A cold front and an upper level short wave moved through North Mississippi. Ahead of the front, severe thunderstorms moved through parts of North Mississippi.
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 cold front and an upper level short wave moved through North Mississippi. Ahead of the front, severe thunderstorms moved through parts of 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 Jan 20, 11:28 PM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1128 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2012 .UPDATE... UPDATED TO INCLUDE 06Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. JCL && .DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 839 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2012/ SKIES ARE CLOUDY ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. A COLD FRONT EXTENDS FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY THROUGH WEST TENNESSEE AND INTO NORTH TEXAS. TEMPERATURES AHEAD OF THE FRONT REMAIN IN THE 60S WHILE BEHIND THE FRONT READINGS ARE IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 50S. AREAS OF RAIN SHOWERS ARE MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA BEHIND THE FRONT. THIS ACTIVITY IS MOVING NORTHEAST AND ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT PUSHES EAST. THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER OVERNIGHT AS THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AS THE MAIN THREAT. MADE SOME MINOR CHANGES TO POPS OVERNIGHT OVER NORTHEAST ARKANSAS. ARS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 606 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2012/ NORTHWARD MOVING WARM FRONT WAS LOCATED RIGHT OVER THE MEMPHIS METRO AS OF 2PM. TO THE SOUTH BREAKS IN THE STRATUS HAS ALLOWED TEMPERATURES TO JUMP TO NEAR 70 IN COAHOMA...TALLAHATCHIE AND YALOBUSHA COUNTIES IN MISSISSIPPI...WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW 60S. TO THE NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY TEMPERATURES ARE STILL HANGING NEAR 40 DEGREES IN CLAY COUNTY ARKANSAS. A FEW LIGHT RETURNS FROM WAA SHOWERS WERE SEEN ON RADAR ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND WEST TENNESSEE. FOR TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE WARM FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH AND BECOME SITUATED FROM ABOUT A WYNNE ARKANSAS TO HUNTINGDON TENNESSEE LINE THIS EVENING...AS A SFC LOW CURRENTLY IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY RIDES ALONG THE FRONT OVERNIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE SCATTERED. DURING THIS TIME A SOUTHWESTERLY LLJ WILL INCREASE TO 45 KTS AHEAD OF THE LOW. THE THREAT FOR A STRONG OR SEVERE STORM REMAINS POSSIBLE MAINLY AFTER 10PM ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE FORTY AS THE FRONT BEGINS TRACKING SOUTH. THIS IS ALSO THE SAME TIME THAT THE CURRENT UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WILL BEGIN AFFECTING THE WARM SECTOR. WILL MENTION WINDS AND HAIL AS THE GREATEST THREAT IN THE UPCOMING HWO. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROGGED ISOLATED TORNADO THREAT WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO THE EAST OF THE CWA. THE FRONT WILL REACH MONROE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI BY SATURDAY MORNING WITH RAIN CHANCES TAPERING OFF ACROSS NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...THE BOOTHEEL OF MISSOURI AND NORTHWEST TENNESSEE. TEMPERATURES ON SATURDAY WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL AS THE CWA WILL STAY TO THE NORTH OF THE FRONT WITH BRISK NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS. SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS ARE ANTICIPATED LATE IN THE DAY ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTH...BUT ANY WARMER TEMPERATURES THERE ARE NOT ANTICIPATED. SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...MODELS ARE FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT A MUCH STRONGER SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL CROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS DURING THIS PERIOD SHIFTING FROM A POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE TILT AS IT CROSSES THE OZARKS. ON THE SURFACE CONDITIONS WILL START OFF COOL SUNDAY MORNING...HOWEVER AS THE TROUGH APPROACHES SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL INTENSIFY RAPIDLY BY MIDDAY AND THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH A WARM SECTOR EXPECTED TO REACH THE LOWER OHIO RIVER VALLEY BY 23/00Z. TEMPERATURES ARE PROGGED TO CLIMB BACK INTO THE 60S WITH DEWPOINTS ALSO REACHING THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S. THE EURO SHOWS MORE FAVORABLE LAPSE RATES IN THE 6.5 TO 7C RANGE STARTING LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. LOW LEVEL FLOW ALSO APPEARS MORE BACKED AS A 995MB SFC LOW MOVES NORTHEAST ACROSS MISSOURI. THE ONLY MODEL DIFFERENCES IS THE GFS AND NAM SHOW A FASTER SYSTEM WITH A LESS INTENSE SFC LOW. THIS PLACES CONVECTION INITIATION NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY INSTEAD OF EURO SOLUTION IN CENTRAL/EASTERN ARKANSAS. HAVE LEANED TOWARDS THE SLOWER EURO SCENARIO WHICH HAS BEEN MORE CONSISTENT WITH THIS WEEKEND STORM OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. THEREFORE A GREATER THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS LIKELY FOR THE MIDSOUTH LATE SUNDAY WITH A HIGHER TORNADO POTENTIAL. THE SHORTWAVE WILL QUICKLY LIFT NORTHEAST OF