Slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rains that caused flooding across southeast Mississippi.
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 MOB wrote it up.
Slow moving thunderstorms produced very heavy rains that caused flooding across southeast Mississippi.
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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 4, 4:30 AM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
530 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009
.UPDATED...ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MOST OF THE AREA NORTH OF
A JANICE MISSISSIPPI...NORTH MOBILE COUNTY...BREWTON LINE. VERY
HEAVY RAIN HAS ALREADY FELL...RADAR SHOWS UP TO 8 INCHES WITH RAIN
STILL FALLING AND MORE EXPECTED LATER TODAY. ALSO INCREASED THE QPF
IN THE GRIDS FOR TODAY. /11
***********************PREVIOUS***********************888
.SHORT TERM...TODAY AND TONIGHT...STARTING OFF WITH CLUSTERS OF
THUNDERSTORMS ROLLING EASTWARD ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. THESE STORMS
WERE FORMING WITHIN A DEEP MOISTURE AXIS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE WARM
SECTOR...SOUTH OF A FRONTAL ZONE. THIS ZONE STRETCHES FROM THE
CAROLINAS THROUGH THE MID SOUTH ON DOWN INTO THE NORTHWEST
GULF...OFF THE UPPER TEXAS COAST. AS SURFACE LOW MOVES EAST
NORTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI/CENTRAL ALABAMA TODAY...FRONTAL
ZONE WILL EASE EASTWARD ALONG WITH AN EAST TO SOUTHEAST ADJUSTMENT
TO THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH COULD POSSIBLY
BECOME BRIEFLY SEVERE ALONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS. THE PRIMARY
THREATS IN SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THE
ENVIRONMENT DOES SUPPORT ISOLATED OCCURRENCES OF TORNADOES AS WELL.
SINCE MIDNIGHT...RADAR HAS SHOWN INDICATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCH RAIN
AMOUNTS IN CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WHICH HAS MOVED ACROSS OUR SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI ZONES. CONSIDERING THIS...LOCALIZED FLOODING OF POOR
DRAINAGE AND LOWER LYING AREAS WILL BE A POSSIBILITY WITH THE
STRONGEST STORMS IN THE NEAR TERM.
TONIGHT...THE DEEPEST MOISTURE AXIS SHIFTS EAST INTO THE SOUTHEAST
AND ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA PENINSULA. THUS...FORECASTERS
ARE CALLING FOR LOWER CHANCES OF WET WEATHER WITH THE PREDOMINANT
CHARACTER BEING SHOWERS. STAYED CLOSE TO THE MOS FOR TEMPERATURES.
/10
TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)...QUASI-STATIONARY FRONTS...OUTFLOW
BOUNDARIES...WEAK DISTURBANCES IN THE NEAR ZONAL UPPER FLOW WILL
KEEP CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN FORECAST TUESDAY AND
OVER THE NORTHERN SECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY. A SURFACE HIGH DEVELOPING
OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF HELPS TO PUSH THE FRONT/OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES
BACK TO THE NORTH...LEAVING A MOIST AND HUMID AIR MASS ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN SECTIONS. /11
.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)ANOTHER FRONT...OR MAYBE THE
SAME ONE...MOVES SOUTH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING
BUT WILL LIKELY ONLY MAKE IT TO NORTHERN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
WILL BE CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THE DAY THURSDAY. THIS FRONT
WILL ALSO RETREAT BACK TO THE NORTH...LEAVING LOW POPS ACROSS THE
NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...MAINLY
AFTERNOONS. WOULD NOT BE COMPLETELY SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISOLATED
SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM ALONG THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS BUT NOT ENOUGH OF
A POP TO MENTION THIS FAR OUT. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY LOOKS QUITE
WARM WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 90 ACROSS THE INTERIOR
SECTIONS. /11
&&
.AVIATION... 12Z ISSUANCE...CONVECTION TODAY WILL BRING A MIX OF
MVFR/IFR CIGS. STORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINS COULD REDUCE
VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES AS WELL. ALTHOUGH TSTMS
LOOK TO BE MOVING EAST OUT OF THE AREA AFT 00Z...IFR CIGS POSSIBLE
AFT 06Z WITH POTENTIAL OF PATCHY BR AS WELL. /10
&&
.MARINE...WITH THE STORMS MOVING EAST ACROSS SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI
AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...LATEST DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS ALONG THE
COAST AND OFFSHORE INDICATE A STRONG ONSHORE INFLOW COMPONENT AND
WILL NEED A SMALL CRAFT HEADLINE THIS MORNING TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS.
