A developing surface low moved into the Mid Mississippi Valley while the associated cold front moved toward the Mid South on the afternoon of May 25, 2011. A moist and very unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South and showers and thunderstorms started to develop in advance of the front during the late afternoon hours across Eastern Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel.
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 developing surface low moved into the Mid Mississippi Valley while the associated cold front moved toward the Mid South on the afternoon of May 25, 2011. A moist and very unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South and showers and thunderstorms started to develop in advance of the front during the late afternoon hours across Eastern Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel. The showers and thunderstorms merged into a line as they approached the Mississippi River during the early evening hours. The line of showers and thunderstorms then swept across North Mississippi.
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 May 25, 5:54 PM CST, 36 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
654 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
.UPDATE...
UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 535 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011/
..SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK GRADUALLY UNFOLDING ACROSS THE MID
SOUTH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
DISCUSSION...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE/UPPER AIR PROFILER TRENDS THIS
AFTERNOON PLACE AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS WESTERN
MISSOURI. MEANWHILE...20Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES A SURFACE LOW
OVER CENTRAL MISSOURI AND A TRAILING COLD FRONT ACROSS EAST
OKLAHOMA/WEST ARKANSAS. VISIBLE SATELLITE/REGIONAL WSR-88D RADAR
TRENDS OVER THE PAST ONE TO TWO HOURS HAVE SHOWN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A LINE OF DISCRETE SUPERCELLS FROM WALNUT RIDGE ARKANSAS BACK
THROUGH CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS. TEMPERATURES AS OF 4PM CDT
ARE PREDOMINANTLY IN THE MIDDLE 80S TO AROUND 90 DEGREES. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY IS THE MAIN CONCERN
IN THIS AFTERNOON/S FORECAST PACKAGE.
SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT)...A VERY VOLATILE
ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE MID SOUTH TONIGHT AS A
SURFACE/UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVE ACROSS MISSOURI INTO ILLINOIS AND A
TRAILING COLD FRONT ACROSS ARKANSAS SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS THE MID
SOUTH TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. VERY FAVORABLE UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE
PRODUCED BY THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF A 95 KT 250 MB UPPER LEVEL JET
STREAK...STEEP 700-500 MB LAYER MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AROUND 7
C/KM...SURFACE BASED CAPE VALUES BETWEEN 3000-3500 J/KG...LI/S
BETWEEN -8 TO -9...0-1KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITIES BETWEEN 350-400
M2/S2...0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES AROUND 60 KTS...AND CURVED
HODOGRAPHS STILL SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL FOR DISCRETE
SUPERCELLS...SOME OF WHICH COULD PRODUCE STRONG/LONG TRACK
TORNADOES ACROSS THE MID SOUTH TONIGHT. AS INSTABILITY BEGINS TO
DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING...DISCRETE
SUPERCELLS MAY BEGIN TO CONGEAL INTO A QUASI- LINEAR CONVECTIVE
SYSTEM BEFORE WEAKENING SOMEWHAT OVERNIGHT. /QLCS/ WILL CONTINUE
TO MENTION LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND
TORNADOES SOME OF WHICH COULD BE STRONG/LONG TRACK TORNADOES IN
THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AROUND 1.5
INCHES AND FREEZING LEVELS AROUND 14 KFT SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL FOR
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL ESPECIALLY LATER THIS
EVENING AS THE CONVECTIVE MODE GRADUALLY BEGINS TO TRANSITION TO A
QLCS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR SHORT TERM WIND TRENDS BUT AT THIS
TIME PLANNING TO ALLOW WIND ADVISORY TO EXPIRE AT 7 PM CDT.
A SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WILL EXIST THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
MID DAY THURSDAY FOR A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI/ALABAMA
STATE LINE AS THE COLD FRONT GRADUALLY DEPARTS THE MID SOUTH.
SURFACE BASED CAPE VALUES AROUND 2500 J/KG...LI/S APPROACHING
-8...MODERATELY STEEP 700-500 MB LAYER MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES
AROUND 6.5 C/KM...AND 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES BETWEEN 35-40
KTS...FAVOR THE POTENTIAL OF BOWING SEGMENTS WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS AS THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREATS. KEPT HIGH
END CHANCE/LIKELY POPS IN FOR THURSDAY AND LOW END CHANCE POPS
ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA. RAIN CHANCES ARE
EXPECTED TO COME TO AND END BY THURSDAY EVENING ACROSS THE ENTIRE
MID SOUTH.
SHORT TERM MODELS ARE INDICATING A WARM FRONT AND A MID LEVEL
SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY MORNING. THIS WILL PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL CHANCE FOR
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS AREAS OF THE MID SOUTH
PREDOMINANTLY NORTH OF I-40 FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING.
