A very humid airmass contributed to a few pulse severe storms capable of producing damaging winds during the afternoon and evening hours across portions of north Mississippi and west Tennessee.
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 very humid airmass contributed to a few pulse severe storms capable of producing damaging winds during the afternoon and evening hours across portions of north Mississippi and west Tennessee.
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 Aug 5, 2:31 PM CST, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
331 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
.DISCUSSION...Surface analysis this afternoon places a weak cold
front across portions of West Central Illinois back through
Central Missouri and Eastern Kansas. Meanwhile, high pressure is
located over the Southern Plains and portions of the Lower
Mississippi Valley. Isolated to perhaps scattered showers and
thunderstorms have developed across the forecast area as
convective temperatures were reached during peak heating and
interactions with left over outflow boundaries from earlier
upstream convection have occurred. However, the main focus
continues to be the very hot and humid airmass producing dangerous
heat index values across the Mid-South where areas along and west
of the Mississippi River have been in excess of 110 degrees for
several hours and 105 to 109 degrees across the remainder of the
forecast area. As of 3 pm CDT, temperatures across the Mid-South
are in the middle 90s to approaching 100 degrees.
The very hot and humid airmass today has necessitated the
expansion of the Excessive Heat Warning to include the remainder
of the West Tennessee counties bordering the Mississippi River
until 8 pm CDT this evening. Latest short term model trends
suggest a weak cold front over Missouri will gradually begin to
drift south/southeast into the Mid South later tonight into
Saturday. This will bring better coverage for showers and
thunderstorms to the area, especially across the northern one
third of the forecast area. A few strong to perhaps severe
thunderstorms will be possible through early evening with damaging
winds as the threat for any thunderstorms that reach severe
limits.
Convective activity associated with this approaching front should
limit temperatures across the aforementioned area and have
subsequently trimmed back the Heat Advisory area to south of a
line from Jonesboro AR to Jackson TN and Iuka MS for Saturday
where heat index values are expected to be between 105-109
degrees.
This front is expected to bring slightly cooler temperatures to
the area for Sunday and Monday. Temperatures are expected to
recover somewhat for mid to late next week with the potential for
heat headlines possible again during this time frame. Isolated to
scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible especially
during the afternoon and early evening hours. Some challenges
exist with rain chances towards the end of next week as a system
in the Northern Gulf of Mexico may drift into portions of the
Lower Mississippi Valley and/or Southeast United States.
Consequently, some adjustments may need to be made to rain chances
towards the end of the forecast period if long term model trends
persist.
CJC
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAF cycle
The diurnal Cu field will continue to develop this afternoon,
with isolated showers and thunderstorms forming across the area.
Given the spatial uncertainty, only VCTS will be included for this
afternoon. Convection is expected to dissipate by 01z. Generally
VFR conditions are anticipated overnight, but patchy fog will
likely affect KMKL for a few hours around sunrise. A cold front
will move south across the region during the day tomorrow. This
front is expected to reach KJBR by mid-morning, but may not affect
the remaining forecast terminals until after 18z. Afternoon
convection is anticipated again tomorrow, mainly beyond the
current TAF period.
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
Craighead-Crittenden-Cross-Lee AR-Mississippi-Phillips-
Poinsett-St. Francis.
MO...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Dunklin-
Pemiscot.
MS...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for Coahoma-
DeSoto-Panola-Quitman-Tallahatchie-Tate-Tunica.
