A weak cold front moved through the Lower Ohio Valley during the late afternoon hours of August 3, 2011 and triggered a small complex of thunderstorms that eventually moved into northeast parts of West Tennessee during the late evening hours. A few of the storms produced damaging winds and small hail.
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 weak cold front moved through the Lower Ohio Valley during the late afternoon hours of August 3, 2011 and triggered a small complex of thunderstorms that eventually moved into northeast parts of West Tennessee during the late evening hours. A few of the storms produced damaging winds and small hail.
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 Aug 3, 5:30 PM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
630 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
.UPDATE...
UPDATED FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 337 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011/
DISCUSSION...
CURRENTLY...A VERY DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE IS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE
MIDSOUTH. A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE COVERS THE REGION AND
TEMPERATURES HAVE SOARED WELL OVER 100 DEGREES ACROSS THE ENTIRE
MID SOUTH. MEMPHIS HAS ALREADY SET A DAILY RECORD OF 106 DEGREES
AND IS THREATENING THE ALL TIME AUGUST RECORD...107 DEGREES.
JONESBORO HAS ALSO HIT 106 DEGREES WHILE MOST OTHER SITES RANGE
FROM 100 TO 104 DEGREES. THE HEAT COMBINED WITH HIGH
HUMIDITY...DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S...IS CREATING HEAT INDEX VALUES
FROM 110 TO 120 DEGREES. SKIES CONTINUE TO BE SUNNY WITH LITTLE CU
DEVELOPMENT SO FAR.
TONIGHT...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT WITH VERY
WARM LOW TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. IT COULD BE THE WARMEST NIGHT ON
RECORD IN MEMPHIS...CURRENT RECORD HIGH MINIMUM IS 84 DEGREES...OR
CLOSE. MUCH OF THE AREA WILL REMAIN AROUND 80 DEGREES. A COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN PARTS OF THE MID SOUTH OVERNIGHT.
MODELS CONTINUE SHOW THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE FRONT
LATE THIS AFTERNOON THAT COULD MOVE INTO THE MID SOUTH DURING THE
EVENING. IF ANYTHING CAN GET GOING THE AIRMASS ACROSS THE MID
SOUTH IS VERY UNSTABLE AND FAVORABLE FOR MICROBURSTS. A FEW SEVERE
STORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH DAMAGING WIND AS THE MAIN THREAT ACROSS
THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE MID SOUTH.
THURSDAY...THE FRONT WILL STALL ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH. TEMPERATURES
SHOULD BE A LITTLE LOWER OVER THE NORTHERN HALF THOUGH STILL VERY
WARM. SOUTH OF THE FRONT TEMPERATURES WILL ONCE AGAIN BE WELL
ABOVE 100 DEGREES. EVEN WITH SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES OVER
PART OF THE AREA DEWPOINTS WILL POOL ALONG THE FRONT RESULTING IN
HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 110 TO 120 OVER MOST OF THE MID SOUTH. THE
EXCEPTION WILL BE THE VERY NORTHERN TIER WHERE HEAT INDEX VALUES
BELOW 110. WILL GO WITH A HEAT ADVISORY NORTH OF A WALNUT RIDGE TO
DYERSBURG TO HUNTINGDON WITH AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT
EVERYWHERE ELSE. EXPECT ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH WILL PROVIDE A
LITTLE RELIEF TO THOSE LOCATIONS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HIT BY ONE.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...THE WEAK FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA ON
FRIDAY AND LIFT BACK TO THE NORTH ON SATURDAY. MEANWHILE THE
UPPER RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SLIGHTLY AND RETREAT A LITTLE WESTWARD.
AS A RESULT...THOUGH IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY COOLER...THE HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL CONTINUE AND HEAT INDEX VALUES COULD SURPASS 110
DEGREES...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN 2/3RDS OF THE AREA. 110
DEGREES IS MORE QUESTIONABLE ACROSS NORTHERN AREAS. WILL CONTINUE
WITH A EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FOR FRIDAY AND EXTEND IT THROUGH
SATURDAY. THE FRONT IN THE AREA COMBINED WITH A SLIGHTLY WEAKER
UPPER RIDGE WILL RESULT IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED...MAINLY
AFTERNOON/EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
SUNDAY...SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO SATURDAY AS THE UPPER RIDGE
CONTINUES ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. EXPECT MORE HOT AND HUMID
WEATHER. HEAT ADVISORIES...WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY NEED TO BE
EXTENDED. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE
POSSIBLE AS WELL.
MONDAY...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA AND THE UPPER RIDGE
WILL WEAKEN AND RETREAT FURTHER WEST. THIS WILL HELP RELIEVE THE
HEAT ACROSS THE REGION. SOUTHERN AREAS MAY STILL STILL NEED A HEAT
ADVISORY...THOUGH THIS WOULD BE THE LAST DAY. PRECIPITATION
CHANCES CONTINUE AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...THE COLD FRONT MOVES TO THE SOUTH AND THE
REGION BECOMES DOMINATED BY NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL RESULT
IN COOLER...MORE SEASONABLE HIGH TEMPERATURES. COULD SEE SOME MCS
DEVELOPMENT DURING THIS PERIOD SO WENT WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS.
