tropical airmass to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms during the evening hours. A few of these storms became severe with 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 cold front moved into the Mid South and collided with a tropical airmass to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms during the evening hours. A few of these storms became severe with 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 May 27, 5:45 PM CST, 0 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 645 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MIDSOUTH TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OUT AHEAD AND ALONG THE FRONT. LITTLE DEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURRED THUS FAR. HOWEVER WITH THE WARM...TROPICAL AIRMASS IN PLACE MORE DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BEGIN SHORTLY. SOME STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. COOLER AND DRIER AIR WILL ALREADY BEGIN FILTERING INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH BY SUNRISE. LOWS WILL RANGE FROM THE UPPER 50S ACROSS NORTHEAST ARKANSAS TO THE UPPER 60S ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. THURSDAY...LINGERING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR ACROSS FAR EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH DURING THE MORNING HOURS WHILE THE FRONT CONTINUES TO PROGRESS EAST. BY AFTERNOON...AN UPPER TROF WILL BEGIN TO PUSH INTO THE MIDSOUTH AND SET OFF A FEW MORE SHOWERS. HIGHS WILL BE COOLER WITH READINGS IN THE UPPER 70S INTO THE LOWER 80S. THURSDAY NIGHT...UPPER TROF WILL CONTINUE PUSHING EAST WHILE DRIER AIR CONTINUES TO PUSH INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST IS A BIT TRICKY AS MODELS CONTINUE TO PUT OUT SOME QPF FROM THE UPPER TROF. HOWEVER IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW QUICKLY THE DRIER AIR PUSHES INTO THE REGION. FOR NOW WILL KEEP 20 POPS FOR SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE CWA. LOWS WILL BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE MIDSOUTH. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ON COOL ON FRIDAY BUT WILL WARM BACK INTO THE MID TO UPPER 80S ON SATURDAY AS WINDS TURN AROUND TO THE SOUTH. SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY NIGHT...COLD FRONT WILL DRIFT SOUTH OUT OF THE GREAT LAKES. HOWEVER THE FRONT WILL BE RUNNING INTO AN UPPER RIDGE THAT WILL BE BUILDING ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH THUS EXPECT THE FRONT TO STALL. MOST LIKELY ONLY EXTREME NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA WILL SEE RAIN CHANCES IF ANY AT ALL. TEMPERATURES WILL BE APPROACHING 90 DEGREES FOR HIGHS BY SUNDAY. MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...UPPER RIDGE WILL REMAIN OVER THE MIDSOUTH. EXPECT HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS. HIGHS WILL LIKELY BE AROUND 90 DEGREES WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S INTO THE LOWER 70S. TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST AND MAY BRING THE NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN. KRM && .AVIATION... 00Z TAFS VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH 09Z AT TAF SITES WITH POSSIBLE PERIODS OF MVFR CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY MAINLY BETWEEN 00Z-04Z FOR KMEM...KMKL...AND KTUP. KEPT VCTS PREVAILING IN TAFS WITH A TWO HOUR TEMPO PERIOD BETWEEN 00-02Z FOR KMKL AND 02-04Z FOR KTUP. AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE TONIGHT MVFR CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES ANTICIPATED AFTER 09Z WITH IMPROVEMENT IN VISIBILITIES AFTER 12Z BUT CONTINUED MVFR CEILINGS BETWEEN 2000-2500 FT THROUGH MUCH OF THURSDAY. KNS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 63 80 61 81 / 50 20 10 10 MKL 65 78 58 80 / 50 20 20 10 JBR 60 78 58 81 / 40 20 10 10 TUP 69 82 60 81 / 50 30 20 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 305 AM CDT WED MAY 27 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>092-281015- 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- 305 AM CDT WED MAY 27 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 THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WEST OF A LINE FROM PARIS TENNESSEE TO COFFEEVILLE MISSISSIPPI. SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY FORM AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVING INTO THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 605 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 MOZ113-115-TNZ001-272330- DUNKLIN MO-PEMISCOT MO-LAKE TN- 605 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTH CENTRAL DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... NORTHERN PEMISCOT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED FROM 3 MILES WEST OF HOLCOMB TO TIPTONVILLE AT 605 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN DUNKLIN...LAKE AND PEMISCOT COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CAMPBELL...MALDEN AND REELFOOT LAKE STATE PARK...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 609 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 TNZ088-280000- SHELBY TN- 609 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... SOUTHERN SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED OVER WHITEHAVEN AT 609 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 SHELBY COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BARTLETT... CORDOVA...GERMANTOWN AND MIDTOWN MEMPHIS...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 614 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 MSZ008-012-280000- TATE MS-PANOLA MS- 614 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHERN PANOLA 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 3 MILES WEST OF SARDIS AT 615 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 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 PANOLA AND TATE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR JOHN W KYLE STATE PARK AND SENATOBIA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 620 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 TNZ004-280015- HENRY TN- 620 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... HENRY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTH OF ROUTON AT 621 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THIS STORM IS INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN HENRY COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR PARIS LANDING STATE PARK AND PARIS...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM CDT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 634 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 MSZ001-002-008-280000- DE SOTO MS-MARSHALL MS-TATE MS- 634 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... EASTERN DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... 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 3 MILES NORTH OF COLDWATER AT 634 PM CDT... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 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 DESOTO...MARSHALL AND TATE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR HERNANDO AND SENATOBIA...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 640 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 TNZ002>004-280045- HENRY TN-WEAKLEY TN-OBION TN- 640 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2009 ...THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS FOR... NORTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTHEASTERN OBION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SOUTH FULTON AT 639 PM CDT...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH. ANOTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR DRESDEN. IT IS ALSO PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL AND 40 TO 50 MPH WINDS...MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH. THESE STORMS ARE INTENSIFYING AND COULD BECOME SEVERE RAPIDLY. PEOPLE IN HENRY...OBION AND WEAKLEY COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR MARTIN...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT.
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 54 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:45 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines in Lewisburg.
Straight line winds tore off part of the roof of a home in Olive Branch.
Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines across Northern Itawamba County.
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, May 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: 175596, 175599, 175602.