A warm front pushed into the northern part of the Mid-South during the late evening on April 27, 2014 and the early morning hours of April 28, 2014. Showers and thunderstorms continued to develop along the stalled warm front through the early morning hours resulting in very heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the Northeast Arkansas.
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 warm front pushed into the northern part of the Mid-South during the late evening on April 27, 2014 and the early morning hours of April 28, 2014. Showers and thunderstorms continued to develop along the stalled warm front through the early morning hours resulting in very heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the Northeast Arkansas.
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 Apr 27, 7:55 PM CST, 31 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
855 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
.DISCUSSION...01Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES A SURFACE LOW OVER NORTH
CENTRAL KANSAS WITH A WARM FRONT EXTENDING SOUTH ACROSS PORTIONS
OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS AND JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA ACROSS
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI. NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY...TEMPERATURES ACROSS
THE MID SOUTH AS OF 8 PM CDT ARE IN THE 60S NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY
AND IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S SOUTH. 00Z KLZK RAOB AND 22Z
SOUNDING LAUNCHED BY MISSISSIPPI STATE OVER EAST ARKANSAS INDICATE
IMPRESSIVE 0-1 KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITIES AT OR ABOVE 400 M2/S2.
/723 M2/S2 AT LZK/ SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY NORTH OF THIS
BOUNDARY AT THE MOMENT IS MINIMAL AT BEST AND THUS FAR CONFINED
MAINLY TO PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI TOWARDS
CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI.
00Z WRF HASN/T ARRIVED YET BUT LATEST SHORT TERM MODEL TRENDS
INDICATE THE BOUNDARY SHOULD BEGIN TO LIFT NORTH OVERNIGHT WITH
INSTABILITY INCREASING ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE MID SOUTH.
IN ADDITION...THE LATEST HI-RES RAPID REFRESH /HRRR/ SUGGESTS A
POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO
DEVELOP WEST OF THE CURRENT LINE ACROSS CENTRAL/NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
AS YET ANOTHER SHORTWAVE TROUGH ROTATES THROUGH THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY OVERNIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.
LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES...AND FLASH FLOODING WILL
ALL CONTINUE TO REMAIN THE SEVERE WEATHER THREATS INTO THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE OVERALL CONVECTIVE MODE MAY ALSO BEGIN TO
EVOLVE INTO MULTI QUASI-LINEAR CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS /QLCS'S/ AS THE
NIGHT PROGRESSES.
CURRENT FORECAST IS IN GOOD SHAPE BUT WILL NEED TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS TO ACCOUNT FOR CONVECTIVE TRENDS. WILL ADJUST ALL
ELEMENTS AS NEEDED.
UPDATED GRIDS WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.
CJC
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 645 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014/
UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 336 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014/
SECONDARY WARM FRONT CONTINUES TO TRY TO PUSH NORTHWARD ACROSS
THE CWA. ONGOING CONVECTION IS SLOWING THE FRONTS PROGRESS. OVER
THE LAST HOUR...IT SEEMS TO FINALLY MAKING SOME PROGRESS AS
CONVECTION HAS LIFTED OUT OF TUNICA AND ST FRANCIS COUNTIES. SKIES
ARE STARTING TO CLEAR ACROSS PORTIONS OF COAHOMA AND TALLAHATCHIE
COUNTIES. A WARM AND JUICY ATMOSPHERE EXISTS JUST SOUTH OF THESE
COUNTIES WHERE TEMPERATURES HAVE RISEN INTO THE LOWER TO MID 80S.
DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S. THIS AIRMASS WILL
SPREAD INTO THE MIDSOUTH THIS EVENING. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET
MAY INTERACT WITH THIS AIRMASS TO PRODUCE A FEW SUPERCELLS THIS
EVENING. HOWEVER...BETTER CHANCES FOR STORMS WILL COME LATER THIS
EVENING AS STORMS DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE DRY LINE...WHICH IS ROUGHLY
LOCATED NEAR THE OK/AR BORDER AT THIS TIME. THESE STORMS WILL PUSH
EAST ACROSS ARKANSAS THIS EVENING PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE
HAIL AND POSSIBLY A FEW STRONG...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES. THESE
STORMS WILL PUSH INTO EASTERN ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI
BOOTHEEL...EXTREME WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AFTER
8-10 PM. QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN IF THEY WILL MAINTAIN THERE
INTENSITY AS THEY PUSH INTO THE MIDSOUTH. REGARDLESS...FLASH
FLOODING WILL BE A CONCERN AS MANY AREAS HAVE ALREADY PICKED UP
OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN.