Heat Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 PM CDT Saturday for
Coahoma-DeSoto-Panola-Quitman-Tallahatchie-Tate-Tunica.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for Alcorn-Benton MS-
Calhoun-Chickasaw-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lee MS-Marshall-Monroe-
Pontotoc-Prentiss-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
Lauderdale-Shelby-Tipton.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for Benton TN-Carroll-
Crockett-Decatur-Gibson-Hardin-Henderson-Henry-Weakley.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Saturday for Chester-Fayette-
Hardeman-Haywood-Madison-McNairy.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 347 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 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>092-061100- 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- 347 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT DANGEROUS HEAT WILL CONTINUE TODAY WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES IN PARTS OF THE MID-SOUTH IN EXCESS OF 110 DEGREES. THUS AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS IN PLACE FOR THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTHEAST ARKANSAS...NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE. THE REST OF THE MID-SOUTH IS UNDER A HEAT ADVISORY. A FEW STRONG TO PERHAPS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING ACROSS THE MID SOUTH. DAMAGING WINDS IS THE MAIN THREAT FOR ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT REACH SEVERE LIMITS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY HEAT WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM JONESBORO ARKANSAS TO JACKSON TENNESSEE AND IUKA MISSISSIPPI WHERE A HEAT ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 105 TO 109 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 455 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016 MSZ007-010-011-052230- TUNICA MS-COAHOMA MS-QUITMAN MS- 455 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR... SOUTH CENTRAL TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... NORTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... NORTHWESTERN QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... AT 455 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS TO 50 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR DUNDEE...OR 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HELENA VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL TUNICA...NORTHEASTERN COAHOMA AND NORTHWESTERN QUITMAN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3447 9056 3451 9037 3436 9026 3425 9055 TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 346DEG 6KT 3444 9048
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
529 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
MSZ010-011-020-052300-
TALLAHATCHIE MS-COAHOMA MS-QUITMAN MS-
529 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHWESTERN TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
SOUTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
SOUTHWESTERN QUITMAN COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
AT 528 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS TO 45 MPH WAS
LOCATED NEAR DUBLIN...OR 7 MILES EAST OF CLARKSDALE
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN TALLAHATCHIE...SOUTHEASTERN COAHOMA AND
SOUTHWESTERN QUITMAN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3399 9049 3399 9063 3427 9049 3434 9030
3399 9032 3398 9045
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 348DEG 9KT 3417 9046SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
604 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
MSZ010-020-052330-
TALLAHATCHIE MS-COAHOMA MS-
604 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 630 PM CDT FOR...
WESTERN TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
SOUTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...
AT 604 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS TO 45 MPH WAS
LOCATED OVER TUTWILER...OR 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF PARCHMAN
VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN WESTERN TALLAHATCHIE AND SOUTHEASTERN COAHOMA COUNTIES
SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3370 9030 3372 9031 3374 9031 3376 9025
3377 9019 3378 9017 3381 9018 3381 9045
3398 9045 3399 9053 3402 9054 3407 9039
3407 9033 3379 9013 3372 9014 3372 9022
3374 9025 3370 9027
TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 336DEG 20KT 3399 9041SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
610 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
TNZ001>003-060000-
WEAKLEY TN-LAKE TN-OBION TN-
610 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
NORTHEASTERN LAKE COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
OBION COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
THROUGH 7 PM CDT...WINDS TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE
ADVISORY AREA... AHEAD OF THUNDERSTORMS DROPPING SOUTH OUT OF
KENTUCKY.
PEOPLE IN NORTHERN WEAKLEY...NORTHEASTERN LAKE AND OBION
COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THESE STORMS CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3650 8869 3635 8854 3624 8936 3645 8953
3648 8952 3650 8954 3650 8949 3647 8949
3646 8946 3650 8942 3651 8931
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 317DEG 29KT 3665 8900 3656 8951SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 620 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016 TNZ003-004-052345- WEAKLEY TN-HENRY TN- 620 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR... EAST CENTRAL WEAKLEY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE... SOUTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE... AT 620 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR COTTAGE GROVE...OR 10 MILES WEST OF PARIS. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. ...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL WEAKLEY AND SOUTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3628 8861 3639 8852 3632 8830 3617 8844 TIME...MOT...LOC 2320Z 306DEG 4KT 3631 8850
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
633 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
TNZ004-021-022-060015-
CARROLL TN-BENTON TN-HENRY TN-
633 PM CDT FRI AUG 5 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 715 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHEASTERN CARROLL COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
NORTHERN BENTON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
SOUTHEASTERN HENRY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
AT 633 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR VALE...OR 7 MILES
NORTHWEST OF CAMDEN
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN CARROLL...NORTHERN BENTON AND SOUTHEASTERN
HENRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3613 8792 3606 8798 3601 8822 3627 8834
3640 8803 3640 8802 3637 8800 3634 8797
3631 8795 3627 8794 3622 8795 3618 8793
3617 8792
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 320DEG 8KT 3615 8819The Paducah radar (KPAH), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:39 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines knocked down causing power outages in the small community of Dixie.
Numerous trees down near Birdsong Road and Mary Avenue due to a microburst.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 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: 650925, 650928.