An upper level low pressure system moved northeastward out of Texas and New Mexico. A few diurnal showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the system.
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 northeastward out of Texas and New Mexico. A few diurnal showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the system. One storm became severe producing damaging winds.
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 May 27, 11:19 AM CST, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1219 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 .DISCUSSION... UPDATED FOR 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1029 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015/ UPDATE... BUMPED UP POPS AND ENHANCED WORDING IN THE HWO FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. FREEZING LEVEL AND -20C HEIGHTS ARE 3-4K FEET LOWER THAN YESTERDAY...SO HAIL COULD BE AN ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY...ESPECIALLY LATER THIS AFTERNOON IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI WET MICROBURSTS COULD BE AN ISSUE. AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES MAY BE A DEGREE OR SO TOO WARM AT AREAS WHERE RAIN IS FALLING...BUT ANY BREAKS IN CLOUD COVER WOULD RESULT IN A QUICK 3-5 DEGREE RISE IN TEMPERATURES. WILL NOT MAKE ANY BIG ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMPERATURES. THE FOCUS FOR STRONG OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AS WELL AS LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 649 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015/ DISCUSSION...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE/WSR-88D VAD WIND PROFILES THIS MORNING PLACES THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WITHIN SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AS A SUBTROPICAL RIDGE IS LOCATED OFF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. A COUPLE OF SHORTWAVES ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW...THE FIRST LOCATED ACROSS SOUTHERN MISSOURI INTO NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AND THE SECOND ONE OVER NORTHEAST TEXAS. AS OF 4 AM CDT...CLOUDS ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE MID SOUTH WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S AT MOST LOCATIONS. SHORT TERM MODELS INCLUDING THE 08Z HRRR INDICATE THE AFOREMENTIONED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE PORTIONS OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEYS TODAY. SHORT TERM TRENDS SUGGEST OVERALL SHEAR WILL BE WEAK WITH 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR VALUES AVERAGING BETWEEN 20-25 KTS. SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY IS ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE TO AT OR ABOVE 2000 J/KG. THIS WOULD SUGGEST PULSE TYPE THUNDERSTORMS PERHAPS CLUSTERING WITH THE RELATIVELY WEAK SHEAR. AS OF THIS MORNING CHANCE POPS SEEM REASONABLE AS CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURES ARE REACHED LATER THIS MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON ALONG WITH THE WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVING ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. A FEW STRONG TO PERHAPS ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE TODAY WITH DAMAGING WINDS AS THE POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT AND LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THUNDERSTORMS AS PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES WILL AVERAGE AT OR ABOVE 1.8 INCHES. 00Z MODEL TRENDS SUGGEST ANY SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT SHOULD DECREASE IN COVERAGE BY THIS EVENING WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. ADDITIONAL SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE AGAIN ON THURSDAY BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE PREDOMINANT TRIGGERING MECHANISM WOULD BE CONVECTIVE TEMPERATURES BEING REACHED. LONG TERM MODELS INDICATE A CONTINUED POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY INTO NEXT WEEK AS AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH GRADUALLY SHIFTS EAST FROM THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO THE MIDDLE/LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEYS BY EARLY NEXT WEEK AND A WEAK COLD FRONT DROPS INTO THE REGION BY THIS WEEKEND. HIGHS EACH DAY WILL BE MAINLY IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 80S WITH LOWS IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. CJC && .AVIATION...18Z TAFS SITES EXPECTED TO SEE PLENTY OF WEATHER THE NEXT 24 HOURS...WITH CONVECTION INITIALLY AND THEN LOWER CIGS/FOG DEVELOPING TONIGHT. TUP AND MKL WILL HAVE THE BEST THREAT FOR THUNDER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...WITH OCCASIONAL IFR/MVFR VSBY. THIS EVENING SKIES WILL CLEAR ALLOWING FOR STRATUS AND FOG TO DEVELOP. WORST CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT JBR AND MKL WITH BORDER LINE VLIFR/LIFR CONDITIONS BY SUNRISE. HOPEFUL THAT CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO MVFR AT ALL SITES BEFORE THE END OF THIS PERIOD. