A cold front moved through the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of November 3rd. Showers and thunderstorms developed as the front approached Interstate 40 and interacted with an increasingly moist and unstable airmass.
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 moved through the Mid-South during the afternoon hours of November 3rd. Showers and thunderstorms developed as the front approached Interstate 40 and interacted with an increasingly moist and unstable airmass. A few of the storms 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 Nov 3, 1:54 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 254 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012 .DISCUSSION...19Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS FAR NORTHWEST TENNESSEE AND WESTERN KENTUCKY WITH A TRAILING COLD FRONT EXTENDING BACK INTO NORTHEAST ARKANSAS. AS OF 2 PM CDT...MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ARE PREVALENT WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S BEHIND THE FRONT...AND UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S ACROSS WEST TENNESSEE...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND EAST ARKANSAS. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES TONIGHT ALONG WITH RAIN CHANCES MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT ARE THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGES IN THIS AFTERNOON/S FORECAST. .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT)...SHORT TERM MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A WEAK COLD FRONT PASSING THROUGH THE MID SOUTH TONIGHT. AS OF EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...A FEW ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS HAVE DEVELOPED NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ACROSS NORTHWEST TENNESSEE. BASED ON LATEST SHORT TERM TRENDS...THINK OVERALL COVERAGE OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL BE PREDOMINANTLY ISOLATED AT BEST WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRING MAINLY ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI THIS EVENING. THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY MENTION AT THIS TIME...AND WILL REMOVE MENTION FROM THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD BACK INTO THE MID SOUTH BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...BRINGING RAIN FREE WEATHER AND COOLER TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S NORTH TO THE LOWER 60S SOUTH ON SUNDAY. WRF/GFS/ECMWF MODELS INDICATE AN OPEN WAVE LOW WILL DEVELOP IN THE BASE OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH AS IT ROTATES THROUGH THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS TO DEVELOP ACROSS MOST OF THE MID SOUTH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE LIGHT WITH PERHAPS UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH OF RAIN POSSIBLE IN SPOTS. .LONG TERM...(TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)...12Z GFS/ECMWF LONG RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH/OPEN WAVE LOW EJECTING OUT OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ON TUESDAY AND DEEPENING THROUGH THE PERIOD AS IT APPROACHES AND MOVES ALONG THE EAST COAST. THIS WILL RESULT IN NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AND GRADUALLY TRANSITIONING TO A BUILDING UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TOWARDS THE END OF THE PERIOD. CONSEQUENTLY...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN BY NEXT WEEKEND. CJC && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS A SURFACE COLD FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS NORTHWEST AR THROUGH SOUTHEAST MO AT 17Z. A POST FRONTAL VFR DECK AROUND FL050 WAS NOTED OVER EASTERN MO...INTO SOUTHERN IL. FRONT SHOULD PASS THROUGH MEM/MKL AROUND 00Z. MARGINAL INSTABILITY WILL BE PRESENT FOR ISOLATED SHRA/TSRA ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE SOUTHWARD MOVING FRONT. HAVE CONTINUED THE BRIEF VCTS MENTION AT MEM AND MKL FOR THE 18Z TAF. TUP WILL SEE LOW END SHRA CHANCES TOWARD 02Z OR LATER...WITH ATMOSPHERIC INSTABILITY NOT LIKELY SUFFICIENT FOR A VCTS INCLUSION AT THIS TIME. NAM INDICATES A SLIGHT POTENTIAL FOR MVFR CIGS TOWARD SUNRISE SUNDAY. HAVE KEPT MENTION TO SCT AT THIS TIME. PWB && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 48 61 42 59 / 40 0 0 30 MKL 43 58 37 57 / 30 0 0 30 JBR 42 58 38 56 / 10 0 0 40 TUP 49 64 40 62 / 40 20 0 10 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 503 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 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>092-042215- 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- 503 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 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 ACROSS PORTIONS OF EASTERN ARKANSAS...SOUTHERN WEST TENNESSEE...AND FAR NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI. THIS AREA INCLUDES THE MEMPHIS METROPOLITAN AREA. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL WITH A SECONDARY THREAT FOR DAMAGING WINDS. THIS SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL DIMINISH LATER THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT HAIL OR STRONG WINDS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. JLH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 452 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012 TNZ052>054-090-091-032230- CHESTER TN-HARDEMAN TN-HENDERSON TN-MCNAIRY TN-MADISON TN- 452 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR... CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTH CENTRAL HARDEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTH CENTRAL HENDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... NORTHEASTERN MCNAIRY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF HENDERSON AT 452 PM CDT... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CHESTER...HARDEMAN...HENDERSON...MADISON AND MCNAIRY COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CHICKASAW STATE FOREST... CHICKASAW STATE PARK AND HENDERSON...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES PINE LAKE. && LAT...LON 3526 8837 3541 8909 3556 8905 3554 8836 TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 269DEG 28KT 3548 8863
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
453 PM CDT SAT NOV 03 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM HAIL WHEATLEY 34.92N 91.11W
11/03/2012 E0.50 INCH ST. FRANCIS AR TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZED HAIL WAS REPORTED BY A SPOTTER IN WHEATLEY
ARKANSAS.
0445 PM HAIL BEMIS 35.58N 88.83W
11/03/2012 E0.50 INCH MADISON TN CO-OP OBSERVER
DIME SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED IN BEMIS BY COOPERATIVE
OBSERVER.
0448 PM HAIL WHEATLEY 34.92N 91.11W
11/03/2012 E0.88 INCH ST. FRANCIS AR TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL SIZE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED BY A SPOTTER IN
WHEATLEY.
0448 PM HAIL WHEATLEY 34.92N 91.11W
11/03/2012 E0.50 INCH ST. FRANCIS AR TRAINED SPOTTER
DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY A SPOTTER IN WHEATLEY.
&&
JLHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
459 PM CDT SAT NOV 03 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL PALESTINE 34.97N 90.90W
11/03/2012 E0.88 INCH ST. FRANCIS AR PUBLIC
NICKEL SIZE HAIL REPORTED ALONG COUNTY ROAD AND ROUTE 107
IN PALESTINE.
&&
JLHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
502 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012
ARZ035-036-048-032230-
CRITTENDEN AR-CROSS AR-ST. FRANCIS AR-
502 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR...
CENTRAL CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHEASTERN ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT
LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER JENNETTE AT 502 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT
25 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL
OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN CRITTENDEN...CROSS AND ST. FRANCIS COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3527 9027 3504 9028 3503 9030 3497 9066
3520 9067
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 267DEG 23KT 3518 9039PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
507 PM CDT SAT NOV 03 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL RALEIGH 35.21N 89.91W
11/03/2012 E0.50 INCH SHELBY TN PUBLIC
PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL PERSISTED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES NEAR
THE RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL.
&&
JLHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 510 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012 TNZ053-090-091-032300- CHESTER TN-HARDEMAN TN-MCNAIRY TN- 510 PM CDT SAT NOV 3 2012 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR... SOUTHWESTERN CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... HARDEMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... CENTRAL MCNAIRY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER BOLIVAR AT 511 PM CDT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CHESTER...HARDEMAN AND MCNAIRY COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BOLIVAR...CHICKASAW STATE FOREST AND SELMER...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. && LAT...LON 3507 8850 3513 8919 3543 8918 3531 8845 TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 271DEG 24KT 3527 8899
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 13 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:11 UTC.
2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Quarter to Golfball size hail fell in a corridor from Bartlett to Lakeland.
Quarter size hail fell at Presidents Island.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, November 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: 421322, 421323.