Showers and thunderstorms developed over Mid-South during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 15th, 2009 due to daytime heating. The storms died out a couple hours after sunset.
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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed over Mid-South during the late afternoon and evening hours of July 15th, 2009 due to daytime heating. The storms died out a couple hours after sunset. Some of the storms became severe with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding.
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 Jul 15, 5:23 PM CST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
623 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2009
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 343 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2009/
STRONG UPPER RIDGING ENTRENCHED OVER THE MIDSOUTH HAS KEPT
CUMULUS DEVELOPMENT TO A MINIMUM ACROSS THE AREA. THIS HAS ALLOWED
HEAT INDICES TO EXCEED 105 DEGREES ACROSS MUCH OF THE MIDSOUTH.
AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES HAVE NOT DEVIATED MUCH FROM THIS POINT
YESTERDAY BUT A MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER HAS KEPT DEWPOINTS IN THE MID
TO UPPER 70S AREA WIDE...THUS EXTENDING THE HEAT ADVISORY ACROSS A
GOOD PORTION OF THE MIDSOUTH. THE PROBABILITY OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AND POSSIBLE RECORD LOW
TEMPERATURES ACROSS RURAL MIDSOUTH AREAS SUNDAY INTO MONDAY ARE
THE MAIN CONCERNS OF THIS FORECAST PACKAGE.
TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...STRONG H5 RIDGE ACROSS THE AREA WILL
SLOWLY BREAK DOWN THROUGH THE EVENING PLACING THE MIDSOUTH UNDER
NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THROUGH FRIDAY. A FEW UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES
WILL BECOME EMBEDDED IN THE FLOW ALOFT AND AFFECT THE MIDSOUTH
THROUGH THURSDAY. LATEST WRF DEPICTS A COMPLEX OF STORMS PUSHING
INTO THE AREA BY THIS EVENING. WITH A CONTINUED MOIST AND UNSTABLE
BOUNDARY LAYER...A FEW STORMS COULD BE STRONG WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS AS THE MAIN THREATS. A COLD
FRONT WILL THEN APPROACH THE AREA FRIDAY BRINGING ADDITIONAL
CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BEFORE PUSHING ITS WAY SOUTH
OF THE REGION.
SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...FRONT SHOULD CLEAR THE AREA BY SATURDAY
MORNING AS A STRONG UPPER TROF TRANSLATES INTO THE DEEP SOUTH
POOLING IN A MUCH COOLER AIR MASS INTO THE MIDSOUTH. THIS DRY AND
UNSEASONABLY COOL AIR MASS SHOULD STAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND
BRINGING POSSIBLE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES ACROSS RURAL PORTIONS OF
THE MIDSOUTH. HIGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD NOT GET OUT OF THE MID 80S
AREA WIDE ALL WEEKEND.
MONDAY THROUGH MIDWEEK...TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY MODERATE BACK TO
NEAR SEASONAL NORMS BY MIDWEEK AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SLOWLY
SLIDES EAST ALLOWING A MORE SOUTHWESTERLY SURFACE FLOW. THE
MIDSOUTH SHOULD STILL REMAIN DRY THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THE 12Z
ECMWF TRIES TO DEVELOP A STRONG MID/UPPER SHORTWAVE AND ASSOCIATED
SURFACE LOW IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TUESDAY EVENING AND PUSHES THE
SYSTEM ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE GFS WAS NOT AS
BULLISH WITH THIS SYSTEM SO DECIDED TO LEAVE MENTION OUT AT THIS
TIME. SUBSEQUENT MODEL RUNS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY.
CCD
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
LINE OF TSRA MOVING THROUGH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA ATTM. COULD
AFFECT KJBR AND KMKL OVER NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. LINE IS EXPECTED
TO DIMINSH AFTER SUNSET. HAVE THROWN IN A TEMPO FOR KJBR BTWN
01-03Z. EXPECT A BREAK IN CONVECTION DURING OVERNIGHT HOURS. AN
MCS IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER SW MO AND SHOULD MOVE INTO CWA
AFTER 12Z. BEST TIMING FOR KJBR WILL BE BTWN 14-18Z...FOR KMEM AND
KMKL 16-20Z...AND FOR KTUP 19-23Z. TEMPORARILY LOW CIGS AROUND
1500 FT AND LOW VSBYS AROUND 3SM ARE EXPECTED WITH THE TSRA. WINDS
WILL GENERALLY BE LESS THAN 6 KTS OVER NEXT 24 HOURS. DIRECTION
WILL BE FROM THE SSW OR SW SWITCHING TO THE NW AFTER 18Z.
KRM
&&
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 78 90 75 88 / 50 60 40 40
MKL 74 87 70 87 / 70 70 40 40
JBR 73 89 71 88 / 70 60 50 20
TUP 75 90 74 87 / 20 50 40 50
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-PHILLIPS-POINSETT-ST.
FRANCIS.
MO...NONE.
MS...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR BENTON MS-CALHOUN-
CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-LAFAYETTE-MARSHALL-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-
QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TUNICA-UNION-YALOBUSHA.
