Showers and thunderstorms developed in a association with a low pressure system moving through the area. Some of these storms produced damaging winds, hail, and 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 JAN wrote it up.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in a association with a low pressure system moving through the area. Some of these storms produced damaging winds, hail, and 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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 12, 9:25 AM CST, 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 1025 AM CDT Fri May 12 2017 .UPDATE... Updated for morning discussion. && .DISCUSSION... Thinking is generally the same from earlier this morning concerning convective evolution for later today. The current MCS has maintained a fairly weak status as we go through the typical diurnal minimum in the mid/late morning, but convection is still vigorous enough to warrant a few SPS. There is somewhat of an uptick in convective growth with some destabilization now ahead of it, but it looks like any renewed severe threat with it will be primarily east of the forecast area, although southern Forrest County could be impacted by a severe storm in the next 45 min or so. The primary concern for severe weather potential will be redevelopment of storms later this afternoon and into the early evening as the upper low moves into the ArkLaMiss region. At this time, we have opted to maintain the marginal threat area due to uncertainties with how much the airmass will reenergize in the wake of the morning MCS, but given the strong ascent noted on latest water vapor imagery associated with the approaching cold core, this may be enough to overcome what will initially be a harsh environment for storms, especially for locations along/north of the I-20 corridor per latest CAM guidance. In addition the colder air aloft will lead to steeper lapse rates and greater instability with most unstable CAPE perhaps exceeding 2000 j/kg, and this combined with strong deep layer shear will support a few severe storms mainly capable of hail and straight- line wind gusts. We are going to send up a special 18z RAOB to further assess the airmass and will continue to monitor latest analyses. /EC/ Prior discussion below: Today through Saturday: Cold core low was centered over OK early this morning on its way into AR later this morning and eventually across the forecast area this afternoon and tonight. Despite the loss of daytime heating, warm advection showers and thunderstorms continue in advance of the cold core over the ArkLaMiss region. Latest CAM guidance are all similar with the scenario today. Convective band over LA looks to continue moving east-southeast crossing southern portions this morning while convection to the north diminishes. As the cold core moves into far northwest portions coincidental with max heating, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop and increase as they move southeast during the afternoon. Isolated severe storms look possible over the southeast half where the atmosphere will be most unstable. SBCAPEs around 3000 J/kg along with 40 knots of deep layered shear should be sufficient for some storms to produce large hail and damaging wind gusts. This activity should linger into the evening over eastern sections, but showers will continue overnight as the cold core moves over. Showers look to continue through the morning Saturday, but should end by noon with clouds clearing from the northwest during the afternoon. Saturday night through Thursday: Ridging at the surface and aloft will begin a period of dry and warmer conditions through a good portion of this time period. Surface dewpoints in the 40s and 50s along with a building inversion above the boundary layer will support deep mixing and efficient heating each afternoon through Tuesday. These conditions will lead to maximums around 90, especially in the east where dewpoints will be lowest. The mid level ridge will slip to the east Tuesday as a series of waves carve out a longwave trough over the western half of the nation. As mid level southwest flow begins to set up Tuesday night into Wednesday, the introduction of moisture aloft will help the atmosphere destabilize enough for some isolated mainly afternoon and evening convection over western sections Wednesday and Thursday./26/ && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF discussion: Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will impact most TAF sites for the majority of the daytime. Intermittent MVFR/IFR conditions can be expected as the heavier storms move through. All of this is occurring ahead of a cold front that will begin moving in from the north during the afternoon and evening. With the frontal passage, winds will switch to the northwest with lingering showers and low ceilings remaining through the end of the period./26/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 80 62 77 56 / 51 49 17 2 Meridian 77 61 78 54 / 75 57 19 2 Vicksburg 81 61 77 54 / 38 35 13 1 Hattiesburg 80 63 80 59 / 75 62 18 2 Natchez 82 63 76 57 / 32 21 16 1 Greenville 78 60 77 56 / 66 53 4 1 Greenwood 77 60 77 52 / 53 69 11 1 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 329 AM CDT Fri May 12 2017 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>030-032- 