A weak surface cold front and an upper level disturbance provided the focus for a few severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening hours of July 22nd. Damaging winds and flash flooding were the main threats.
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 weak surface cold front and an upper level disturbance provided the focus for a few severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and early evening hours of July 22nd. Damaging winds and flash flooding were the main threats.
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 22, 1:05 PM CST, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
205 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
.DISCUSSION...
Short term....convection underway and more scattered in coverage
thanks to descending outflow boundary along the KY/TN
border...verifying that it does not take much of a trigger to get
storms in this airmass. Short term models suggest activity
remaining isolated across the east and south through the night.
Mesoanalysis shows MLCAPE near 4000 j/kg and downdraft CAPE
values exceeding 1000 j/kg across the region...hinting to the
damaging wind threat.
As far as the heat most locations in the Excessive Heat Warning
and Heat Advisory have reached 110F or 105F respectively. The
warning will expire by 8pm...at which time the Heat Advisory
will take over through tomorrow.
Saturday and Sunday...current and anticipated precipitation
outflows should bring overall high temperatures down a degree or
two this weekend along with a slight reduction in dewpoints. This
may be enough for a few eastern counties to stay below 105F
advisory criteria...plan on letting the midnight crew assess any
cancellations. Convection will again be scattered in nature with
a few pulse strong/severe storms possible during peak heating.
Next week...models still in agreement that the upper 598DM High
Center will retrograde across the High Plains and into the
Rockies...allowing a low amplitude upper trough to set-up across
the Midwest. This will in turn drive a weak cold front down into
the Lower Ohio Valley...likely to stall and be the main focus for
daily convection. The slightly stronger upper flow will bring a
better chance for more organized storms to clip the northern
Midsouth counties...with activity remaining more popup farther
south. Have left pops near 50 percent each day...but may have to
be raised by the end of the work week. Temperatures through the
period will start off in the low to mid 90s...prompting potential
heat headlines for portions of the area...but by Thursday believe
max heat indices will fall below the 105F criteria areawide.
JAB
&&
.AVIATION...
/18z TAFs/
A loosely organized complex of thunderstorms will move south
across western TN and northeast AR this afternoon, with more
isolated air mass thunderstorms over the remainder of the Mid-
South. The western extent of this complex is uncertain, so will
continue VCTS remarks at most terminals. These thunderstorms may
result in tempo reductions in visibility/ceilings and will
produced localized, short-lived wind gusts in excess of 40 kts.
Thunderstorm chances are expected to decrease from north to south
by early evening, with generally VFR conditions anticipated
overnight. However, brief, light fog will be possible at KMKL
around sunrise.
Johnson
&&
.MEG Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
AR...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Clay-
Craighead-Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lawrence-Lee AR-
Mississippi-Phillips-Poinsett-Randolph-St. Francis.
Heat Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM CDT Saturday for
Clay-Craighead-Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lawrence-Lee AR-
Mississippi-Phillips-Poinsett-Randolph-St. Francis.
MO...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Dunklin-
Pemiscot.
Heat Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM CDT Saturday for
Dunklin-Pemiscot.
MS...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Coahoma-
DeSoto-Tunica.
Heat Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM CDT Saturday for
Coahoma-DeSoto-Tunica.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for Alcorn-Benton MS-
Calhoun-Chickasaw-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lee MS-Marshall-Monroe-
Panola-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-
Tishomingo-Union-Yalobusha.
TN...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Dyer-Lake-
Lauderdale-Obion-Shelby-Tipton.
Heat Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM CDT Saturday for
Dyer-Lake-Lauderdale-Obion-Shelby-Tipton.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for Benton TN-Carroll-
Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Fayette-Gibson-Hardeman-Hardin-
Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Madison-McNairy-Weakley.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 812 AM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-231515- 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- 812 AM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF HEAT ARE FORECAST FOR ALL OF THE MIDSOUTH TODAY. MIDDAY AND AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL RANGE FROM 105 OVER NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI...TO AROUND 112 DEGREES ALONG AND JUST WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY MIDDAY AND AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES WILL RANGE FROM 105 TO 110 DEGREES SATURDAY...AND ABOVE 100 DEGREES INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS INCREASE TOWARD THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...WITH A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. JAB
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
221 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
TNZ052-053-222000-
MADISON TN-CHESTER TN-
221 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 300 PM CDT FOR...
MADISON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN CHESTER COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
AT 220 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR JACKSON.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN MADISON AND NORTHWESTERN CHESTER COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3543 8853 3543 8898 3567 8903 3567 8902
3575 8894 3576 8872
TIME...MOT...LOC 1920Z 336DEG 19KT 3565 8879
JOHNSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
311 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
TNZ053>055-091-092-222100-
HARDIN TN-DECATUR TN-HENDERSON TN-CHESTER TN-MCNAIRY TN-
311 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHERN HARDIN COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
DECATUR COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
SOUTHEASTERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
EAST CENTRAL CHESTER COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
NORTHEASTERN MCNAIRY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
AT 310 PM CDT...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
FROM NEAR DECATURVILLE TO 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF REAGAN.
HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
PEOPLE IN NORTHERN HARDIN...DECATUR...SOUTHEASTERN HENDERSON...EAST
CENTRAL CHESTER AND NORTHEASTERN MCNAIRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS
STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3539 8798 3539 8803 3534 8801 3533 8802
3527 8848 3560 8850 3572 8804 3568 8802
3562 8804 3552 8797 3548 8799 3547 8802
3545 8804 3542 8803 3541 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 2010Z 334DEG 11KT 3558 8802 3544 8841
JOHNSONSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 319 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016 TNZ050>052-222100- MADISON TN-HAYWOOD TN-CROCKETT TN- 319 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR... SOUTHWESTERN MADISON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE... EASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN CROCKETT COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE... AT 318 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR BELLE EAGLE...OR 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF BROWNSVILLE. HEAVY RAINFALL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN SOUTHWESTERN MADISON...EASTERN HAYWOOD AND SOUTHWESTERN CROCKETT COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3579 8929 3578 8910 3546 8889 3548 8932 TIME...MOT...LOC 2018Z 351DEG 9KT 3571 8919 JOHNSON
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
404 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 PM FLASH FLOOD 6 NNE LEXINGTON 35.73N 88.35W
07/22/2016 HENDERSON TN EMERGENCY MNGR
STANFILL ROAD WAS COMPLETELY WASHED OUT DUE TO FLASH
FLOODING.
&&
AJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
415 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM TSTM WND DMG LEXINGTON 35.65N 88.39W
07/22/2016 HENDERSON TN EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW LARGE TREES DOWN ON HOUSTON ROAD AND ROCK SPRING
ROADS AROUND THE LEXINGTON AREA.
&&
AJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
417 PM CDT FRI JUL 22 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 PM TSTM WND DMG LEXINGTON 35.65N 88.39W
07/22/2016 HENDERSON TN EMERGENCY MNGR
A FEW LARGE TREES DOWN ON HOUSTON ROAD AND ROCK SPRING
ROADS AROUND THE LEXINGTON AREA.
&&
AJCThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:08 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Large tree down between Plantersville and Nettleton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, July 2016
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: 644330.