Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, March 31, 2016

Name: Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, March 31, 2016
Start: 2016-03-31T11:50
End: 2016-03-31T15:31
Location: Tennessee

March 31, 2016 · NWS MEG · 11 events in 7 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $25,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.

In the wake of a departing mesoscale convective system the airmass quickly destabilized across the Mid-South by the late morning hours on March 31, 2016. Meanwhile another potent upper level disturbance moved through the region. As a result numerous showers and thunderstorms erupted across the Mid-South in advance of an approaching cold front. Numerous severe storms occurred with damaging winds and large hail. A weak tornado also occurred in Hardin County. Storms eventually pushed east as the cold front moved through the region.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mar 31, 11:27 AM CST, 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 11:27 AM CST, 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1227 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

.UPDATE...AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1012 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016/

SKIES ARE PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA
THIS MORNING WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70 DEGREES.
SOME THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER CENTRAL ARKANSAS THIS
MORNING. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE APPROACHED SEVERE LIMITS
AND AS THESE STORMS MOVE INTO THE FORECAST AREA...LARGE HAIL WILL
BE THE MAIN THREAT. WILL UPDATE FORECAST TO INCLUDE SEVERE WORDING
FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

ARS

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 403 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016/

THERE ARE TWO MAIN FOCUSES WITH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE:

1) THE ONGOING HEAVY RAIN THREAT IN THE NEAR-TERM...WITH MANY
LOCATIONS HAVING ALREADY PICKED UP 3-5 INCHES OF RAINFALL. FLASH
FLOODING WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH A
RENEWED THREAT FOR LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING THURSDAY
AFTERNOON/EVENING.

2) SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE MID-
SOUTH...HEADLINED BY THE THREAT OF VERY LARGE HAIL...GREATER THAN
2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...POSSIBLE. TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WILL ALSO
BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY SUSTAINED SUPERCELL/BOWING LINE SEGMENT.

CURRENTLY...A LARGE SHIELD OF HEAVY RAINFALL WITH EMBEDDED
CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS WAS SLOWLY PROPAGATING EAST EARLY THIS
MORNING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE GENERALLY BEEN IN THE 2-4 INCH
RANGE WITH LOCALIZED AREAS HAVING PICKED UP NEARLY 6 INCHES. THIS
CONVECTIVE COMPLEX WAS BEING FED BY A VERY STRONG LOW LEVEL
JET...ON THE ORDER OF 40 TO 50 KTS WITH UPPER LEVEL LIFT PROVIDED
BY A SUBTROPICAL IMPULSE/ASSOCIATED JET MAX ALOFT. A TRAILING
PACIFIC FRONT/DRYLINE FEATURE WAS LOCATED WELL WEST OF THE MID-
SOUTH MOVING INTO PORTIONS OF EASTERN OK/WESTERN AR.