SJM
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF SET
A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE TAF SITES OVER THE
NEXT 24 HOURS. HOWEVER CONVECTION WILL BE SCATTERED AND NOT
WIDESPREAD ALONG THE BOUNDARY. KJBR AND KMKL WILL HAVE THE BEST
CHANCE FOR VCTS LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH THE EARLY OVERNIGHT
HOURS WITH TEMPO SHOWERS ON STATION. THE FRONT WILL BE PASSING
THROUGH KMEM NEAR SUNRISE OR SHORTLY AFTER AND AT A TIME WHEN
CONVECTION WILL ALMOST BE NIL. FURTHER SOUTH CONVECTION WILL
REFIRE NEAR KTUP LATE IN THE PERIOD WITH VCTS ANTICIPATED. WINDS
WILL BE VARIABLE OR FROM A SOUTHERLY COMPONENT AHEAD OF THE
FRONT...SWINGING NORTHWEST THROUGH NORTHEAST BEHIND THE BOUNDARY.
CIGS WILL REMAIN VFR...BUT COULD VERY BRIEFLY GO TO MVFR OR IFR
VISIBILITIES IN HEAVIER SHOWERS. SOME LIGHT FOG IS ALSO EXPECTED
NEAR SUNRISE AT KMKL.
JAB
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MEM 84 102 82 99 / 20 20 20 20
MKL 78 97 75 96 / 30 30 20 30
JBR 80 98 77 97 / 30 30 20 20
TUP 80 104 80 100 / 10 20 20 20
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-ST. FRANCIS.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
EVENING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-
LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR CLAY-RANDOLPH.
HEAT ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR CLAY-
RANDOLPH.
MO...EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
EVENING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR DUNKLIN-
PEMISCOT.
HEAT ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR DUNKLIN-
PEMISCOT.
MS...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY 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.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
EVENING 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.
TN...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR CHESTER-
CROCKETT-DECATUR-FAYETTE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-
LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-SHELBY-TIPTON.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY
EVENING FOR CARROLL-CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-
GIBSON-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-
LAUDERDALE-MADISON-MCNAIRY-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR CARROLL-DYER-
GIBSON-HENRY-LAKE-OBION-WEAKLEY.
HEAT ADVISORY FROM 7 AM THURSDAY TO 7 AM CDT FRIDAY FOR CARROLL-
DYER-GIBSON-HENRY-LAKE-OBION-WEAKLEY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 355 PM CDT WED AUG 3 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>092-041215- 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- 355 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE MID-SOUTH THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT. HOT TEMPERATURES WILL COMBINE WITH HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS TO PRODUCE HEAT INDICES BETWEEN 110 AND 120 DEGREES...THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS NORTH OF A LINE FROM WALNUT RIDGE ARKANSAS TO BROWNSVILLE TENNESSEE TO SAVANNAH TENNESSEE. A FEW SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS AND WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE MID-SOUTH THROUGH SATURDAY AND MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED INTO SUNDAY AS WELL. HEAT INDEX VALUES IN EXCESS OF 110 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. SJM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
558 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
MOZ113-032345-
DUNKLIN MO-
558 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF MALDEN AT 558 PM CDT...
MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN DUNKLIN COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR MALDEN...SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3663 8997 3662 8996 3651 8995 3650 8996
3650 9023 3654 9022 3656 9019 3659 9019
3664 9014
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 350DEG 20KT 3662 9004SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
650 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
MOZ113-040015-
DUNKLIN MO-
650 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 8
MILES NORTHWEST OF GLENNONVILLE AT 650 PM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT
20 MPH.
PEOPLE IN DUNKLIN COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR MALDEN...SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3663 8997 3662 8996 3650 8995 3650 8996
3650 9023 3654 9022 3656 9019 3659 9019
3664 9014
TIME...MOT...LOC 2350Z 333DEG 18KT 3667 9021SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 714 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ARZ008-040100- RANDOLPH AR- 714 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 800 PM CDT FOR... RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF ATTICA AT 714 PM CDT... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN RANDOLPH COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR POCAHONTAS... SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. && LAT...LON 3650 9081 3615 9081 3616 9112 3649 9127 TIME...MOT...LOC 0014Z 334DEG 30KT 3633 9101
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
733 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
TNZ001-002-040115-
LAKE TN-OBION TN-
733 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 815 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN LAKE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN OBION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 7 MILES WEST OF CLAYTON AT 733 PM CDT...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN LAKE AND OBION COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES REELFOOT LAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3651 8929 3651 8903 3635 8919 3640 8952
3650 8941 3652 8930
TIME...MOT...LOC 0033Z 304DEG 24KT 3649 8935SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
807 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
TNZ002-003-040145-
WEAKLEY TN-OBION TN-
807 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR...
EASTERN OBION COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
WESTERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER UNION CITY AT 807 PM CDT...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN OBION AND WEAKLEY COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR
MARTIN AND UNION CITY...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8864 3619 8875 3632 8922 3651 8922
3651 8919
TIME...MOT...LOC 0107Z 290DEG 32KT 3644 8901SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
837 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
TNZ003-004-021-040215-
WEAKLEY TN-CARROLL TN-HENRY TN-
837 PM CDT WED AUG 3 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 915 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHWESTERN CARROLL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
WESTERN HENRY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF LATHAM AT 837 PM CDT...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN CARROLL...HENRY AND WEAKLEY COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS
NEAR MARTIN...MCKENZIE AND PARIS...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8814 3599 8855 3621 8895 3622 8895
3641 8881 3650 8881
TIME...MOT...LOC 0137Z 304DEG 25KT 3636 8868The Paducah radar (KPAH), 88 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:53 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds flattened several hundred acres of corn near the intersection of Highway 190 and Highway 54 in Eastern Weakley County.
Straight line winds knocked down multiple power poles along Highway 79 just south of Paris. A roof was blown off a sawmill in Henry.
Straight line winds associated with the outflow from a thunderstorm resulted in the partial roof loss of a church gymnasium.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 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: 340550, 340551, 340552, 340553.