THE AREA EARLY MONDAY MORNING WITH BREEZY WEST WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES EXPECTED. HIGHS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL STILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL FOR MID JANUARY WITH READINGS MAINLY IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S. TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...MODELS AGAIN BEGIN TO SEPARATE TIMING SOLUTIONS DURING THIS PERIOD WITH BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF SHOWING A SPLIT FLOW. A CUTOFF LOW PINCHED OFF FROM THE NORTHERN BRANCH WILL CROSS TEXAS LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WITH SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE RETURNING TO THE REGION ALONG WITH WAA SHOWERS. TEMPERATURES ARE GOING BE TOUGH TO FORECAST THIS PERIOD WITH EASTERLY WINDS. FOR NOW HAVE KEPT THEM SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. MODELS SHOW THE CLOSED LOW LIFTING OUT INTO THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY GENERATING HIGH QPF FOR THE AREA. HAVE LEFT POPS TO JUST CHANCE AT THIS TIME AS THE CLOSED LOW MAY LINGER WELL OFF TO OUR SOUTH AND WEST KEEPING US DRY FOR A LONGER PERIOD. JAB && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF CYCLE (21/06Z-22/06Z) A FRONTAL SYSTEM BISECTING THE MIDSOUTH AT 05Z WAS BEGINNING TO PUSH SOUTHEASTWARD AS A COLD FRONT. THE FRONT WAS JUST THROUGH KMEM AND WILL BY THROUGH KMKL AROUND 06Z...THEN THROUGH KTUP AROUND 11Z. A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT WITH THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR A THUNDERSTORM AT KTUP. A FEW ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR IN THE KMEM AND KMKL VICINITY UNTIL 08Z. OTHERWISE...CONDITIONS WILL DECREASE TO IFR OR LOWER BEHIND THE FRONT AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTH WINDS. A BAND OF SHOWERS WILL ALSO OCCUR BEHIND THE FRONT FOR A FEW HOURS. CONDITIONS IMPROVING TO MVFR AFTER 21/18Z WITH DIMINISHING WIND...THEN REMAINING THAT WAY THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. JCL && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 42 47 42 65 / 60 10 10 20 MKL 38 45 39 65 / 70 10 10 20 JBR 34 40 34 60 / 50 10 10 30 TUP 52 55 45 69 / 70 30 10 20 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1056 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2012 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-220700- 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- 1056 PM CST FRI JAN 20 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 40 AND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A POTENT STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME FRAME WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. A SECONDARY THREAT OF TORNADOES IS ALSO PRESENT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE FORTY AS WELL AS ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 149 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2012 MSZ002>004-008-012>014-210815- BENTON MS-UNION MS-TIPPAH MS-TATE MS-PANOLA MS-MARSHALL MS- LAFAYETTE MS- 149 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 215 AM CST FOR... SOUTHERN BENTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHWESTERN TIPPAH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN UNION COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEASTERN PANOLA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHEASTERN TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 6 MILES SOUTH OF BARR AT 150 AM CST...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN BENTON...LAFAYETTE...MARSHALL...PANOLA...TATE...TIPPAH AND UNION COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR WALL DOXEY STATE PARK... SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ADVISORY AREA. && LAT...LON 3483 8907 3452 8898 3444 8981 3464 8984 TIME...MOT...LOC 0750Z 260DEG 38KT 3454 8970
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 210 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2012 MSZ004>006-TNZ090>092-210845- TISHOMINGO MS-TIPPAH MS-ALCORN MS-HARDEMAN TN-HARDIN TN-MCNAIRY TN- 210 AM CST SAT JAN 21 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 245 AM CST FOR... NORTHERN ALCORN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTH CENTRAL TIPPAH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN TISHOMINGO COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHEASTERN HARDEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN HARDIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHERN MCNAIRY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF POCAHONTAS AT 210 AM CST...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN ALCORN...HARDEMAN...HARDIN...MCNAIRY...TIPPAH AND TISHOMINGO COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BIG HILL POND STATE PARK...CORINTH AND SELMER...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. .A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ADVISORY AREA. && LAT...LON 3525 8836 3491 8831 3483 8894 3506 8898 TIME...MOT...LOC 0810Z 257DEG 40KT 3494 8886
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:30 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Five buildings had metal siding and roofing blown off of them. Some trees were also knocked down.
Quarter size hail fell along County Road 821.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, January 2012
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: 360653, 360652.