A weak cold front was capable of producing an isolated severe thunderstorm across southwest Tennessee during the late afternoon of July 29th.
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 cold front was capable of producing an isolated severe thunderstorm across southwest Tennessee during the late afternoon of July 29th.
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 29, 2:05 PM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 305 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 .DISCUSSION... Currently... Low status clouds, which are typically rare for an afternoon in late July in the Mid-South, have finally begun to mix out. These low clouds have kept temperatures below average thus far today, but expect temperatures to increase to near average over the next few hours as some clearing continues. Current surface analysis depict a surface front moving through Central Arkansas while a upper level shortwave is clearly over Eastern Oklahoma using satellite imagery. Storms, some severe, have begun to fire along and ahead of the surface boundary in Arkansas and continue to slowly track towards the Mid- South. Short term... The latest run of the HRRR suggests the convective complex currently over Central Arkansas holding together long enough to impact the Mid-South. Clearing ahead of this complex will result in a very moist and unstable atmosphere supportive of strong thunderstorms. Dewpoints are currently in the mid to upper 70s and CAPE values could increase to around 4000 j/kg as storms near. The main threat with any storms today will be straight line winds. Small hail will also be a concern but with KNQA estimating a -20 degree height at 27,500 ft, large hail seems less likely. Precipitation chances will remain overnight as the upper level disturbance weakens and moves through the Mid-South. Tomorrow and Sunday will be much like today as several shortwave disturbances move through the Mid-South. Strong storms and heavy rainfall will be possible each day with temperatures near to slightly below average. Long term... Upper level heights will start to build over the Central U.S. late in the weekend. By early next, this broad upper high will extend to over the MSV Region. Southerly flow near the surface will continue to pull warm moist air into the lower levels of the atmosphere. This will result in a return to above average temperatures and increased humidity. Heat index values above 100 degrees are likely from Monday throughout the workweek. However, a high moisture content will result in possible diurnally driven thunderstorms each day. Also of note, the NHC has identified two areas of concern in the Atlantic Ocean and have given them a low and medium chance of cyclone formation in the next five days. However, these disturbances are expected to encounter a less favorable environment as they near the Americas. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFs 18Z KLZK radar showed TSRA increasing in coverage over central and northern AR. Concurrently, downstream IFR/MVFR cigs over the Midsouth were finally mixing out. Expect the TSRA over AR to progress/develop east, ahead of an upper level disturbance lifting out of eastern OK. Latest runs of the RAP and HRRR showed increased (over earlier runs) midafternoon TSRA coverage near MEM. This scenario appears sufficiently likely to warrant a TEMPO TSRA for a couple hours following low stratus mixing out. Low confidence TSRA added to the late overnight periods at MEM and JBR, with additional upper level dropping southeast out of the Ozarks. PWB && .MEG Watches/Warnings/Advisories... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 427 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 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>092-301100- 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- 427 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE MID SOUTH TODAY AND THIS EVENING. A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 40. THE PRIMARY HAZARD WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS. IN ADDITION...THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH DAY THIS WEEK...WITH THE GREATEST RAIN CHANCES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL WILL REMAIN LOW...BUT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL RETURN TO THE MID SOUTH TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. HEAT ADVISORIES MAY BECOME NECESSARY AS HEAT INDICES APPROACH 105 DEGREES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 425 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 ARZ008-009-017-018-292215- RANDOLPH AR-GREENE AR-CLAY AR-LAWRENCE AR- 425 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 515 PM CDT FOR... RANDOLPH COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... WESTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... AT 425 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER ATTICA...OR NEAR POCAHONTAS VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN RANDOLPH...NORTHWESTERN GREENE...WESTERN CLAY AND EAST CENTRAL LAWRENCE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3650 9047 3609 9061 3609 9113 3650 9108 TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 252DEG 32KT 3633 9101
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
448 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
ARZ035-036-048-292230-
ST. FRANCIS AR-CRITTENDEN AR-CROSS AR-
448 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR...
EASTERN ST. FRANCIS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
CENTRAL CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTHEASTERN CROSS COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
AT 448 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR JENNETTE...OR NEAR
PARKIN
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN EASTERN ST. FRANCIS...CENTRAL CRITTENDEN AND SOUTHEASTERN
CROSS COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3491 9082 3528 9056 3530 9017 3528 9017
3525 9014 3526 9012 3505 9029 3499 9032
3495 9038 3491 9040
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 263DEG 12KT 3518 9051SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
502 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
ARZ009-018-MOZ113-292245-
GREENE AR-CLAY AR-DUNKLIN MO-
502 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 545 PM CDT FOR...
NORTHERN GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI...
AT 502 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH
WAS LOCATED NEAR KNOBEL...OR NEAR CORNING
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN NORTHERN GREENE...CLAY AND DUNKLIN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3663 8996 3644 8996 3639 8997 3639 8996
3616 8996 3612 9074 3650 9064 3650 9022
3654 9021 3655 9019 3659 9019 3660 9016
3661 9017 3663 9015
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 264DEG 35KT 3636 9056SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
513 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
ARZ036-TNZ088-292300-
CRITTENDEN AR-SHELBY TN-
513 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 600 PM CDT FOR...
EAST CENTRAL CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SHELBY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
AT 513 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR T O FULLER STATE
PARK
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL CRITTENDEN AND SHELBY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR
THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3499 9033 3534 9007 3535 8964 3520 8964
3499 8972
TIME...MOT...LOC 2213Z 267DEG 31KT 3507 9019SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 526 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 ARZ036-MSZ001-007-008-292315- CRITTENDEN AR-TUNICA MS-TATE MS-DESOTO MS- 526 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016 ...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR... SOUTH CENTRAL CRITTENDEN COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS... NORTHERN TUNICA COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... TATE COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... DESOTO COUNTY IN NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI... AT 526 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR WALLS...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HORN LAKE VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. PEOPLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL CRITTENDEN...NORTHERN TUNICA...TATE AND DESOTO COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY. LAT...LON 3499 9033 3499 8973 3455 8971 3456 9051 TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 254DEG 18KT 3490 9014
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
527 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
TNZ052>054-091-292315-
MADISON TN-HENDERSON TN-CHESTER TN-MCNAIRY TN-
527 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
SOUTHWESTERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
CHESTER COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
MCNAIRY COUNTY IN WESTERN TENNESSEE...
AT 527 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PEA SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER JACKS CREEK...OR
NEAR HENDERSON
VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.
PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...SOUTHWESTERN HENDERSON...CHESTER AND
MCNAIRY COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.
LAT...LON 3540 8836 3537 8836 3532 8837 3529 8837
3512 8838 3506 8879 3553 8876 3566 8835
3542 8835 3542 8836 3540 8835
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 254DEG 18KT 3549 8856The Memphis radar (KNQA), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:35 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A large tree fell and broke through the roof of a home in the 700 block of Honduras road.
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, 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: 644395.