IN THE NEAR-TERM...EXPECT THIS COMPLEX TO CONTINUE TO SLOWLY PUSH
EAST. THE SOUTHWESTERLY ORIENTATION OF THE LOW LEVEL JET WILL CONTINUE
TO SUPPLY BUOYANT INFLOW INTO THE COMPLEX...WHICH IS CONFIRMED BY
THE PRESENCE OF LIGHTNING IN THE BACK-BUILDING REGION OF THE
PRECIP MASS. HI-RES SOLUTIONS ARE UNANIMOUSLY IN AGREEMENT THAT
THE COMPLEX WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT EAST...ALLOWING RAPID
DESTABILIZATION TO OCCUR IN ITS WAKE. A RESERVOIR OF VERY MOIST
AIR WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE ARKLATEX WHICH SHOULD QUICKLY ADVECT
NORTH INTO E AR/NW MS/W TN. DEWPOINTS SHOULD QUICKLY INCREASE INTO
THE MID 60S...PERHAPS UPPER 60S IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI...BY NOON.
A PLUME OF RELATIVELY STEEP MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL OVERSPREAD
THE MID-SOUTH ATOP A VERY MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER. A VOLATILE
THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE IS SHOWN IN FORECAST SOUNDINGS WITH SBCAPE
NEARING 3000 J/KG. THE DEEP LAYER KINEMATIC ENVIRONMENT IS
IMPRESSIVE AS WELL WITH EFFECTIVE SHEAR VALUES BETWEEN 50 AND 60
KTS DEPICTED...MORE THAN SUPPORTIVE OF ROBUST SUPERCELLS. FOR THE
AFOREMENTIONED REASONS...VERY LARGE AND DAMAGING HAIL IS LIKELY
WITH ANY SUSTAINED SUPERCELL...WITH HAIL GREATER THAN 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER VERY POSSIBLE. CONCERNING THE TORNADO THREAT...THERE
CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE SEVERAL LIMITING FACTORS. THE LACK OF A
STRONGER SURFACE WAVE WILL LIKELY ALLOW WINDS TO VEER IN THE
LOWEST LEVELS...HOWEVER THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN MODEL
GUIDANCE HERE. THE 4 KM NAM IS MOST CONCERNING AS IT MAINTAINS A
SOUTHERLY COMPONENT TO THE LOW LEVEL FLOW...WHICH IS REFLECTED IN
THE 0-1 KM SRH FIELD...MAINTAINING GREATER THAN 200 M2/S2 OF 0-1
KM SRH. IF THE ENVIRONMENT DEPICTED IN THE 4 KM NAM COMES TO
FRUITION...A SIGNIFICANT TORNADO THREAT COULD EVOLVE EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER...ESPECIALLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH
MISSISSIPPI. GLOBAL MODELS AND THE HRRR SUGGEST THAT A VEERING OF
THE LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL OCCUR...PERHAPS FAVORING BOWING LINE
SEGMENTS CAPABLE OF DAMAGING HAIL...WINDS...AND A COUPLE
TORNADOES. THIS WILL NEED TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED THROUGH THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS.

BY THURSDAY NIGHT...THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL SLOWLY PROGRESS
THROUGH THE MID-SOUTH...ENDING THE SEVERE THREAT. THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT MUCH QUIETER WEATHER IS IN STORE FOR THE MID-SOUTH THROUGH
THE WEEKEND WITH TEMPERATURES NEARING SEASONAL AVERAGES UNDER
MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES.

IN THE LONG-TERM...THE WEATHER CONTINUES TO LOOK FAIRLY BENIGN.
THE GFS DEPICTS A GRADUAL WARMUP WITH ANOTHER FRONTAL PASSAGE
SOMETIME LATE NEXT WEEK...BUT TIMING DIFFERS BETWEEN GLOBAL
MODELS.

TVT

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAF SET

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE LIKELY COME TO AN END AT JBR FOR
THIS TAF CYCLE. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH WINDS SHIFTING
FROM THE NORTHWEST 10-20KT.

STORMS ARE STILL EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING AT
MKL...MEM AND TUP. LOW CLOUDS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO DISSIPATE TODAY.
SOUTH WINDS CONTINUE AHEAD OF THE THUNDERSTORMS...GENERALLY
10-15KT WITH GUSTS TO 25KT. PREVAILING CIGS WILL BE MVFR.

FOR NOW IT LOOKS LIKE MEM WILL HAVE THE GREATEST THREAT OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM 20-22Z...MKL FROM 21-24Z...AND TUP 22-02Z.
TEMPORARY IFR CIGS/VSBYS CAN BE EXPECTED IN STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS.

SKIES WILL SCATTER OUT AGAIN OVERNIGHT WITH VFR CONDITIONS AND A
RETURN TO NORTHWEST WINDS. VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW.

30

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CRITTENDEN-LEE
     AR-PHILLIPS-ST. FRANCIS.

