Strong surface low pressure tracked from the Plains into the Mississippi River Valley while a strong cold front pushed into the Mid-South on December 23, 2015. A very moist and unstable airmass moved into the area as a warm front lifted north through the region during the early morning hours.
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.
Strong surface low pressure tracked from the Plains into the Mississippi River Valley while a strong cold front pushed into the Mid-South on December 23, 2015. A very moist and unstable airmass moved into the area as a warm front lifted north through the region during the early morning hours. A potent upper level disturbance help to trigger thunderstorms along and in advance of the approaching cold front. The necessary ingredients were in place for storm to intensify to severe limits. There were several reports of large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding across West Tennessee during the late afternoon. A violent long track tornado moved from into parts of Hardeman and McNairy Counties from North Mississippi during the early evening.
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 Dec 23, 3:23 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 323 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015 .DISCUSSION... CURRENTLY...A LINEAR CLUSTER OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS MOVING ACROSS E AR AND MO BOOTHEEL APPROACHING THE MS RVR. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS PRECEDE THE CLUSTER OVER WEST TENNESSEE. EXPECT THE THUNDERSTORMS TO CONTINUE PROGRESSING EASTWARD THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS CONTINUE FROM CLUSTER OF STORMS WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF TORNADOES CONTINUING ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-40 THROUGH EARLY EVENING. LATER IN THE EVENING...SHORTWAVE ENERGY WILL SHIFT FARTHER TO THE NORTH AND DECREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA BY LATE TONIGHT. THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL STALL JUST S AND E OF THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY THEN MOVE NORTHWARD AS A STRONG WARM FRONT ON CHRISTMAS DAY. HIGH CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY FROM THE STRONG DYNAMIC LIFT AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMPLE MOISTURE. MARGINAL INSTABILITY WILL BE PRESENT ON CHRISTMAS BUT BE MORE ELEVATED NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL OCCUR. THE UNSEASONABLY WARM PATTERN WILL CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND. SATURDAY WILL BE MAINLY DRY AS THE WARM FRONT WILL BE WELL TO THE NORTH. A STRONG UPPER LOW WILL APPROACH BY LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. MEANWHILE...A COLD FRONT WILL TRY TO ADVANCE SOUTHWARD INTO THE NORTH PART OF THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT EITHER A COLD FRONT OR OCCLUDED FRONT FROM THE WEST TO MOVE QUICKLY INTO THE AREA LATE SUNDAY OR MONDAY DEPENDING WHICH MODEL SOLUTION IS CORRECT. A POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY. A MUCH COOLER AND DRIER AIRMASS WILL ADVECT INTO THE AREA TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. EXPECT THE MORE SEASONABLY COOLER AIRMASS TO REMAIN IN PLACE BEYOND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. SWC && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS...POSSIBLY SEVERE...SPREADING OVER THE AREA IS THE CONCERN FOR THIS FORECAST CYCLE. AS THE FRONT STALLS ACROSS NORTH MISSISSIPPI LATER TONIGHT THE RISK FOR VICINITY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE AT TUP. BELLES && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. MO...NONE. MS...NONE. TN...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 704 AM CST WED DEC 23 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>092-241515- 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- 704 AM CST WED DEC 23 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID SOUTH TODAY INTO TONIGHT. TORNADOES...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME STRONG ALONG WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS THAT REACH SEVERE LIMITS. THE TIME OF GREATEST RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE BETWEEN 11 AM CST AND 11 PM CST. RESIDENTS OF THE MID SOUTH AND TRAVELERS COMING THROUGH THE AREA FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ARE STRONGLY URGED TO REMAIN WEATHER AWARE THROUGH TONIGHT AND BE PREPARED TO QUICKLY TAKE APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IF SEVERE WEATHER THREATENS YOUR LOCATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ADDITIONAL STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MID SOUTH ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND POSSIBLY AGAIN BETWEEN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE MID SOUTH ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF SEVERE WEATHER OPERATIONS. CJC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
203 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0158 PM TSTM WND GST 3 W MANILA 35.88N 90.22W
12/23/2015 E65 MPH MISSISSIPPI AR TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
204 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0158 PM HAIL KENNETT 36.24N 90.05W
12/23/2015 E1.00 INCH DUNKLIN MO PUBLIC
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
207 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0202 PM HAIL FAIR OAKS 35.23N 91.03W
12/23/2015 E1.75 INCH CROSS AR PUBLIC
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
225 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0215 PM TSTM WND GST 9 NE HAYTI 36.32N 89.63W
12/23/2015 E60 MPH PEMISCOT MO PUBLIC
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
247 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0243 PM HAIL LAKE CITY 35.82N 90.45W
12/23/2015 E1.75 INCH CRAIGHEAD AR PUBLIC
&&
JEBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
309 PM CST WED DEC 23 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0309 PM TORNADO 5 S CLARKSDALE 34.13N 90.58W
12/23/2015 COAHOMA MS STORM CHASER
FROM VIDEO
&&
JEBThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:35 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 3 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees along Highway 78 between Bogota and Dyersburg.
Quarter size hail fell on the east side of Dyersburg.
Ping pong size hail fell in Mason.
Straight line winds tore the roof off the Kenton City Shop. Trees were knocked down in Kenton and two houses suffered siding damage.
Straight line winds resulted in some minor roof damage across Gibson County.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Kenton. Several city streets were flooded.
Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding across parts of Weakley County. A few roads were flooded.
Straight line winds knocked down several trees in Weakley County.
Straight line winds ripped a roof of a house on Dickerson Road in Eastern Haywood County. Power lines were also knocked down.
This tornado occurred in Western Madison County. The tornado damaged several storage sheds and caused roof damage to a home.
Straight line winds damaged a house at the intersection of Leighton County Line Road and Highway 138.
The tornado crossed from Tippah County into Hardeman County. As it crossed over the state line it destroyed a large metal agricultural building. A couple of houses and businesses were also damaged. The tornado then moved into McNairy County.
The tornado moved into McNairy County from Hardeman County and began weakening. Around 15 homes were damaged or destroyed south of Selmer. The last observed damage was near Highway 45 on the southeast edge of Selmer.
Straight line winds knocked down some trees across Northern Hardin County. One tree fell on a porch and a car on Mt. Zion Road.
Straight line winds knocked down trees at Big Sandy.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2015Warnings in Tennessee, December 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: 610123, 610119, 610121, 610120, 610197, 610124, 610198, 610200, 610199, 610196, 612000, 610195, 610239, 611942, 610125, 610122.