HOWEVER...OVERALL STRONG/SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL REMAINS
VERY LOW AT BEST.
LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...12Z GFS/ECMWF LONG
RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
MOVING OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
WEEKEND THROUGH WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL BRING RAIN FREE
WEATHER TO THE MID SOUTH AND VERY WARM TEMPERATURES IN THE 90S AS
925 MB TEMPERATURES WARM TO BETWEEN 22-24C. MODELS DO INDICATE THE
POTENTIAL FOR A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT TO ENTER NORTHERN SECTIONS OF
THE MID SOUTH LATE NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER...WILL ADDRESS THIS
POTENTIAL IN LATER FORECASTS AS THIS IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE
CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE.
CJC
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO PROGRESS ACROSS THE AREA...WHICH
IS COVERED WELL IN TEMPO GROUPS AND VCTS. STRONG GRADIENT WINDS
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING BUT VEERING MORE TO THE SOUTHWEST
AND WEAKENING SOMEWHAT OVERNIGHT. LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES
CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THUNDERSTORMS. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE
OUT BY LATE TONIGHT/EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. EXPECT SOME CLEARING
ONCE THE STORMS MOVE OUT...HOWEVER A LOW CLOUD DECK WILL SWING
AROUND ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND BRING MVFR
CONDITIONS TO ALL SITES BY THURSDAY MORNING. WINDS WILL BECOME
MORE WESTERLY AS THE COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...AND NORTHWESTERLY LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.
SWC
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR COAHOMA-DESOTO-
PANOLA-QUITMAN-TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TUNICA.
TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR DYER-LAKE-
LAUDERDALE-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1246 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-261200- 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- 1246 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ACROSS EAST AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...AND MOST OF WEST TENNESSEE...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM SOMERVILLE TO DECATURVILLE TENNESSEE. A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE MID SOUTH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO QUICKLY DEVELOP ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND QUICKLY MOVE EAST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT BECOME SEVERE. SOME OF THESE TORNADOES MAY ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME STRONG AND LONG TRACK TORNADOES. ALONG WITH THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS. STRONG GRADIENT WINDS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WESTERN HALF OF THE MIDSOUTH THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT. MODERATE RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR OSCEOLA...AND ALONG THE ST FRANCIS RIVER SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED THREAT FOR A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES ON THURSDAY MAINLY ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WILL REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE THROUGH MOST OF THIS WEEK...WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BACKWATER TRIBUTARY FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. KRM/CJC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
657 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0657 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 E WEST MEMPHIS 35.15N 90.16W
05/25/2011 CRITTENDEN AR NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
CDGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
701 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E WEST MEMPHIS 35.15N 90.16W
05/25/2011 CRITTENDEN AR NWS EMPLOYEE
POWERLINES DOWN.
&&
CDGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
713 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 9 W MILLSFIELD 36.14N 89.54W
05/25/2011 DYER TN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
TLSJR/JAB/KSPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
720 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM TSTM WND GST SOMERVILLE 35.24N 89.35W
05/25/2011 E60 MPH FAYETTE TN AMATEUR RADIO
POWER LINES AND LARGE TREES DOWN
&&
TLSJR/JAB/KSPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
725 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 1 W AUSTIN 34.64N 90.47W
05/25/2011 TUNICA MS EMERGENCY MNGR
POSSIBLE TORNADO
&&
TLSJR/JAB/KSPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
727 PM CDT WED MAY 25 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0720 PM TORNADO 1 W AUSTIN 34.64N 90.47W
05/25/2011 TUNICA MS EMERGENCY MNGR
&&
TLSJR/JAB/KSPThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:28 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds destroyed two grain bins in Tunica County.
Straight line winds knocked trees down across Panola County.
Straight line winds destroyed one home and caused major damage to two others in Tallahatchie County. Two homes had minor damage and one business was destroyed. One farm building was destroyed while another had major damage.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees in the Oxford area. The canopy was blown off a gas station at the intersection of Highway 278 and Thacker Road.
Straight line winds knocked a tree on to a house and ripped a gas line up in New Albany. A house had shingles ripped off and a barn roof was blown off. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in New Albany and across northeast Union County.
Straight line winds knocked down power lines across southern and central parts of Pontotoc County.
Straight line winds damaged a home in Alcorn County rendering it uninhabitable.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Alcorn County. Thirty roads across the county were closed due to flooding.
Straight line winds caused major damage to two homes and minor damage to one home. A roof was ripped off a mobile home in Shannon. Several trees were knocked down as well.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, May 2011
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: 318505, 318194, 318529, 318207, 318506, 318224, 318250, 318254, 318255, 318531, 318519, 318256.