MO...NONE.
MS...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR ALCORN-BENTON
     MS-CALHOUN-CHICKASAW-COAHOMA-DESOTO-ITAWAMBA-LAFAYETTE-LEE
     MS-MARSHALL-MONROE-PANOLA-PONTOTOC-PRENTISS-QUITMAN-
     TALLAHATCHIE-TATE-TIPPAH-TISHOMINGO-TUNICA-UNION-YALOBUSHA.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR CHESTER-
     DECATUR-FAYETTE-HARDEMAN-HARDIN-HAYWOOD-HENDERSON-MADISON-
     MCNAIRY-SHELBY-TIPTON.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 3:58 AM CST, 7 hours 52 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
458 AM CDT THU MAR 31 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>092-011200-
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-
458 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS...
THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP DURING THE EARLY
AFTERNOON HOURS ON THURSDAY...LASTING THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING.
LARGE AND DAMAGING HAIL...UP TO BASEBALL SIZE...IS POSSIBLE WITH
THE MOST INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS. TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL
ALSO BE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS
ACROSS PORTIONS OF WEST TENNESSEE AND NORTH MISSISSIPPI. LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL COULD OCCUR WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM AND A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THRUGH THURSDAY EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED ON THURSDAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 9:48 AM CST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1048 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ARZ009-018-026-028-MOZ113-311630-
CRAIGHEAD AR-MISSISSIPPI AR-GREENE AR-CLAY AR-DUNKLIN MO-
1048 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1130 AM CDT FOR...

NORTHEASTERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTHEASTERN CLAY COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI...

AT 1047 AM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING DIME SIZE HAIL AND
WINDS TO 50 MPH WAS LOCATED OVER OAK GROVE HEIGHTS...OR NEAR
PARAGOULD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN NORTHEASTERN CRAIGHEAD...NORTHWESTERN MISSISSIPPI...CENTRAL
GREENE...SOUTHEASTERN CLAY AND DUNKLIN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS
STORM CLOSELY.

LAT...LON 3651 8996 3639 8997 3639 8996 3601 8996
      3597 9062 3623 9060
TIME...MOT...LOC 1547Z 239DEG 49KT 3615 9049

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 9:57 AM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1057 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

ARZ018-026-028-MOZ113-311630-
CRAIGHEAD AR-MISSISSIPPI AR-GREENE AR-DUNKLIN MO-
1057 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1130 AM CDT FOR...

EASTERN CRAIGHEAD COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTH CENTRAL GREENE COUNTY IN EASTERN ARKANSAS...
SOUTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI...

AT 1056 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING DIME SIZE
HAIL AND WINDS TO 50 MPH WAS LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
NEAR CARDWELL TO NEAR CARAWAY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN EASTERN CRAIGHEAD...NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI...SOUTH CENTRAL
GREENE AND SOUTHEASTERN DUNKLIN COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM
CLOSELY.

LAT...LON 3600 8996 3600 8981 3580 8978 3575 8982
      3575 8989 3576 8991 3574 8995 3569 9029
      3570 9029 3571 9049 3597 9046 3602 8996
TIME...MOT...LOC 1556Z 245DEG 42KT 3600 9037 3572 9042

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 10:43 AM CST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1143 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

TNZ001-002-019-020-311730-
LAKE TN-DYER TN-GIBSON TN-OBION TN-
1143 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1230 PM CDT FOR...

LAKE COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
DYER COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN GIBSON COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
OBION COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...

AT 1142 AM CDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING PEA SIZE
HAIL OR LARGER AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH AND DIME SIZE HAIL WAS LOCATED
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR PORTAGEVILLE TO CARUTHERSVILLE TO
NEAR HELOISE... AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN LAKE...DYER...NORTHWESTERN GIBSON AND OBION COUNTIES SHOULD
MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

LAT...LON 3650 8895 3620 8898 3599 8905 3598 8917
      3600 8919 3598 8920 3593 8967 3597 8972
      3600 8973 3603 8969 3609 8968 3614 8959
      3625 8969 3625 8953 3633 8962 3635 8952
      3644 8954 3648 8952 3646 8946 3650 8941
TIME...MOT...LOC 1642Z 264DEG 42KT 3638 8961 3616 8964 3600 8969

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 11:27 AM CST, 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1227 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

TNZ048-049-088-311815-
TIPTON TN-LAUDERDALE TN-SHELBY TN-
1227 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 115 PM CDT FOR...

TIPTON COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
SOUTHWESTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHEASTERN SHELBY COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...

AT 1226 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING DIME SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT LEAST 40 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR EARLE...MOVING
EAST AT 55 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN TIPTON...SOUTHWESTERN LAUDERDALE AND NORTHEASTERN SHELBY
COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM CLOSELY.