TN...HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CROCKETT-DYER-
FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HAYWOOD-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-SHELBY-
TIPTON.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 429 PM CDT WED JUL 15 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>092-162330- 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- 429 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT ALONG AND NORTH OF A JONESBORO ARKANSAS TO JACKSON TENNESSEE TO PARSONS TENNESSEE LINE...MAINLY BETWEEN 5 PM AND MIDNIGHT CDT. DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARD. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLY CAUSING LOCALIZED FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SOUTH OF THE SLIGHT RISK AREA AND NORTH OF A MARIANNA ARKANSAS TO BOONEVILLE MISSISSIPPI LINE...INCLUDING THE MEMPHIS...WYNNE...BOLIVAR...AND CORINTH AREAS...AFTER MIDNIGHT CDT. GUSTY WINDS UP TO 60 MPH...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. HEAT INDEX READINGS WILL BE BETWEEN 105 AND 108 DEGREES ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI THROUGH 7 PM CDT. A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON THURSDAY AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY AS SEVERAL COMPLEXES OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED IN THE SLIGHT RISK AREA TONIGHT. SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY ALSO BE NEEDED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. MBS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
557 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM TSTM WND GST MAYNARD 36.42N 90.90W
07/15/2009 E60.00 MPH RANDOLPH AR PUBLIC
0550 PM TSTM WND DMG OAK GROVE HEIGHTS 36.13N 90.52W
07/15/2009 GREENE AR PUBLIC
TOPS OF TREES GETTING SNAPPED OFF
&&
JABPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
621 PM CDT WED JUL 15 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0525 PM TSTM WND GST MAYNARD 36.42N 90.90W
07/15/2009 E60.00 MPH RANDOLPH AR PUBLIC
0550 PM TSTM WND DMG OAK GROVE HEIGHTS 36.13N 90.52W
07/15/2009 GREENE AR PUBLIC
TOPS OF TREES GETTING SNAPPED OFF
0608 PM HAIL 6 N POCAHONTAS 36.35N 90.97W
07/15/2009 E0.88 INCH RANDOLPH AR PUBLIC
&&
TLSJRThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:25 UTC.
21 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A gust front ahead of a line of thunderstorms produced wind gusts up to 60 mph near Gadsden. Several trees were knocked down in the area.
A gust front well ahead of a line of thunderstorms produced 40 to 50 mph winds which snapped a few trees southeast of Trenton.
A gust front ahead of a line of thunderstorms produced wind gusts up to 60 mph in Cloverdale.
Winds were estimated at 60 mph 2 miles west of Halls.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in portions of Decatur County. Bible Hill Road, Cub Creek Road and several other roads were flooded as a result. In addition, a motorist on McIllwain Road had to be rescued from flood waters. People were also trapped in a vehicle while another person was trapped in a home due to flood waters along W O Baker Road. Everyone was rescued safely. In the area of Sugar Tree, three houses and two vehicles were underwater along Mills Road near the Tennessee River. One camper and one boat were also damaged. Five culverts and one bridge were washed out.
Straight line winds knocked down four trees on one property near Mercer.
Straight line winds blew several trees down on Bohannon Road southeast of Sugar Tree.
Straight line winds blew four trees down in Henning. In addition, trees were also knocked down between Edith and Henning.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees in Ripley.
Straight line winds knocked a large tree onto a house in Martin. The house sustained major damage from the tree.
Straight line winds knocked trees and power lines down across Gibson County. A roof was blown off of the Hills Trucking Company. Bethel baseball field in McKenzie sustained damage from the winds. Foul poles and flag poles were knocked down in addition to several fences. Windows were blown out of several vehicles parked at the baseball fields as well.
Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines between Greenfield and Dresden.
Straight line winds knocked down power lines in Crockett County.
Straight line winds knocked down trees and power lines in Parsons.
Straight line winds knocked down power lines in Medina.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees and power lines in Henderson. Multiple roads were blocked and a few trees fell on vehicles and a home in town creating a hole in a roof. A barn was destroyed as well.
Winds were estimated at 60 mph in Huntingdon.
Straight line winds knocked down trees on Browns Church Road and Beech Bluff Road. Several areas in the city had power lines knocked down. Power lines were also knocked down off Old Medina Road just north of Interstate 40.
Straight line winds damaged a roof of a building located on Airways Boulevard near Jackson.
Winds were estimated at 60 mph in Whiteville.
Straight line winds produced roof damage to one home in Mt. Vinson. In addition, one tree fell on another house. Several additional tree limbs and power lines were knocked down in the area.
Lightning struck a two story house causing a fire. The house was totally destroyed by the fire.
Straight line winds knocked down trees all across Hardin County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 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: 187631, 187612, 187613, 187614, 187622, 187623, 187625, 187628, 187627, 191217, 187629, 191216, 187637, 187632, 187638, 187633, 187634, 187635, 189111, 189112, 189051, 189055, 191220, 189056, 189057.