A cold front moved through southwest Mississippi and southeast Louisiana on the evening of the 21st. A line of thunderstorms developed along the front with isolated severe weather reports.
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 LIX wrote it up.
A cold front moved through southwest Mississippi and southeast Louisiana on the evening of the 21st. A line of thunderstorms developed along the front with isolated severe weather reports.
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 New Orleans, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 21, 6:47 PM CST, 2 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 647 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 .UPDATE... ...SOUNDING DISCUSSION... NO PROBLEMS WITH THE FLIGHT THIS EVENING. INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE THIS EVENING WITH AN LI DECREASING TO -0.7. A FAIR AMOUNT OF MOISTURE WITH A PW OF 1.12 INCHES. HOWEVER...STILL A LARGE CAP OF DRY AIR ABOVE 750 MILLIBARS...LIMITING THE DEVELOP OF SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY THIS EVENING. THERE IS A STRONG AMOUNT OF DIRECTIONAL SHEAR IN THE LOWEST LEVELS AND A HELOCITY VALUE OF 219. STILL A DAMP MARINE LAYER AROUND WHICH HAS LIMITED SURFACE HEATING AND ALLOWED FOR THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT TO STAY TO A MINIMUM. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 329 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010/ SHORT TERM... A FAST MOVING VORT MAX AND AN ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WILL CONTINUE TO PULL TO THE NORTHEAST INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY TONIGHT. SURFACE REPORTS IN TEXAS SHOW THAT A DRY LINE HAS FORMED IN CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY. IN ADDITION...A COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH NORTHWEST TEXAS. THE FRONT SHOULD CATCH UP TO THE DRY LINE OVERNIGHT AS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH LOUISIANA. FORTUNATELY...IT APPEARS THAT THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE FAIRLY LIMITED. MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW DECENT LAPSE RATES IN THE MID-LEVELS AND SOME JET SUPPORT ALOFT...BUT THE THREAT FOR DEEP CONVECTION WILL BE LOW DUE TO A MORE STABLE LOW LEVEL AIR MASS. AMPLE CLOUD COVER TODAY...COMBINED WITH A MARINE LAYER ADVECTING IN FROM THE GULF HAVE LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF SURFACE HEATING ACROSS THE CWA. THIS HAS REDUCED THE OVERALL INSTABILITY OF THE AIR MASS PRECEDING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TO INITIALLY DEVELOP THIS EVENING OVER THE REGION...WITH A MORE SOLID LINE OF CONVECTION ALONG THE BOUNDARY ITSELF. THIS BOUNDARY LOOKS TO PASS THROUGH IN THE LATE EVENING AND EARLY MORNING HOURS. THE MAIN THREAT FROM ANY STRONG CONVECTION LOOKS TO BE HAIL. STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND NEGATIVE VORTICITY ADVECTION IN THE WAKE OF THE EXITING UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL LEAD TO RAPIDLY CLEARING SKIES AND LOWER HUMIDITIES FOR TOMORROW. HOWEVER...COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL BE LIMITED...WITH TEMPERATURES ONLY A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN TODAY. THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD PERSIST INTO TOMORROW NIGHT...AS DEEP NORTHWEST FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG LONG WAVE TROUGH DIGGING INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE NATION TAKES HOLD. LONG TERM... A SHORT-WAVE TROUGH AXIS ROTATING AROUND THE MAIN PARENT VORTEX WILL SWEEP DOWN FROM THE NORTHERN ROCKIES INTO THE GULF COAST STATES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ACCOMPANY THIS UPPER LEVEL FEATURE AS COLDER AIR ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND ROCKIES IS DRIVEN SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MID TO UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL ALSO STREAM IN...ALLOWING FOR A GRADUAL SATURATION OF AIR MASS HEADING INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. STRONG FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME PRECIPITATION LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SYSTEM WILL QUICKLY PULL OFFSHORE WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND COLD AIR ADVECTION IN THE WAKE OF THE TROUGH TAKING HOLD. RAPIDLY CLEARING SKIES AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. OVERALL...READINGS WILL FALL TO A GOOD 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. A TRANSITION IN THE PATTERN WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE DEEP LONG WAVE TROUGH WILL BEGIN TO LIFT TO THE NORTH AND EAST THURSDAY NIGHT...ALLOWING A WEAK UPPER LEVEL RIDGE AXIS TO SLIDE OVER THE REGION. IN THE LOW LEVELS...HIGH PRESSURE WILL ALSO DOMINATE...WITH WIND TURNING MORE EASTERLY THROUGH TIME. HOWEVER...TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY AS A DEEP COLD POOL CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE NATION. UNFORTUNATELY...THE DRY CONDITIONS WILL QUICKLY COME TO AN END BY LATE FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...AS ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TROUGH QUICKLY MOVES FROM THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES INTO THE GULF COAST STATES. AN ENHANCED THERMAL GRADIENT OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO...COMBINED WITH A REGION OF ENHANCED LIFT ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE TROUGH AXIS WILL ALLOW FOR A SURFACE LOW TO FORM OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO ON FRIDAY. THIS LOW WILL BRING PRECIPITATION TO THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. IT IS FAR TOO EARLY TO SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY THAT A WINTRY MIX COULD DEVELOP OVER NORTHERN ZONES...BUT GIVEN THE COLD POOL IN PLACE...THIS COULD BE A POSSIBILITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING IS EXPECTED TO BUILD BACK OVER THE AREA ON SUNDAY...WITH SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPERATURES AND DRY WEATHER IN PLACE. AVIATION... CONVECTION WILL BE STEADILY INCREASING THROUGH THE EVENING AND TONIGHT AS AIR MASS DESTABILIZES IN ADVANCE OF COLD FRONT. THIS WILL CAUSE VARIATIONS IN CEILINGS AND VSBYS AT TERMINALS FROM VFR TO MAINLY MVFR...THOUGH HEAVIER STORMS MAY LOWER VSBYS BRIEFLY TO IFR LEVELS TONIGHT PRIMARILY BEFORE 06Z. IFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL POST-FRONTAL THROUGH 18Z AS COLD AIR ADVECTION MAINTAINS LOW CEILINGS. 24/RR MARINE... SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS AND CHOPPY SEAS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. HOWEVER...A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH WINDS QUICKLY SHIFTING OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AND INCREASING TO A SOLID 15 KNOTS. NORTHERLY FLOW WILL THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY AS A STRONG SURFACE HIGH SITS PARKED OVER THE MIDWEST. HOWEVER...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA TUESDAY NIGHT AND REMAIN THAT WAY THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY NIGHT...AS A MUCH STRONGER FRONT AND AREA OF LOW PRESSURE MOVE THROUGH THE GULF OF MEXICO TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND ROUGH SEAS OF UP TO 8 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE. A BRIEF BREAK IN THE STRONG WINDS IS EXPECTED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING...BUT ANOTHER GULF LOW AND INCREASING WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE COASTAL WATERS FRIDAY NIGHT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MCB 53 60 35 57 / 70 10 0 30 BTR 54 61 37 58 / 70 10 0 30 ASD 58 66 37 58 / 70 20 0 30 MSY 60 67 43 58 / 70 20 0 30 GPT 58 67 37 60 / 70 40 0 10 PQL 59 67 37 60 / 70 40 0 10 && .LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...NONE. GM...NONE. MS...NONE. GM...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 552 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 GMZ530-550-555-570-575-LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077- 080>082-230000- LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS- COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA- EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY- IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON- ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE- ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES- UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-LOWER TERREBONNE- LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER PLAQUEMINES- LOWER ST. BERNARD-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER- HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON- 552 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO ACCOMPANY A COLD FRONT THAT IS FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TONIGHT. MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN WEAK. HOWEVER...A FEW STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND A FEW WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR RED RIVER LANDING...THE PEARL RIVER NEAR BOGALUSA AND PEARL RIVER...AND THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER NEAR MORGAN CITY REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SURFACE LOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO EARLY IN THE WEEK. THIS LOW IS FORECAST TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE LOCAL AREA...BUT WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN WIND SPEEDS OVER THE GULF WATERS. EXERCISE CAUTION HEADLINES OR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES WILL LIKELY BE NECESSARY WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CONCERN ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR RED RIVER LANDING...ON THE PEARL RIVER NEAR BOGALUSA AND PEARL RIVER...AND ON THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER NEAR MORGAN CITY. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST RIVER FLOOD STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS CONCERNING WHEN THESE RIVERS ARE FORECAST TO DROP BELOW FLOOD STAGE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...ANY REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS OR HAIL SHOULD BE RELAYED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN SLIDELL. 95/DM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
613 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0605 PM HAIL METAIRIE 30.00N 90.18W
02/21/2010 E0.75 INCH JEFFERSON LA AIRPLANE PILOT
PEA TO PENNY SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED ACROSS NORTHERN
JEFFERSON PARISH IN KENNER AND METAIRIE.
