A surface low pressure system tracked northeast across the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of March 25th, 2010. Showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the trailing cold front.
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.
A surface low pressure system tracked northeast across the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of March 25th, 2010. Showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the trailing cold front. Some of the storms became severe and produced large hail and damaging winds.
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 Mar 25, 11:37 AM CST, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1237 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 .UPDATE... UPDATED FOR 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1024 AM CDT THU MAR 25 2010/ DISCUSSION... MOST OF THE MID SOUTH WAS IN THE DRY SLOT AS A H5 UPPER LOW WAS PROGRESSING INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS. CONVECTION HAS ALREADY FIRED IN THE VICINITY OF THE UPPER LOW. EXPECT CONVECTION TO REDEVELOP MAINLY SOUTH OF I-40 WITH MUCAPES IN THE 500-750 J/KG RANGE AND LIFTED INDICES BETWEEN -2 AND -4 DEGREES CELCIUS. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MOST LIKELY HAZARDS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE UPPER LOW. WILL HAVE TO WATCH WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTS IN CASE AN ADVISORY IS WARRANTED. NO UPDATES. OKULSKI && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 531 AM CDT THU MAR 25 2010/ DISCUSSION...09Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES A SURFACE LOW ACROSS NORTHWEST ARKANSAS WITH A COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWEST FROM THE LOW ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA BACK THROUGH EAST AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. REGIONAL WSR-88D RADAR TRENDS AS OF 4 AM CDT FORECAST ISSUANCE SHOW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BEGINNING TO AFFECT AREAS ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI...EAST ARKANSAS...AND SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE. TEMPERATURES AS OF 4 AM CDT ACROSS MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA ARE IN THE UPPER 50S TO NEAR 60. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL TODAY IS THE PRIMARY CONCERN IN THIS MORNING/S FORECAST PACKAGE. SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...SURFACE LOW LOCATED OVER NORTHWEST ARKANSAS THIS MORNING WILL MOVE EAST NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND INTO THE OHIO VALLEY BY TONIGHT. MEANWHILE...A TRAILING COLD FRONT AND UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MID SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AS MORNING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEPART THE MID SOUTH THIS MORNING...ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ANTICIPATED TO DEVELOP AS THE ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES ONCE AGAIN...ESPECIALLY ACROSS AREAS SOUTH OF I-40 THIS AFTERNOON. FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE /LIFT/ PRODUCED BY THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF A 110 KT UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK...MUCAPE VALUES APPROACHING 1400 J/KG...LI/S AROUND -6...NEARLY UNIDIRECTIONAL UPPER LEVEL WINDS...MODERATE TO STEEP 700-500 MB LAYER MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES /AT LEAST 6.5 -7.0 C/KM...AND COLD MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES SUGGEST THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS FOR ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE. BASED ON THE LATEST MODEL DATA THINK THE BEST CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL REMAIN MOSTLY SOUTH OF I-40 WHERE SOME SUN MAY ALLOW FOR SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY TO DEVELOP. IN ADDITION...WINDS MAY BRIEFLY APPROACH WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA ACROSS PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS...AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI /SOUTH OF I-40 AND WEST OF I-55/ THIS AFTERNOON. DECIDED TO HOLD OFF ISSUING A WIND ADVISORY ACROSS THESE AREAS THIS MORNING DUE TO LOW CONFIDENCE. NONETHELESS...DAY SHIFT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/WIND ADVISORY POTENTIAL AND ADJUST FORECAST AS NEEDED. WILL HIGHLIGHT THESE THREATS IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL COME TO AN END TONIGHT AS THE SURFACE/UPPER LEVEL LOW DEPARTS AND A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH SATURDAY. LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...LATEST LONG RANGE MODELS INDICATE ANOTHER AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY...BRINGING ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE MID SOUTH SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. BEYOND SUNDAY....THE ECMWF DIVERGES FROM 00Z GFS/GFS ENSEMBLE/CANADIAN SOLUTIONS BY SLOWLY MOVING AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. AS A RESULT...GRADUALLY TAPERED OFF PRECIPITATION CHANCES OFF BY MONDAY MORNING WITH HIGH PRESSURE RETURNING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. CJC && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE A POTENT UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE NEAR LZK AT 18Z WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THIS AFTERNOON. A MID LEVEL DRY SLOT HAS ALLOWED FOR SURFACE HEATING AND DESTABLIZATION AHEAD OF THE MID LEVEL LOW. