An upper level disturbance moved through the Mid-South on July 18th, 2013. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed in response to the disturbance.
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 disturbance moved through the Mid-South on July 18th, 2013. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed in response to the disturbance. Some storms became severe producing damaging winds and flash flooding.
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 Jul 18, 11:40 AM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1240 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 .UPDATE... && .DISCUSSION... && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 950 AM CDT THU JUL 18 2013/ UPDATE... WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVING IN THE ODD EAST TO WEST FLOW ACROSS THE MID- SOUTH THIS MORNING. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. COVERAGE WILL BE SLIGHT...MAYBE AS HIGH AS 30-40 PERCENT OF THE FORECAST AREA AT MOST BUT WITH UNSTABLE AIR MASS DUE TO DEWPTS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S AND TEMPS PUSHING INTO THE LOWER TO MID 90S AND THE AREA SITTING ON THE FRINGE OF THE RIDGE...THIS SHOULD BE EXPECTED...EVEN THOUGH THE EAST TO WEST FLOW IS KIND OF WEIRD TO SEE DAY AFTER DAY RECENTLY. TWEAKED THE TEMPS...CLOUDS AND POPS SLIGHTLY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CURRENT OBS...RADAR AND SAT TRENDS. -ABS PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 608 AM CDT THU JUL 18 2013/ UPDATE... UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. JCL DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 421 AM CDT THU JUL 18 2013/ DISCUSSION... MODELS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. THERE IS SOME TIMING ISSUES NEXT WEEK BETWEEN THE GFS AND ECMWF. YET IN SENSIBLE WEATHER THIS ONLY RESULTS IN AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HIGHER POPS THAN WE HAVE HAD LATELY. THERE IS A WAVE MOVING WEST ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH THIS MORNING...BRINGING SOME THUNDERSTORMS TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE AREA AND CLOUDS TO MUCH OF THE AREA...EXPECT THESE CLOUDS TO PERSIST. HAVE LOWERED TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF THE CLOUDS...HIGHS STILL IN THE 90S...SO STILL HOT AND HUMID. ALSO SOME AFTERNOON SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE AREA. MORNING SHOWERS SHOULD STAY IN MISSISSIPPI. FRIDAY WILL BE MORE AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS WITH HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS. THE WEEKEND...A SLOW MOVING FRONTAL SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE AREA AND STALLS AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DOES NOT DIG AS FAR SOUTH AS HAD BEEN EXPECTED THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS INCREASES THE CHANCES OF RAIN AND THE PERIOD OF WHEN RAIN CAN OCCUR. ALSO HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 90 FOR THE WEEKEND. THE FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL STILL BE AFFECTING THE WEATHER MOST OF NEXT WEEK. ALSO THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. SO IT IS NOT UNTIL WEDNESDAY THAT MOST PLACES WILL NOT HAVE A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ANY TIME OF THE DAY...HOWEVER...WEDNESDAY STILL LOOKS TO BE A CHANCE OF AFTERNOON SHOWERS. THE SECOND FRONTAL SYSTEM...FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK...DOES NOT LOOK AS STRONG AS IT MAINLY STAYS TO OUR NORTH...HOWEVER...IT PROVIDES THE PUSH FOR THE SHOWERS TO LEAVE THE AREA. ALSO TIMING OF THIS IS NOT CONSIDENT WITH MODELS AND THUS THINK IT MAY NOT HAPPEN TILL WEDNESDAY...SO FORECAST IS A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE. TEMPERATURES NEXT WEEK STILL IN THE 90S AND STILL HUMID...JUST ABOUT A TYPICAL JULY DAY IN THE MID-SOUTH. TLSJR AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE (18/18Z-19/18Z) NUMEROUS SHOWERS HAVE POPPED UP ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH AT THIS TIME. EXPECT DEVELOPMENT UNTIL AROUND 8 PM. THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE GENERALLY WEST SOUTHWEST ONCE THEY GET GOING. DOWNBURSTS WILL ACCOMPANY SOME OF THESE STORMS ALONG WITH SMALL HAIL. && .AVIATION... && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... MEM 75 94 75 94 / 20 20 20 40 MKL 69 93 73 92 / 20 20 20 40 JBR 72 95 73 92 / 20 20 20 40 TUP 73 93 73 93 / 20 40 30 50 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 500 AM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>021-048>055-088>092-191200- 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- 500 AM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1219 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 MSZ010-011-181745- QUITMAN MS-COAHOMA MS- 1219 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1245 PM CDT FOR... CENTRAL COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... WEST CENTRAL QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLARKSDALE AT 1219 PM CDT...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN COAHOMA AND QUITMAN COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR CLARKSDALE...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES MOON LAKE. && LAT...LON 3409 9057 3423 9067 3432 9041 3423 9036 TIME...MOT...LOC 1719Z 055DEG 7KT 3424 9045