&&
DMANNINGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
614 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0605 PM HAIL METAIRIE 30.00N 90.18W
02/21/2010 E0.75 INCH JEFFERSON LA PUBLIC
PEA TO PENNY SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED ACROSS NORTHERN
JEFFERSON PARISH IN KENNER AND METAIRIE.
&&
DMANNINGLAZ062-064-220100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 632 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING EAST AFFECTING ST. BERNARD PARISH... ORLEANS PARISH... AT 629 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM AFFECTING NEW ORLEANS...NEAR LAKEFRONT AIRPORT...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND...CHALMETTE...EAST NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE CATHERINE IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES. HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PEA SIZED TO PENNY SIZED WAS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM AS IT MOVED THROUGH NORTHERN JEFFERSON PARISH. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. ADDITIONALLY...THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS THAT COULD RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER AROUND LOW LYING ROADWAYS AND IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO WATER COVERED ROADWAYS. THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE CROSSING. 95/DM
LAZ046-049-056-220315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 821 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MAY CROSS THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN AROUND 830 PM... AT 816 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER LOWER ST. MARTIN PARISH THAT WAS RACING NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH...AND APPROACHING THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER. THIS HAIL PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE NEAR THE BORDER OF IBERVILLE AND ASSUMPTION PARISHES AT THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER AROUND 830 PM. IF THE STORM REMAINS ON THE SAME TRACK...IT WILL MOVE BETWEEN PIERRE PART AND BAYOU SORREL. THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE LARGE HAIL EXCEEDING QUARTER SIZE...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS 35 TO 45 MPH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL BE ISSUED IN THE NEXT 5 MINUTES OR SO IF THE STORM MAINTAINS ITS INTENSITY. BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 22/TD
LAZ035>037-MSZ068-069-220315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 823 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING EAST AFFECTING EAST FELICIANA PARISH... ST. HELENA PARISH...AMITE COUNTY...WILKINSON COUNTY...WEST FELICIANA PARISH... AT 821 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF ST. FRANCISVILLE...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTH OF FORT ADAMS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND... WAKEFIELD...SPILLMAN...WOODVILLE...NORWOOD...CENTREVILLE...CROSBY... GLOSTER...FELPS...EASLEYVILLE AND LIBERTY THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THIS STORM ARE PEA TO PENNY SIZED HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 95/DM
LAZ046-048>050-056-220315- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 837 PM CST SUN FEB 21 2010 ...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL MOVING NORTHEAST AFFECTING IBERVILLE PARISH...LIVINGSTON PARISH...EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH...ASSUMPTION PARISH...ASCENSION PARISH... AT 835 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES SOUTH OF PLAQUEMINE TO 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF NAPOLEONVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THE LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND AROUND... PAINCOURTVILLE...DONALDSONVILLE...WHITE CASTLE...CARVILLE... GEISMER...GONZALES...SORRENTO...OAK HILLS PLACE...PRAIRIEVILLE AND DENHAM SPRINGS. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS SUB SEVERE HAIL UP TO NICKEL SIZE. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 22/TD
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Mostly dime and penny size hail with a few stones to nickel size in Centreville.
Quarter size hail reported in McComb.
Quarter size hail reported at Shell gas station just east of I-55.
Media relayed report of quarter size hail in Pricedale.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, February 2010
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: 210645, 210646, 210647, 210648, 210649.