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE TAF SITES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. CONSIDERING AROUND 1000J/KG OF MUCAPE...LI/S TO -4C...AND INVERTED V PROFILES...EXPECT A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL POSSIBLE. DUE TO LIMITED SKILL IN PINPOINTING SEVERE STORMS AT PARTICULAR TAF SITES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A SQUALL-LINE...HAVE OPTED TO LEAVE SEVERE MENTION OUT OF TAFS. BUT THIS IS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY AS ATMOSPHERE BECOMES INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AND SHEAR REMAINS STRONG. VFR TO MVFR CEILINGS SHOULD PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS...BECOMING LOCALLY REDUCED IN CONVECTION. LOW STRATUS DECK WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE MID AND UPPER LEVEL LOW AND PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH SOLID MVFR...TO POSSIBLY EVEN IFR THROUGH SUNRISE ON FRIDAY. CEILINGS SHOULD BECOME VFR BY MID MORNING FRIDAY. WINDS SHOULD REMAIN STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY AROUND 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KNOTS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SWITCH TO NORTHWESTERLY BEHIND THE UPPER LOW AND REMAIN STRONG AND GUSTY THROUGH MIDNIGHT. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH AND BECOME NORTHERLY TOWARDS SUNRISE AND BEYOND. JLH && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 40 58 42 69 / 30 0 0 10 MKL 38 56 35 68 / 50 0 0 10 JBR 38 56 40 66 / 30 0 0 20 TUP 43 59 39 69 / 40 10 0 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 539 AM CDT THU MAR 25 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>092-261100- 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- 539 AM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS AREAS MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-40 THIS AFTERNOON. THE TIME OF GREATEST THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS BETWEEN 11 AM AND 8 PM. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE PROBABILITY OF WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. CJC
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1220 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ARZ035-048-251800- CROSS AR-ST. FRANCIS AR- 1220 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 100 PM CDT FOR... SOUTHWESTERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTHWESTERN ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COLT AT 1220 PM CDT... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. PEOPLE IN CROSS AND ST. FRANCIS COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK AND WYNNE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BORGHOFF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1254 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ARZ027-035-251830- CROSS AR-POINSETT AR- 1254 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 130 PM CDT FOR... NORTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTH CENTRAL POINSETT COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF VANNDALE AT 1254 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. PEOPLE IN CROSS AND POINSETT COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BORGHOFF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 139 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ARZ036-MSZ001-TNZ049-088-251915- CRITTENDEN AR-DE SOTO MS-SHELBY TN-TIPTON TN- 139 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR... EAST CENTRAL CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTH CENTRAL DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... SHELBY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTH CENTRAL TIPTON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED FROM 3 MILES EAST OF MARION TO WALLS AT 139 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. PEOPLE IN CRITTENDEN...DESOTO...SHELBY AND TIPTON COUNTIES... INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BARTLETT...COLLIERVILLE...CORDOVA... GERMANTOWN...HORN LAKE...MARION...MEEMAN SHELBY FOREST STATE PARK... MIDTOWN MEMPHIS...MILLINGTON...SOUTHAVEN AND WEST MEMPHIS...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES HORN LAKE...LAKE MCKELLAR AND ROBCO LAKE. BORGHOFF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 141 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ARZ026-251915- CRAIGHEAD AR- 141 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 215 PM CDT FOR... WESTERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 11 MILES WEST OF CASH AT 141 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PEOPLE IN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BONO...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BORGHOFF
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 146 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ARZ018-026-251930- CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR- 146 PM CDT THU MAR 25 2010 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 230 PM CDT FOR... NORTHERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED FROM LAKE FRIERSON STATE PARK TO 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF BROOKLAND AT 146 PM CDT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PEOPLE IN CRAIGHEAD AND GREENE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BONO...BROOKLAND...CROWLEYS RIDGE STATE PARK...LAKE FRIERSON STATE PARK AND PARAGOULD...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. BORGHOFF
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 11 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:50 UTC.
5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Penny to nickel size hail fell at the intersection of Independence Road and Woodstock Keeping Road near Shelby Forest.
Penny size hail fell in the Hickory Hill area.
Penny size hail fell on Henderson Road in Jackson.
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, March 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: 220487, 220489, 220490, 220491, 220495.