A strong cold front produced a line of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and overnight hours of April 26th. Heavy rains from the storms also produced flash flooding.
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 strong cold front produced a line of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and overnight hours of April 26th. Heavy rains from the storms also produced flash flooding.
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 Apr 26, 2:15 PM CST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
315 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017
.DISCUSSION...
Widespread showers and thunderstorms continue from the Arklatex
area into southeast MO. This line of storms appears to be located
along a pre-frontal trough ahead of a weak cold front that will
move east across the Mid-South overnight. Instability is modest in
the warm sector, with MLCAPE values on the order of 1000 J/kg
with effective layer shear of 45-55 kts. However, a strong capping
inversion over the area has prevented convection from developing
downstream of the current convective activity. This cap will
weaken this evening and, combined with strong frontal forcing,
will aid in sustaining the QLCS as it moves across the Mississippi
River before storms gradually weaken during the the mid/late
evening hours as they continue east. A few embedded supercells
will pose the most significant severe weather risk, with large
hail and damaging winds being the primary hazards. The linear mode
of this convection will limit the tornado potential, but the
possibility still warrants mention.
Average QPF amounts for tonight are near 1 inch across much of
the Mid-South, but higher amounts will be possible in northeast
AR where the deep-layer shear vector will be nearly parallel to
the surface boundary, promoting strong, training cells. Rain will
move east of the area late tonight, with generally dry weather
anticipated Thursday and Thursday night across much of the CWA.
Thunderstorms will be possible across portions of the Mid-South on
Friday, mainly during the evening and overnight period. A surface
low is progged to develop over MO, with a warm front extending
east into the Tennessee Valley. Surface temperatures in the 80s
will result in strong instability but a strong cap will limit the
thunderstorm potential through the afternoon hours. However, a few
storms could break through the cap, so low PoPs were continued.
Rain chances increase Friday night as the cap weakens and storms
develop along the warm front. Strong shear profiles may result in
strong to severe thunderstorms Friday night. In addition, locally
heavy rainfall will be possible, mainly north of I-40.
Strong to severe storms remain in the forecast for the Mid-South
for the weekend, especially Saturday night and Sunday. There may
be a lull during the morning and early afternoon hours on
Saturday, but a strong shortwave trough will approach the area and
will help precondition the atmosphere for intense convection later
in the day. Deep layer shear and instability will be impressive
downstream of this upper-level cyclone, supporting a potential
for all modes of severe weather. Again, heavy rainfall will be
possible across the area. QPF amounts from 7 PM Friday to 7 PM
Sunday are generally in the 2-5" range across the Mid-South, with
higher amounts of 4-6" over northeast AR and the MO Bootheel. Of
course, higher amounts will be possible in areas where the
stronger storms train, but that will rely on mesoscale features
that aren't yet apparent. Flash flooding will certainly be a
concern over the weekend and a watch may be needed as early as
tomorrow. In addition, some Mid-South rivers are likely to move
into flood.
Dry weather is anticipated early next week on Monday and Tuesday
in the wake of the departing trough. Temperatures will take a hit
as well behind the cold front. Rain chances return by the middle
of next week.
Johnson
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs
Initially a mix of MVFR and IFR ceilings to begin the period.
Short term models are indicating that a line of thunderstorms will
move through all sites this evening. Tempo groups were added to
each site for approximate period of heaviest rain and thunderstorms.
Strong gusty winds from the west will also accompany the line of
thunderstorms as it moves through. There is some concern that
gusty non thunderstorm winds will develop behind the front, but
confidence is low at this time.
Confidence is low at the moment with regards to ceilings behind
the frontal passage. A couple models are showing IFR and possibly
LIFR ceilings through 27/12Z, with at least one showing VFR. Went
ahead and split the difference with prevailing MVFR/IFR ceilings
through early morning. Winds are expected to shift to the west by
27/12Z, with VFR conds returning to all sites by 27/18Z tomorrow.
AC3
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Cross-Lee AR-
Phillips-St. Francis.
MO...None.
MS...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Coahoma-Quitman-
Tallahatchie-Tunica.
TN...None.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Memphis TN 342 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115- MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-271100- 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- 342 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms across areas along and west of the Mississippi River and a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over the remainder of West Tennessee and Northeast Mississippi. The time of greatest threat for severe thunderstorms will be late this afternoon into early evening west of the Mississippi River and during the early to mid-evening hours to the east. The primary severe weather hazards will be large hail and damaging winds. An isolated tornado will be possible through early evening. In addition, localized heavy rainfall may result in flash flooding. A Wind Advisory has been issued for portions of east-central Arkansas and northwest Mississippi through 7 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Additional severe thunderstorms are expected Friday night with an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms north of I-40. Severe weather will be possible across most of the Mid-South, but will be most likely north of Interstate 40. Additional severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are possible into the upcoming weekend. This heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding and river flooding as rainfall totals may reach 3-6 inches with localized higher amounts possible, especially over northeast Arkansas. Please continue to monitor the latest forecasts for updates regarding this severe weather potential into the upcoming weekend. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will likely be needed late this afternoon into tonight and again for Friday into the weekend in support of severe weather operations.
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 3 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Several businesses and the courthouse was flooded. Parts of West Main Street underwater.
Power lines down.
Several reports of roads underwater in the western portion of Pocahontas.
Tree down on Highway 311.
Trees and power lines down. Damage to one home.
Trees and power lines down on Highway 463.
Flooding on County roads 273 and 280 near the small town of Lynn.
Dime to penny size hail in Lake City.
Lightning is suspected to have caused a house fire near Oak Grove Heights north of Paragould. The house was destroyed by the fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 2017
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: 692493, 692494, 692496, 692500, 692504, 692507, 692508, 692511, 692515, 692516, 695476.