A strong low pressure system moved northeast from Southern Missouri during the day on February 11, 2009. As the low pressure system moved northeast, a trailing cold front pushed east across the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 low pressure system moved northeast from Southern Missouri during the day on February 11, 2009. As the low pressure system moved northeast, a trailing cold front pushed east across the area. Strong gradient winds behind the cold front knocked down numerous trees and power lines. Other minor roof and sign damage occurred as well. The strong winds affected many areas that were ravaged by last month's devastating ice storm.
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 Feb 11, 5:31 AM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
531 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009
.DISCUSSION...
UPDATED FOR 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 412 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009/
..WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS STILL EXPECTED ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH TODAY...
DISCUSSION...
DEALING WITH POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING IS THE FIRST
CONCERN.
THEN...THE BIGGER CONCERN IS ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY
STRONG NON CONVECTIVE WINDS LATE THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON.
LATEST MODELS WERE IN FAIR AGREEMENT THROUGH FRIDAY...THEN
DIVERGED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE TIMING OF IMPULSES IN A FAST
PROGRESSIVE WEATHER PATTERN. USED A BLEND OF THE GFS/ECMWF.
DID NOT ALTER ONGOING HIGH WIND WARNING AND WIND ADVISORY AT
THIS TIME.
AT 4 AM CST ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH...A WEAKENING LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER EAST ARKANSAS...MOVING INTO THE JONESBORO
AR AREA...MOVING EAST. UNSEASONABLY WARM CONDITIONS WERE OCCURRING
WITH SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S AS BREEZY SOUTHERLY WINDS 15
TO 25 WITH GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH WERE OCCURRING. A STRONG UPPER LOW
WAS OVER WEST TEXAS.
REGARDING SQUALL LINE/SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL THIS MORNING...
WILL MONITOR ONGOING LINE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE STORMS WILL
REACH THE MS RIVER BY 6 AM...INCLUDING MEMPHIS...THEN MOVE EAST
INTO ALABAMA AND EAST OF THE TN RIVER BY 11 AM. THESE STORMS HAVE
BEEN WEAKENING...LIKELY RESULTING OF THE LINE OUTRUNNING THE BEST
INSTABILITY. THUS...THINK SEVERE POTENTIAL HAS DECREASED
CONSIDERABLY. STILL...A FEW REPORTS OF DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH
ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THIS LINE...BUT MAINLY WINDS WILL STAY BELOW
SEVERE LIMITS. TORNADO POTENTIAL HAS DIMINISHED AS WELL...NOT
QUITE ZERO...BUT DEFINITELY DIMINISHED. NOT COMPLETELY SURE
ANOTHER WATCH WILL BE ISSUED FOR AREAS EAST OF CURRENT WATCH.
THE BIG WIND EVENT WILL OCCUR LATER THIS MORNING BEHIND THE SQUALL
LINE PASSAGE AS MUCH DRIER AIR MOVES IN. ALL MODELS CONTINUE TO
SHOW 925 MB WINDS 40-50 KTS WHICH THINK WILL MIX DOWN TO THE
SURFACE AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE SEEMS TO BE
UNDERDOING THE STRENGTH OF THESE WINDS AS THIS DOES APPEAR TO BE
A RARE EVENT LATER TODAY. KEPT ONGOING HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AREAS
ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40 AS SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL
INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH BETWEEN 9 AM AND
3 PM. THE MIDSOUTH WILL BE UNDER THE DRY SLOT DURING THE TIME OF
EXTREME WINDS. SOUTH OF THE WARNING AREA...KEPT THE WIND ADVISORY
WHERE SOUTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED.
BESIDES THE STRONG WINDS...SOME CLEARING WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING...
BUT CLOUDS WILL FILL IN BY AFTERNOON NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40. KEPT
LOW AFTERNOON CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE
NORTHERN LOCATIONS. THE ONLY HAZARD FROM THESE SHOWERS/STORMS IS
STRONG WINDS AND PERHAPS SOME SMALL HAIL...BUT ALL THIS IS
CONDITIONAL THAT THE AIR WILL DESTABILIZE SOME WITH THE UPPER LOW
MOVING OVERHEAD. NOT CONFIDENT ON THESE RAIN CHANCES AT ALL.
TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN STEADY OR SLIGHTLY FALL THROUGH THE
DAY...MAINLY IN THE 55 TO 65 DEGREE RANGE...STILL ABOVE NORMAL
FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
BY TONIGHT...CLEAR AND CALMER WEATHER CAN BE EXPECTED AS HIGH
PRESSURE MOVES OVERHEAD. WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF SOME FOG OR
FROST DEVELOPED...BUT LEFT OUT OF FORECAST. LOWS WILL BE IN THE
MID 30S TO LOWER 40S.
THURSDAY...PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AND MILD CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL
WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVERHEAD. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE UPPER 50S AND
LOWER 60S.
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY...MOISTURE WILL INCREASE
AHEAD OF A FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE ALONG THE GULF
COAST. INCREASED RAIN CHANCES SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 ON FRIDAY
WHERE MOISTURE WILL BE DEEPEST. INCREASED CLOUDS WILL KEEP
TEMPERATURES DOWN DURING THIS TIME FRAME...BUT SLIGHTLY ABOVE
AVERAGE WITH HIGHS ON FRIDAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY...THERE IS MUCH
UNCERTAINTY WITH THE MODELS DURING THIS TIME FRAME AS THE UPPER
LEVEL JET WILL BE NEARBY...MAKING THE TIMING OF LOW PRESSURE
DISTURBANCES VERY TRICKY. FOR NOW...LEANED TOWARDS A DRIER
FORECAST WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES. DID NOT CHANGE MUCH FROM
THE PREVIOUS FORECAST.
MBS
&&
.AVIATION...
12Z TAF CYCLE
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS THE
MID SOUTH THIS MORNING IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT.
MVFR CIGS ACCOMPANY THE ACTIVITY AT ALL THE TAF SITES. REGIONAL
OBSERVATIONS DO NOT SUPPORT IFR CIGS WITHIN THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THOUGH SCT IFR VSBYS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIER
SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THIS MORNING WITH
CONDITIONS RAPIDLY BECOMING VFR. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL SHIFT
TO THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST AND BECOME EVEN STRONGER WITH GUSTS OVER
40 KTS POSSIBLE AT LEAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN 2/3RD OF THE MID
SOUTH BEFORE SUBSIDING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.
SJM
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 62 41 64 44 / 100 10 10 10
MKL 64 37 63 38 / 100 10 10 10
JBR 60 37 60 41 / 50 10 10 10
TUP 67 41 66 41 / 100 10 10 10
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CLAY-
CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-MISSISSIPPI-
POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-
MISSISSIPPI-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR LEE AR-PHILLIPS.
MO...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR DUNKLIN-
PEMISCOT.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR ALCORN-BENTON MS-
CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-
MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-
TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION-YALOBUSHA.
TN...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CARROLL-
CROCKETT-DYER-GIBSON-HAYWOOD-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-
OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM CST THIS EVENING
FOR CARROLL-CROCKETT-DYER-GIBSON-HAYWOOD-HENRY-LAKE-
LAUDERDALE-MADISON-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR CHESTER-DECATUR-
FAYETTE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HENDERSON-MCNAIRY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 823 AM CST WED FEB 11 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>092-121145- 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- 823 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH 11 AM THIS MORNING...EAST OF A LINE FROM MARTIN TENNESSEE TO CALHOUN CITY MISSISSIPPI AS A FAST MOVING COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE MID SOUTH. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT BECOMES SEVERE. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40 THROUGH 3 PM WHERE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL LIKELY OCCUR BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR AREAS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM DECATURVILLE TENNESSEE TO SOUTHAVEN MISSISSIPPI AND MARIANNA ARKANSAS. WINDS WILL REMAIN BETWEEN 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH POSSIBLE. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL LIKELY OCCUR BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 11 AM TO SUPPORT SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS. PLEASE RELAY HIGH WIND REPORTS AND DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS. MBS/CJC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
644 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG POCAHONTAS 36.26N 90.97W
02/11/2009 RANDOLPH AR EMERGENCY MNGR
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH KNOCKED DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES.
&&
JABPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
821 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG POCAHONTAS 36.26N 90.97W
02/11/2009 RANDOLPH AR EMERGENCY MNGR
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH KNOCKED DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES.
0810 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG 10 NW LEXINGTON 35.76N 88.52W
02/11/2009 HENDERSON TN TRAINED SPOTTER
16 BY 13 FOOT ALUMINUM AWNING RIPPED OFF HOUSE.
&&
JABThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines were knocked down across the county.
Power lines were knocked down across the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Missouri in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Missouri, February 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: 155461, 155462.