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013
TNZ003-181800-
WEAKLEY TN-
1236 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 100 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND
WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED FROM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF
PALMERSVILLE TO 4 MILES SOUTH OF PALMERSVILLE AT 1237 PM CDT...MOVING
WEST AT 15 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL
OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
PEOPLE IN WEAKLEY COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3650 8852 3628 8853 3626 8870 3625 8881
3650 8880
TIME...MOT...LOC 1737Z 080DEG 11KT 3647 8856 3636 8861SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1256 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 ARZ018-026-181830- CRAIGHEAD AR-GREENE AR- 1256 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 130 PM CDT FOR... NORTH CENTRAL CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTH OF BONO AT 1257 PM CDT... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN CRAIGHEAD AND GREENE COUNTIES...INCLUDING LOCATIONS NEAR BONO AND LAKE FRIERSON STATE PARK...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. && LAT...LON 3605 9074 3597 9062 3589 9080 3595 9085 TIME...MOT...LOC 1757Z 231DEG 8KT 3595 9077
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
137 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0130 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 S AMORY 33.94N 88.48W
07/18/2013 MONROE MS EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN IN A SMALL AREA SOUTH OF
AMORY.
&&
MRMSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 235 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 MSZ007-182000- TUNICA MS- 235 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR... NORTHERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI... A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF NORTH TUNICA AT 235 PM CDT...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN TUNICA COUNTY SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT ALSO INCLUDES HORSESHOE LAKE. && LAT...LON 3484 9027 3478 9021 3461 9037 3471 9050 TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 056DEG 14KT 3477 9031
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
238 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013
TNZ020-051-052-182015-
CROCKETT TN-GIBSON TN-MADISON TN-
238 PM CDT THU JUL 18 2013
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN CROCKETT COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
SOUTH CENTRAL GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE...
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 3
MILES NORTH OF FAIRVIEW AT 238 PM CDT...MOVING WEST AT 25 MPH.
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL
OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN CROCKETT...GIBSON AND MADISON COUNTIES...INCLUDING
LOCATIONS NEAR HUMBOLDT...SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
&&
LAT...LON 3568 8907 3570 8910 3584 8914 3587 8884
3577 8879
TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 078DEG 24KT 3581 8888The Memphis radar (KNQA), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:47 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds blew an eighteen wheeler over in Humboldt. In addition, a small plane was blown over at the Humboldt Municipal Airport. A power pole was snapped near the Humboldt city limits and a tree was blown down on Windy City Road.
Straight line winds knocked a tree into a power line breaking six power poles in Bells.
Straight line winds blew trees and power lines down in Brownsville. Numerous roads were blocked with debris.
Straight line winds knocked large trees down on Raleigh-LaGrange Road.
Straight line winds knocked large trees and power lines down in Covington.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding across much of the northern half of Shelby County as a severe thunderstorm merged with another thunderstorm. Bartlett was particularly hit hard as up to 3 feet of water covered portions of Stage Road. Vehicles were stuck in water. Water flooded homes up to a foot along Richfield Road, Spring Valley Road, and Skylight Drive. Further west, the intersection of Walnut Grove Road and Union Avenue was flooded with up to 4 feet of water in Midtown Memphis. In addition, the intersection of Macon Road and Jackson Avenue in North Memphis was flooded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2013
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: 469243, 471044, 469244, 469247, 469246, 469249.