Cold arctic air filtered into the Mid-South on December 13th, 2010. Temperatures dropped to 16 degrees at Memphis International Airport during the early morning hours.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
Cold arctic air filtered into the Mid-South on December 13th, 2010. Temperatures dropped to 16 degrees at Memphis International Airport during the early morning hours. As a result, one death occurred as a result of the cold temperatures.
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 Dec 12, 11:22 PM CST, 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1122 PM CST SUN DEC 12 2010
.UPDATE...
UPDATED FOR AVIATION.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 921 PM CST SUN DEC 12 2010/
UPDATE...
THE FORECAST APPEARS TO BE MOSTLY ON TRACK TONIGHT AS A LARGE AND
INTENSE STORM SYSTEM PUSHES NORTHEAST INTO THE EASTERN GREAT
LAKES. CLEARING SKIES HAVE SLOWLY PROGRESSED EASTWARD AND THE
CLEARING LINE HAS REACHED DYERSBURG...JACKSON...AND TUPELO. WINDS
REMAIN STRONG IN SOME LOCATIONS...BUT OTHERS HAVE FALLEN WELL
BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA. THE PERPLEXING THING IS SOME OF THE SITES
WITH LIGHTER WINDS SUDDENLY SPIKE UP AGAIN SO I CANNOT FIND
COUNTIES TO REMOVE FROM THE WIND ADVISORY ATTM. WILL LET THE WIND
ADVISORY GO THROUGH MIDNIGHT...BUT MAY CONSIDER EXTENDING IT A FEW
HOURS IF THE WIND DOESN/T DIE DOWN RELIABLY ENOUGH BY THEN.
DESPITE EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER AND WIND...NORTHWEST TENNESSEE HAS
BEGUN COOLING RATHER QUICKLY THIS EVENING WITH MID TEENS IN SPOTS.
AS THE CLOUDS CLEAR AND WINDS BEGIN TO LIGHTEN...WITH A FRESH
BLANKET OF SNOW PRESENT...TEMPERATURES COULD REALLY PLUMMET LATER
TONIGHT IN PLACES LIKE PARIS. THUS...REDUCED LOW TEMPERATURES SOME
IN THE COLDER AREAS BUT GENERALLY LEFT EVERYONE ELSE AS IS. LOOK
FOR WIND CHILL VALUES TO FALL TO POSSIBLY 10 BELOW OVER NORTHWEST
TENNESSEE OVERNIGHT.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT SYSTEM TOWARD MIDWEEK...THE NAM AND GFS
HAVE BEEN TRENDING COLDER NORTH OF I-40 WITH THE WARM FRONT NEVER
MAKING IT THROUGH THOSE AREAS. 2M TEMPERATURES ON BOTH MODELS NOW
ARE HOVERING NEAR FREEZING FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND INTO THE
EVENING AS PRECIPITATION BREAKS OUT. EXTENDED THE THREAT OF FREEZING
RAIN THROUGH THE DAY AND INTO THE EVENING TOWARD THE KY/MO BORDERS
AND UPDATED THE HWO TO BEEF UP THE WORDING A BIT. WILL LET THE
OVERNIGHT SHIFT LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY AND MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL
CHANGES AS NEEDED.
BORGHOFF
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 341 PM CST SUN DEC 12 2010/
DISCUSSION...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE/UPPER AIR PROFILER TRENDS THIS
AFTERNOON PLACE A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER CENTRAL
KENTUCKY/MIDDLE TENNESSEE THIS AFTERNOON. REGIONAL WSR-88D RADAR
TRENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW SNOW SHOWERS AFFECTING PORTIONS OF THE
TENNESSEE/OHIO VALLEYS AND PORTIONS OF THE MID SOUTH. TEMPERATURES
AS OF 4 PM CST FORECAST ISSUANCE ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN THE 20S AT
MOST LOCATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PORTIONS OF EAST AND
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS WHERE CLEARING SKIES HAVE ALLOWED TEMPERATURES
TO BRIEFLY WARM UP INTO THE LOWER 30S. WINTER WEATHER POTENTIAL
THROUGH EARLY EVENING AND AGAIN BY MID WEEK...WIND ADVISORY POTENTIAL
THROUGH THIS EVENING...AND WIND CHILL CONCERNS TONIGHT ARE THE
PREDOMINANT CHALLENGES IN THIS AFTERNOON/S FORECAST PACKAGE.
SEVERAL CONCERNS TO CONTEND WITH IN THE SHORT TERM FORECAST.
