Hail and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, April 3, 2018

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
350 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

.DISCUSSION...

A deep surface low is centered over E IL this afternoon while a
strong cold front extends through MO into NW AR. A broken line of
thunderstorms has developed ahead of the front in MO and AR. The
low will continue tracking northeastward while the cold front
moves quickly through the forecast area late this afternoon and
evening. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will quickly
progress across the Midsouth along and just ahead of the cold
front late this afternoon and evening. Cannot rule out a semi
discrete cell or two to form just ahead of the line, especially
over NE AR late this afternoon. Damaging winds, large hail, and
possible tornadoes are all potential threats with any of these
storms. The best chance for tornadoes will be over NE AR and MO
Bootheel. All activity should be east of the forecast area before
midnight as the front pushes into middle TN and northern AL.

High pressure will build into the region Wednesday supporting an
unseasonably cold polar airmass advecting in from the NW. Frost
will be likely Wednesday night with some areas experiencing a
freeze.

Another system will provide rain Friday possibly mixing with or
changing to snow near the MO/KY border by Saturday morning as cold
air advects into the area. There is another risk for frost or
freezing temperatures Saturday night. More showers are possible by
the end of the weekend.

SWC

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs

Few changes made to the 18Z TAFs with respect to timing of the
convective line later this afternoon. Pre-frontal SHRA/TSRA
likely a bit overdone on the HRRR, given strength of the low level
capping inversion.

Short range convection-allowing models have better converged
with respect to timing. MEM will likely be near the interface of
frontal-forced TSRA approaching from northwest and outflow
boundary TSRA to the west/southwest. Evolution of this southern
group of storms will depend on how ongoing TSRA evolves coming out
the Arklatex.

Storms should be well east of the MEM TRACON at the onset of late
evening arrival push, with a broken TSRA line extending from west
central AL northeast through the Ohio Valley by 03Z.

16Z HRRR model depicts a weak wake low over north central AR at
06Z. Have bumped up MEM winds a bit into the early overnight.

PWB

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Clay-Craighead-
     Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lawrence-Lee AR-Mississippi-
     Phillips-Poinsett-Randolph-St. Francis.

MO...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Dunklin-Pemiscot.

MS...Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for Alcorn-Benton MS-
     Coahoma-DeSoto-Lafayette-Marshall-Panola-Prentiss-Quitman-
     Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Yalobusha.

TN...Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for Benton TN-Carroll-
     Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Hardeman-
     Hardin-Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Lake-Lauderdale-Madison-
     McNairy-Obion-Shelby-Tipton-Weakley.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1202 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

ARZ008-009-017-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-
MSZ001>017-020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-041915-
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-
1202 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

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 moderate risk for severe weather across the majority
of the Mid-South this afternoon and this evening. Damaging winds
and large hail are the main threats. A few tornadoes are
possible. A significant tornado could occur across Northeast
Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel or Northwest Tennessee.

A wind advisory is in effect for most of the Mid-South through
late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Frost is likely across much of the Midsouth Thursday morning with
subfreezing temperatures possible in West Tennessee especially
near the Tennessee River.

Freezing temperatures are possible again on Saturday morning
across northern portions of the Mid-South.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon and evening.

SJM