SEAS ARE SLOWER TO RESPOND BUT MAY COME UP ANOTHER FOOT OR SO THAN
CURRENT. WINDS ARE FORECAST TO TAPER OFF LATER TODAY AS LOW PRESSURE
LIFTS NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE AREA. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
PERIOD...A LIGHT SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW PREVAILS AS HIGH PRESSURE
SETS UP OVER THE EASTERN GULF. SEAS LOOK TO RANGE FROM 2 TO 3 FEET
TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. /10
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE 82 68 84 69 / 80 20 30 10
PENSACOLA 81 70 83 70 / 70 20 30 20
DESTIN 78 70 80 71 / 70 30 40 20
EVERGREEN 80 65 85 65 / 90 30 40 20
WAYNESBORO 80 63 85 66 / 80 20 20 10
CAMDEN 79 64 85 65 / 80 30 20 20
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
FL...NONE.
MS...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20
NM...MOBILE BAY...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM
20 TO 60 NM...AND WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS
FROM 20 TO 60 NM.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 500 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 CORRECTED TO ADD EXPECTED SURF ZONE CONDITIONS IN DAY ONE ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-GMZ630-650-655-670-675-MSZ067-075-076-078- 079-051100- CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW- ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE- LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA- COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-MOBILE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WAYNE-PERRY- GREENE-STONE-GEORGE- 500 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE...AND THE ADJACENT GULF COASTAL WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE GULF COAST REGION TODAY AS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY EASES CLOSER TO THE AREA. SOME OF THE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING BRIEFLY SEVERE WITH THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM SEVERE STORMS BEING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL ALSO POSE A HAZARD IN THUNDERSTORMS. THREE TO FIVE INCHES OF RAIN IS POSSIBLE IN A THREE TO FIVE HOUR TIME FRAME...WHERE STORMS MOVE OVER THE SAME AREAS. THESE TYPES OF RAINS WILL RESULT IN PERIODS OF FLOODING OVER LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO SET WEATHER RADIOS TO TONE ALERT TO RECEIVE WATCHES AND WARNINGS. OVER THE MARINE AREA...STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AND MODERATE SEAS WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL MARINE CRAFT THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO SUPPORT A MODERATE RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TODAY. HEADING INTO TONIGHT...THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT LOOKS TO DIMINISH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PERIOD. AT THIS TIME...THE SEVERE WEATHER RISK IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND STORM SPOTTERS FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE REQUIRED TODAY.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 156 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 MSZ067-040800- WAYNE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WAYNESBORO... 156 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO AFFECT WAYNE COUNTY... AT 154 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF CLARA TO 6 MILES SOUTH OF CLARA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND... WAYNESBORO...WINCHESTER...ROBINSON JUNCTION...BUCKATUNNA...BATTLES AND DENHAM THROUGH 300 AM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES. THIS LINE OF STORMS COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES LOCALLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE CROSSING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 219 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 ALZ051>053-MSZ067-040815- WASHINGTON-CLARKE-CHOCTAW-WAYNE- 219 AM CDT MON MAY 4 2009 ...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO AFFECT WASHINGTON...CLARKE...CHOCTAW AND WAYNE COUNTIES... AT 216 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 3 MILES WEST OF SOUWILPA TO 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BATTLES...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND... AQUILLA...BATTLES...SOUWILPA...BOLINGER...SILAS AND BARRYTOWN THROUGH 315 AM CDT. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS ARE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. WINDS THIS STRONG COULD BRING DOWN DEAD OR DISEASED TREES AND LARGE LIMBS RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. LOCAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER MAY RESULT FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN OUTDOORS DURING SUCH STRONG WINDS...OR SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS STORMS COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES LOCALLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE CROSSING.
The Mobile radar (KMOB), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:54 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rains from thunderstorms flooded numerous roads in and around Leakesville.
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: 172410.