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY AT 6-10 KTS OUTSIDE OF STORMS...WITH WINDS DIMINISHING OVERNIGHT. JAB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 933 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-281645- 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- 933 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AS THE POTENTIAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY 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 1153 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 TNZ003-004-020>022-271730- CARROLL TN-GIBSON TN-BENTON TN-WEAKLEY TN-HENRY TN- 1153 AM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR... NORTHERN CARROLL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... EAST CENTRAL GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN BENTON COUNTY IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE... SOUTHEASTERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE... AT 1152 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GLEASON...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUNTINGDON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PEOPLE IN NORTHERN CARROLL...EAST CENTRAL GIBSON...SOUTHWESTERN BENTON...SOUTHEASTERN WEAKLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3593 8882 3618 8876 3634 8822 3600 8821 TIME...MOT...LOC 1652Z 230DEG 27KT 3612 8855
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1213 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
TNZ003-004-020-022-271800-
GIBSON TN-BENTON TN-WEAKLEY TN-HENRY TN-
1213 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL UNTIL 100 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN GIBSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHEASTERN BENTON COUNTY IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE...
EASTERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
HENRY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST TENNESSEE...
AT 1213 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR GLEASON...OR 14
MILES WEST OF PARIS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN GIBSON...NORTHEASTERN BENTON...EASTERN WEAKLEY
AND HENRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3628 8795 3609 8880 3650 8871 3649 8806
3644 8806 3634 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1713Z 264DEG 45KT 3627 8856PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1227 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1130 AM FLASH FLOOD BROOKLAND 35.90N 90.58W
05/27/2015 CRAIGHEAD AR BROADCAST MEDIA
ROADS FLOODED IN AND AROUND BROOKLAND INCLUDING BERNIS
STREET. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF RAINFALL TOTALS MEASURED
BETWEEN 2.5 AND 3 INCHES.
&&
JDSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 1237 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 MSZ013-021-022-271830- CALHOUN MS-YALOBUSHA MS-LAFAYETTE MS- 1237 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL UNTIL 130 PM CDT FOR... NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEASTERN YALOBUSHA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... SOUTHERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... AT 1237 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR VELMA...OR NEAR WATER VALLEY...MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH. PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN CALHOUN...NORTHEASTERN YALOBUSHA AND SOUTHERN LAFAYETTE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3396 8972 3440 8971 3445 8930 3400 8935 TIME...MOT...LOC 1737Z 180DEG 19KT 3409 8956
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
126 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
ARZ008-017-271900-
RANDOLPH AR-LAWRENCE AR-
126 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL UNTIL 200 PM CDT FOR...
WESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
AT 126 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER RAVENDEN...OR 14
MILES NORTHWEST OF BLACK ROCK...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.
PEOPLE IN WESTERN RANDOLPH AND NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3623 9135 3623 9133 3624 9133 3624 9126
3633 9126 3633 9128 3637 9128 3638 9129
3639 9129 3639 9131 3644 9114 3621 9107
3609 9135
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 255DEG 6KT 3624 9130SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
233 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
ARZ008-017-272015-
RANDOLPH AR-LAWRENCE AR-
233 PM CDT WED MAY 27 2015
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
AT 232 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR ANNIEVILLE...OR 12
MILES WEST OF BLACK ROCK...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.
PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN RANDOLPH AND NORTHWESTERN LAWRENCE COUNTIES
SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3623 9135 3623 9133 3624 9133 3624 9126
3626 9126 3628 9092 3602 9110 3602 9135
TIME...MOT...LOC 1932Z 265DEG 16KT 3614 9133The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:46 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds damaged a shed near Wallerville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, May 2015
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: 582841.