An upper level low pressure system moved into the Mid-South during the afternoon and evening hours of September 11th, 2011. A few thunderstorms developed in association with the upper level low.
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.
An upper level low pressure system moved into the Mid-South during the afternoon and evening hours of September 11th, 2011. A few thunderstorms developed in association with the upper level low. A few of these storms became severe and produced large 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 Sep 11, 2:49 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 349 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011 .UPDATE... AVIATION UPDATE. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 342 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011/ DISCUSSION... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN TENNESSEE AND NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI. A FEW OF THE STORMS HAVE BEEN STRONG AT TIMES WITH HAIL AS THE MAIN THREAT. AT 3 PM...TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH WERE IN THE 80S. FOCUS ON THIS FORECAST PACKAGE WILL BE THE SHORT TERM THREAT OF STRONG STORMS AND A COLD FRONT WITH ASSOCIATED RAIN AND COOLER TEMPERATURES LATER THIS WEEK. SHORT TERM...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON FORMED ON AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE THAT IS MOVING THROUGH THE REGION. THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM THREAT SHOULD SHIFT GRADUALLY TO THE EAST ALONG WITH THE DISTURBANCE. ALL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE OUT OF THE REGION BY LATE TONIGHT. A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. CALM WEATHER IS EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. HIGH TEMPERATURES COULD BE SOMEWHAT HOT ON TUESDAY DUE TO MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY A COLD FRONT WILL BEING MOVING INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG THIS COLD FRONT TUESDAY EVENING AND SLOWLY PUSH TOWARDS THE MIDSOUTH IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING ACROSS NORTHERN ARKANSAS. THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY. NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE QUITE WET...WHILE EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH COULD MISS OUT ON THIS ACTIVITY DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. THE COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY NIGHT. OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION AS LONG AS THE COLD FRONT IS DRAPED ACROSS THE REGION. DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY...RAIN CHANCES WILL BE SLIGHTLY LOWER AS THE COLD FRONT PUSHES FARTHER TO THE SOUTH. DRIER AND MORE STABLE AIR WILL SEEP INTO THE MIDSOUTH THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL ROTATE THROUGH THE REGION ON FRIDAY...BRINGING ADDITIONAL CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MODELS SHOW THAT THE MAIN AREA OF UPPER LEVEL FORCING COULD REMAIN FARTHER TO THE WEST. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH COULD MISS OUT ON THE RAIN. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE BEHIND THE COLD FRONT INTO THE WEEKEND. WESTERN TENNESSEE LOOKS AS THOUGH IT COULD BE DRY FOR THE WEEKEND AS DRIER AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO THE REGION BY THURSDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE 70S ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION AND IN THE 80S ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS FOR THURSDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND. LOW TEMPERATURES COULD APPROACH THE UPPER 40S IN NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN ARKANSAS ON THURSDAY NIGHT. RRH && .AVIATION... 21Z TAF UPDATE TSRA CONTINUE OVER NORTH MS... BETWEEN MEM AND TUP. MOVEMENT WAS SOUTHEAST AT 5 TO 10 KTS. THESE STORMS SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE MEM TERMINAL. AN UPDATE WILL BE ISSUED FOR TUP... FOR A TSRA MENTION THROUGH THE NEXT FEW HOURS. PWB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 65 89 68 92 / 10 0 10 0 MKL 57 87 59 89 / 10 0 10 0 JBR 60 88 63 91 / 10 0 10 10 TUP 60 89 64 91 / 20 0 10 0 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 257 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 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>092-122200- 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- 257 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 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 FEW STRONG STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND PORTIONS OF WEST TENNESSEE. SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. RRH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
300 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
TNZ020-112030-
GIBSON TN-
300 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR...
CENTRAL GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL LOCATED 3
MILES WEST OF BRADFORD AT 259 PM CDT. THE STORM WAS NEARLY
STATIONARY.
PEOPLE IN GIBSON COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR TRENTON...SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3606 8873 3594 8882 3597 8915 3598 8916
3608 8912 3612 8899
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 315DEG 2KT 3606 8887SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 305 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011 MSZ003-004-TNZ090-112030- BENTON MS-TIPPAH MS-HARDEMAN TN- 305 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR... NORTHEASTERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTH CENTRAL TIPPAH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHWESTERN HARDEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF CANAAN AT 304 PM CDT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. PEOPLE IN BENTON...HARDEMAN AND TIPPAH COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. && LAT...LON 3485 8907 3503 8920 3515 8911 3496 8887 TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 317DEG 5KT 3501 8914
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
315 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
MSZ002-003-014-112100-
BENTON MS-UNION MS-MARSHALL MS-
315 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR...
SOUTHERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
NORTHWESTERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
SOUTHEASTERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL AND WINDS TO 50 MPH
WAS LOCATED 10 MILES NORTH OF BETHLEHEM AT 313 PM CDT...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. AN ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHEAST MARSHALL
COUNTY... MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
PEOPLE IN BENTON...MARSHALL AND UNION COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS
NEAR HOLLY SPRINGS AND WALL DOXEY STATE PARK...SHOULD MONITOR THIS
STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3472 8908 3461 8909 3451 8917 3457 8950
3487 8946
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 302DEG 12KT 3469 8927SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
504 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
MSZ015-112230-
PONTOTOC MS-
504 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR...
PONTOTOC COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER WAS LOCATED 5
MILES SOUTHWEST OF PONTOTOC AT 504 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
PEOPLE IN PONTOTOC COUNTY...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR PONTOTOC AND
TRACE STATE PARK...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3408 8884 3411 8921 3433 8913 3427 8883
3425 8882
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 282DEG 8KT 3422 8907SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
547 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
TNZ053-054-092-112315-
CHESTER TN-HARDIN TN-HENDERSON TN-
547 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
SOUTHERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF MIFFLIN AT 547 PM CDT...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
PEOPLE IN CHESTER...HARDIN AND HENDERSON COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS
STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES BEECH
LAKE...PIN OAK LAKE AND PINE LAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 8831 3536 8836 3538 8837 3538 8838
3538 8840 3554 8863 3569 8851 3556 8823
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 304DEG 10KT 3556 8848SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
614 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
TNZ053>055-112345-
CHESTER TN-DECATUR TN-HENDERSON TN-
614 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 2011
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR...
WEST CENTRAL DECATUR COUNTY IN TENNESSEE...
NORTHEASTERN CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
SOUTHERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF LEXINGTON AT 615 PM CDT...
MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN CHESTER...DECATUR AND HENDERSON COUNTIES...INCLUDING
LOCATIONS NEAR LEXINGTON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES BEECH LAKE AND PIN OAK LAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3563 8804 3541 8829 3542 8831 3555 8862
3571 8850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 281DEG 18KT 3559 8839The Memphis radar (KNQA), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:20 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Mainly dime size hail fell and covered the ground south of Lexington. However, a few pieces of quarter size hail fell during the hail storm.
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, September 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: 346326.