THUNDERSTORMS MAY EVENTUALLY EVOLVE INTO AN MCS OVERNIGHT AS IT
PUSHES EAST INTO WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI. LINGERING
CONVECTION COULD STILL BE OCCURRING MONDAY MORNING ACROSS
NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND AREAS OF WEST TENNESSEE NEAR THE
TENNESSEE RIVER. MEANWHILE...DRY LINE WILL HAVE ADVANCED EASTWARD
AND WILL ROUGHLY BE LOCATED NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ON MONDAY.
EXPECT THE DRY LINE TO BE THE SOURCE OF REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS BY MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY NIGHT. WHETHER OR
NOT THE THUNDERSTORMS BECOME SEVERE WILL BE DETERMINED BY HOW MUCH
THE ATMOSPHERE IS WORKED OVER BY TONIGHTS CONVECTION. IF STORMS DO
BECOME SEVERE...BEST CHANCES WOULD OCCUR ACROSS AREAS OF WEST
TENNESSEE NEAR THE TENNESSEE RIVER AND NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI.
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND A FEW TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE.
GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL OCCUR OFF AND ON TONIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY. WILL EXPAND THE WIND ADVISORY TO COVER THE ENTIRE CWA.
ON TUESDAY...DRY LINE/FRONT MAY PUSH BACK NORTHWARD A TAD BUT WILL
REMAIN THE MAIN SOURCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT. BEST CHANCES WILL OCCUR
ACROSS NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. AGAIN SEVERE CHANCES WILL DEPEND ON
WHETHER OR NOT ATMOSPHERE HAS RECOVERED FROM PREVIOUS CONVECTION.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK...UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL
MEANDER THROUGH THE UPPER MIDWEST INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. WRAP
AROUND SHOWERS COULD SKIRT NORTHERN AREAS OF THE MIDSOUTH BUT FOR
NOW WILL KEEP DRY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST. MAIN EFFECTS WILL BE
CLOUDS AND COOLER TEMPERATURES.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE INTO THE MIDSOUTH BY THE WEEKEND.
TEMPERATURES WILL MODERATE UNDERNEATH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES.
KRM
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAF CYCLE
MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT ALL TAF
SITES OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MOST SITES AREAS ARE CURRENTLY
EXPERIENCING A LULL IN CONVECTION BUT THE NEXT ROUND IS ON THE
WAY. ARRIVAL TSRA IS EXPECTED AT JBR ABOUT 1-2Z...MEM AROUND
03Z...MKL BETWEEN 5 AND 6Z...AND TUP AROUND 6-7Z. TEMPORARY IFR
CONDS DUE TO HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
THUNDERSTORMS BUT PREVAILING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE MVFR TO VFR.
EXPECT RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS CAN BE
EXPECTED AS THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP...APPROACH AND MOVE AWAY FROM
TAF SITES. TIMING OF ONSET OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY NEED
ADJUSTMENT. PREVAILING WINDS WILL BE FROM THE
SOUTHEAST...GRADUALLY SHIFTING SOUTH OR SOUTHWEST 10-20KT...BUT IN
ASSOCIATION WITH THUNDERSTORMS STRONG GUSTY CONDITIONS CAN BE
EXPECTED. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE BOTH TONIGHT AND
TOMORROW.
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR CLAY-CRAIGHEAD-
CRITTENDEN-CROSS-GREENE-LAWRENCE-LEE AR-MISSISSIPPI-
PHILLIPS-POINSETT-RANDOLPH-ST. FRANCIS.
MO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR DUNKLIN-PEMISCOT.
MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY 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.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY 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...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT MONDAY FOR BENTON TN-CARROLL-
CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-
HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-
MCNAIRY-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR BENTON TN-CARROLL-
CHESTER-CROCKETT-DECATUR-DYER-FAYETTE-GIBSON-HARDEMAN-
HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-HENRY-LAKE-LAUDERDALE-MADISON-
MCNAIRY-OBION-SHELBY-TIPTON-WEAKLEY.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 344 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-280845- ALCORN-BENTON MS-BENTON TN-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- 344 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDING TORNADOES IS EXPECTED FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE MIDSOUTH. A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXIST ACROSS ALL OF EAST ARKANSAS...THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL AND THOSE PORTIONS OF WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM DYERSBURG TENNESSEE TO CHARLESTON MISSISSIPPI. THE MODERATE RISK AREA INCLUDES THE CITIES OF MEMPHIS...JONESBORO...AND CLARKSDALE MISSISSIPPI. A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXIST ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH. A FEW TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY. TORNADOES MAY BE STRONG ESPECIALLY IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. HEAVY RAINFALL RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST MONDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH MISSISSIPPI INTO PORTIONS OF WEST TENNESSEE. A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE MIDSOUTH. A FEW TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL MAY OCCUR. TORNADOES MAY BE STRONG ESPECIALLY IN THE MODERATE RISK AREA. THE THREAT FOR ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER WILL SHIFT TO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI TUESDAY. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AND TUESDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL THE MIDSOUTH. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MONDAY FOR THE ENTIRE MIDSOUTH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... THE ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...HAM RADIO OPERATORS...AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS WILL BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY. KRM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
433 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0236 PM HAIL THORN 33.94N 89.10W
04/27/2014 E1.00 INCH CHICKASAW MS BROADCAST MEDIA
&&
CJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
536 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL MARKS 34.25N 90.27W
04/27/2014 E0.25 INCH QUITMAN MS LAW ENFORCEMENT
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN THE MARKS, CROWDER AND LAMBERT
AREAS. STORM CAME FROM THE VANCE COMMUNITY.
&&
ZEIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
557 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0531 PM HAIL CLARKSDALE 34.20N 90.58W
04/27/2014 E1.00 INCH COAHOMA MS EMERGENCY MNGR
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CITY OF CLARKSDALE.
&&
ZEIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
602 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0236 PM HAIL THORN 33.94N 89.10W
04/27/2014 E1.00 INCH CHICKASAW MS BROADCAST MEDIA
0240 PM HAIL CALHOUN CITY 33.86N 89.31W
04/27/2014 M0.88 INCH CALHOUN MS 911 CALL CENTER
NICKEL SIZE HAIL FROM CALHOUN CITY TO DERMA AND VARDAMAN.
0530 PM HAIL MARKS 34.25N 90.27W
04/27/2014 E0.25 INCH QUITMAN MS LAW ENFORCEMENT
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN THE MARKS, CROWDER AND LAMBERT
AREAS. STORM CAME FROM THE VANCE COMMUNITY.
0531 PM HAIL CLARKSDALE 34.20N 90.58W
04/27/2014 E1.00 INCH COAHOMA MS EMERGENCY MNGR
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN CITY OF CLARKSDALE.
&&
ZEIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
618 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0537 PM TSTM WND DMG MARKS 34.25N 90.27W
04/27/2014 QUITMAN MS LAW ENFORCEMENT
POWER LINE AND TREE DOWN AT RIVERSIDE RD IN MARKS.
0559 PM TORNADO 5 ENE MARKS 34.28N 90.19W
04/27/2014 QUITMAN MS LAW ENFORCEMENT
TORNADO REPORTED MOVING FROM QUITMAN COUNTY INTO PANOLA
COUNTY NEAR HOOD ROAD. WAS MOVING INTO FORESTED AREA.
&&
ZEIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
756 PM CDT SUN APR 27 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0737 PM HAIL HERNANDO 34.83N 89.99W
04/27/2014 E1.00 INCH DESOTO MS TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL AT INTERSECTION OF MACENVILE AND
MIDDLEBUSTER.
&&
ZEIThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 163 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:27 UTC.
4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding across parts of Randolph County. Highway 62 and others roads west of Pocahontas were flooded. Several streets were impassable in Maynard. Many county roads were also flooded north of Imboden.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding between Imboden and Black Rock. Highway 63 was flooded.
Heavy rain flooded several roadways in the Walnut Ridge area. Several county roads were washed out.
Several highway were flooded across Clay County. Heavy rain flooded Highway 62 in Northeast Arkansas. The highway was closed at the Missouri State line. Highway 119, Highway 90, Highway 49 and Highway 139 were also flooded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 2014
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: 514402, 514414, 514658, 514440.