Abnormally dry weather continued during the month of November and fueled the spread of at least moderate (D2) drought conditions over most portions of the Mid-South. A semi-permanent upper ridge of high pressure resulted in little rainfall which continued the drought conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Abnormally dry weather continued during the month of November and fueled the spread of at least moderate (D2) drought conditions over most portions of the Mid-South. A semi-permanent upper ridge of high pressure resulted in little rainfall which continued the drought conditions. Dry conditions negatively impacted pastures, triggering more feeding of hay, and causing concern for hay shortages for the winter months. The drought caused river and lake levels to be at low levels.
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 Nov 15, 5:40 AM CST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 540 AM CST Tue Nov 15 2016 .DISCUSSION... Updated for aviation discussion && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 257 AM CST Tue Nov 15 2016/ Skies are partly cloudy across the forecast area early this morning with temperatures ranging from the mid 40s to mid 50s. A weak cold front is moving across eastern Arkansas at this time. Some scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are moving across portions of west Tennessee and north Mississippi. As the cold front moves through the remainder of the forecast area and weakens the threat of rain will end later this morning. The air behind the cold front is not much cooler so temperatures today will remain above normal with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s. High pressure will build into the region tonight bringing a return of dry weather. Temperatures will remain slightly above normal with lows Wednesday morning from the lower 40s to around 50 degrees. Dry and warm weather will continue for Wednesday and Thursday as well. Temperatures will approach 80 degrees on Thursday. By Friday, a stronger cold front will approach the region and move through the forecast area Friday night. Thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of the front and move through the region Friday and Friday night. By Saturday morning, the cold front will be east of the region. Much cool and drier air will move into the forecast area on Saturday. Temperatures will drop to below normal levels with highs on Saturday in the 50s. The cooler and drier weather will continue for Sunday and Monday as well. ARS && .AVIATION... A cold front will move through the region this morning. Showers and a few thunderstorms in advance of the front will impact mainly KTUP before 15/15z. Skies will clear through the day behind the cold front as light winds veer northwesterly. Overnight expect clear skies and light/calm winds SJM && MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN 330 AM CST TUE NOV 15 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>092-161130- 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- 330 AM CST TUE NOV 15 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST ARKANSAS... THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL...NORTH MISSISSIPPI...AND WEST TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY INCREASING WINDS...DRY VEGETATION AND MARGINALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY MAY LEAD TO INCREASED WILDFIRE DANGER ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
Severe (D2) drought conditions developed across the county.
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, November 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: 667099, 667100, 667101, 667102, 667103, 667104, 667105, 667106, 667107, 667108, 667109, 667110.