KNQA/KPAH WSR-88D RADAR CONTINUES TO SHOW A PERSISTENT BAND OF
SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...ESPECIALLY
ACROSS WEAKLEY/HENRY/CARROL COUNTIES FOR MUCH OF THE DAY. BASED ON
RADAR TRENDS AND SNOWFALL REPORTS...UP TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW MAY
HAVE FALLEN ACROSS THESE AREAS. UP TO AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF SNOW
MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE ABOVE MENTIONED AREA BEFORE COMING TO
AN END AROUND 00Z AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW DEPARTS AWAY FROM THE
REGION. AS A RESULT...ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY EARLIER TO
ACCOUNT FOR THESE SHORT TERM CONVECTIVE TRENDS.
SKIES WILL GRADUALLY CLEAR AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW DEPARTS.
HOWEVER...A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE LOW AND 1037 MB
RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE PLAINS WILL PRODUCE STRONG
NORTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED AROUND 25 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP
TO AROUND 35 MPH THROUGH THIS EVENING. CONSEQUENTLY...KEPT WIND
ADVISORY IN EFFECT AS IS FOR NOW. IN ADDITION TO THE WINDY
CONDITIONS TONIGHT...VERY COLD ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL ALLOW FOR
EXCELLENT RADIATIONAL COOLING AND TEMPERATURES PLUMMETING INTO THE
TEENS ACROSS THE ENTIRE MID SOUTH TONIGHT. THIS WILL PRODUCE WIND
CHILL READINGS BETWEEN ZERO AND 10 BELOW ZERO ACROSS MUCH OF THE
AREA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SOUTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES ACROSS
NORTH MISSISSIPPI. AS A RESULT...EXPANDED WIND CHILL ADVISORY
FURTHER SOUTH TO ACCOUNT FOR THESE TRENDS.
PRECIPITATION FREE WEATHER AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED
TO PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. AT THE SAME
TIME...LATEST WRF/GFS MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE INCREASING
ISENTROPIC ASCENT IN THE 295-300K LAYERS LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND
CONTINUING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
MOVES INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATE
MOISTURE WILL BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED AND SHALLOW AT FIRST BUT NONETHELESS
SUGGESTS A PERIOD OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT AND INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING AS TEMPERATURES ACROSS
MUCH OF THE AREA WILL STILL BE AT OR BELOW FREEZING. LATER SHIFTS
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE TRENDS AS THIS NEXT POTENTIAL
WINTER WEATHER EVENT APPROACHES. STAY TUNED.
CJC
&&
.AVIATION...
06Z TAFS
BACK EDGE OF VFR STATUS HAD PULLED EAST OF KMKL AT 05Z... PER GOES
IR IMAGERY. CLEAR SKIES AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL PREVAIL THE
REMAINDER OF THE NIGHT.
ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL LIFT EASTWARD FROM THE PLAINS INTO THE
MS RIVER VALLEY BY LATE MONDAY EVENING...WITH GRADUALLY WEAKENING
WINDS AT ALL MIDSOUTH TAF SITES DURING THE DAY.
WITH THE EXTREMELY DRY ARCTIC AIRMASS...VFR TO CONTINUE THROUGH
AND WELL BEYOND THE VALID TAF PERIOD.
PWB
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 14 28 17 36 / 0 0 0 0
MKL 13 24 12 32 / 10 0 0 0
JBR 12 26 15 33 / 0 0 0 0
TUP 16 29 15 37 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CST MONDAY FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CST MONDAY FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT 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.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CST MONDAY FOR ALCORN-BENTON MS-
DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE MS-MARSHALL-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-
PRENTISS-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION.
TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CST MONDAY FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-
HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-
OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1149 PM CST SUN DEC 12 2010 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-132200- 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- 1149 PM CST SUN DEC 12 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE LOW OR MID TEENS TONIGHT. THESE COLD TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH THE STRONG WINDS WILL SEND WIND CHILL VALUES DOWN TO BETWEEN ZERO AND 5 BELOW LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEST TENNESSEE...NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...AND PORTIONS OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A STRONG WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH THE MID SOUTH WEDNESDAY. PRECIPITATION MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY TO BE BELOW FREEZING. THIS COULD LEAD TO A PERIOD OF FREEZING DRIZZLE OR FREEZING RAIN OVER MUCH OF THE MIDSOUTH EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM ABOVE FREEZING BY LATE MORNING AND PRECIPITATION SHOULD CHANGE TO ALL RAIN SOUTH OF I-40 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. MODELS ARE BEGINNING TO INDICATE A COLDER TREND NORTH OF I-40 FOR MOST OF WEDNESDAY AND INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT...SO IT IS POSSIBLE THE FREEZING RAIN COULD PERSIST LONGER AND GREATER ICE ACCUMULATIONS WOULD RESULT. ALL INTERESTS NORTH OF I-40 SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THIS STORM SYSTEM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. BORGHOFF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
One fatality occurred as a result of temperatures in the teens. Utilities in the house were cut off a year prior. Carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected in the death.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold/Wind Chill, Shelby | 2010-12-13 | Male | Permanent Home | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 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: 274177.