LAT...LON 3547 9012 3548 9011 3547 9007 3539 9005
      3540 9004 3546 9002 3551 9005 3555 9003
      3556 8999 3551 8992 3555 8991 3557 8995
      3561 8962 3526 8965 3526 9012 3530 9013
      3538 9007 3541 9014 3544 9014
TIME...MOT...LOC 1726Z 259DEG 47KT 3536 9045

Local storm report, Mar 31, 11:46 AM CST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1246 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1205 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WYNNE                   35.23N 90.79W
03/31/2016                   CROSS              AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DOZENS OF TREES AND POWER POLES DOWN...MOSTLY ON THE
            NORTH SIDE OF TOWN.

&&

JDS

Special weather statement, Mar 31, 11:47 AM CST, 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1247 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

MOZ115-TNZ001>003-019-311815-
PEMISCOT MO-WEAKLEY TN-LAKE TN-DYER TN-OBION TN-
1247 PM CDT THU MAR 31 2016

...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS ISSUED A SIGNIFICANT
WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 115 PM CDT FOR...

EAST CENTRAL PEMISCOT COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI...
NORTHWESTERN WEAKLEY COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
LAKE COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
NORTHWESTERN DYER COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...
OBION COUNTY IN WEST TENNESSEE...

AT 1246 PM CDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL OR
LARGER AND WINDS AT 50 MPH WAS LOCATED NEAR CARUTHERSVILLE... MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

${REPORT2}

PEOPLE IN EAST CENTRAL PEMISCOT...NORTHWESTERN WEAKLEY...LAKE...
NORTHWESTERN DYER AND OBION COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THIS STORM
CLOSELY.

LAT...LON 3650 8891 3648 8881 3605 8964 3621 8973
      3651 8926
TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 236DEG 68KT 3618 8960

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 31, 11:50 AM CST to 11:55 AM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, Halls
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.870, -89.400

Quarter size hail fell north of Halls.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tipton

When: March 31, 12:05 PM CST to 12:20 PM CST
Where: Tipton County, Drummonds to Atoka
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 35.470, -89.920

Straight line winds knocked down trees in Drummonds and power poles in Atoka.

Hail, Shelby

When: March 31, 12:13 PM CST to 12:18 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, Millington
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.350, -89.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: March 31, 12:16 PM CST to 12:21 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 0.77 mi E of Kerrville to 1.72 mi E of Kerrville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.379, -89.856

Straight line winds knocked down trees along Mudville Road.

Hail, Tipton

When: March 31, 12:25 PM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Tipton County, Atoka to 2 mi SE of Brighton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.430, -89.780

Penny to Quarter size hail fell around Atoka and Brighton in Southern Tipton County.

Hail, Madison

When: March 31, 1:50 PM CST to 1:55 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Jackson to 2.23 mi WSW of Gilmore
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.620, -88.830

Nickel to quarter size hail fell in Jackson from near Interstate 40 to downtown.

Hail, Chester

When: March 31, 2:15 PM CST to 2:20 PM CST
Where: Chester County, 2 mi E of Henderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.430, -88.635

Quarter size hail fell east of Henderson.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chester

When: March 31, 2:25 PM CST to 2:30 PM CST
Where: Chester County, 1.21 mi SW of Roby to 0.93 mi WSW of Center Pt
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.458, -88.435

Straight line winds knocked down trees and caused structural damage in Roby.

Hail, Henderson

When: March 31, 2:29 PM CST to 2:34 PM CST
Where: Henderson County, Reagan
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.520, -88.350

Hail, Hardin

When: March 31, 3:25 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Hardin County, Savannah
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.230, -88.250

Tornado, Hardin

When: March 31, 3:28 PM CST to 3:31 PM CST
Where: Hardin County, 1.84 mi NNW of Counce to 1.61 mi SSW of Pyburns
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.46 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.076, -88.289

A weak tornado caused mainly roof damage to a home and damage to a recreational vehicle. Trees were knocked down along with a power pole. Peak estimated wind was 90 mph.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2016 Warnings in Tennessee, March 2016

Sources

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: 625249, 625250, 625252, 625253, 625251, 625263, 625267, 625269, 625270, 625278, 625282.