034>037-040>042-047-048-053-059-060-130830- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Choctaw- Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Issaquena-Sharkey-Yazoo-Warren- Hinds-Claiborne-Jefferson-Adams- 329 AM CDT Fri May 12 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, southwest Mississippi, and west central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations is not expected through next Thursday. MSZ031-033-038-039-043>046-049>052-054>058-061>066-072>074-130830- Lowndes-Oktibbeha-Winston-Noxubee-Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper- Rankin-Scott-Newton-Lauderdale-Copiah-Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke- Franklin MS-Lincoln-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones- Marion-Lamar-Forrest- 329 AM CDT Fri May 12 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, northeast Mississippi, and south central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Marginal TIMING...Today through Tonight Isolated severe storms capable of producing large hail and damaging wind gusts will be possible this afternoon into this evening as a frontal system moves through the region. (www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/image1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region today through tonight. 3 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* High...Significant severe thunderstorms are expected. Moderate...Severe storms expected with significant severe weather possible. Enhanced...Severe storms expected. Slight...Severe storms possible. Marginal...Isolated severe storms possible. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Find NWS JAN on Facebook... www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... Storm Prediction Center (SPC)... www.spc.noaa.gov/ Meso Analysis... www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/Day 1 through 3 Outlooks... www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ Storm Reports... www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
949 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017
MSZ057-065-066-121530-
Jones MS-Covington MS-Jasper MS-
949 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN JASPER...COVINGTON
AND NORTHERN JONES COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 AM CDT...
At 948 AM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Collins, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern
Jasper...Covington and northern Jones Counties, including the
following locations: Seminary and Soso.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious
injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors
during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees.
&&
LAT...LON 3148 8959 3151 8959 3151 8960 3154 8960
3156 8964 3156 8965 3161 8969 3180 8937
3180 8932 3183 8932 3188 8923 3163 8904
3144 8956
TIME...MOT...LOC 1448Z 241DEG 29KT 3160 8950
TWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1008 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017
MSZ066-074-121600-
Jones MS-Forrest MS-
1008 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN FORREST AND
SOUTHEASTERN JONES COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 AM CDT...
At 1008 AM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Macedonia, or 8 miles northeast of Petal, moving northeast at 25
mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Ovett around 1025 AM CDT.
Tuckers Crossing around 1045 AM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious
injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors
during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees.
&&
LAT...LON 3143 8931 3172 8907 3165 8894 3153 8894
3143 8904 3143 8914 3134 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 1508Z 214DEG 20KT 3145 8917
TWSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Jackson MS 1029 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017 MSZ065-066-121615- Jones MS-Covington MS- 1029 AM CDT FRI MAY 12 2017 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN COVINGTON AND SOUTHWESTERN JONES COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 AM CDT... At 1029 AM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm near Sanford, or 12 miles southwest of Ellisville, moving east at 25 mph. Nickel size hail and winds up to 35 mph will be possible with this storm. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Eastabuchie around 1040 AM CDT. Moselle around 1045 AM CDT. Ellisville around 1055 AM CDT. Laurel around 1100 AM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees. && LAT...LON 3163 8942 3163 8909 3143 8910 3143 8945 TIME...MOT...LOC 1529Z 267DEG 21KT 3150 8938 TW
The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:38 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were blown down on the northeast side of Ellisville. Several trees and a few powerlines were also blown down in southwest Laurel.
Numerous trees were blown down.
A swath of hail fell across north central to northeast Leake County. Hail to quarter size fell in Carthage and enough quarter sized hail and smaller stones fell near Redwater to cover the ground.
Six homes and 6 businesses were flooded in Grenada and flooding occurred in downtown Grenada.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, May 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: 695648, 695650, 695653, 695659.