A strong upper level disturbance generated a severe bow echo across portions of northeast Arkansas during the late evening hours of June 2nd.
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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 upper level disturbance generated a severe bow echo across portions of northeast Arkansas during the late evening hours of June 2nd.
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 Jun 2, 6:55 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 755 PM CDT Sat Jun 2 2018 .UPDATE... Currently, showers and thunderstorms are ongoing to the NW of the CWA in association with a surface cold front. The front currently extends roughly from NW Arkansas northeastward through S Illinois. These storms are currently discrete out ahead of the front, but are expected to congeal into a line as they progress further SE. Latest mesoanalysis places a tight instability gradient roughly along the MS River, with much more stable air present over W TN, with much lower 850 hPa RH values there indicating the presence of dry air contributing to a more stable atmosphere. This coincides well with the latest runs of the HRRR, which bring a line of storms SSE through the CWA, a cold pool propagating along the instability gradient. The latest HRRR run brings the storms through the Memphis metro between 11 PM and midnight. The storms will be capable of producing large hail, with damaging winds a secondary threat. Latest thinking is NE Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel stand the best odds of severe storms, as the storms will likely wane in intensity as they move to the SE. Have updated POPs to account for the latest timing. Confidence in timing and strength of the line of storms remains limited at this time. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect for E Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel through 10 PM. ZDM && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 244 PM CDT Sat Jun 2 2018/ DISCUSSION...Surface analysis this afternoon places a cold front from Northwest Missouri back through Eastern Kansas and West Texas. A hot and humid airmass is in place across the Lower Mississippi Valley this afternoon with temperatures as of 2 PM CDT in the upper 80s to lower 90s with surface dewpoints in the 70s. Severe thunderstorm potential for the remainder of the afternoon into the evening will be the primary focus in this afternoon's forecast issuance. Regional WSR-88D radar trends have indicated the development of a scattered line of showers and thunderstorms just ahead of a cold front. A Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) over Missouri is providing additional lift over the region. The lift produced by this feature and the cold front combined with a very warm, moist, and unstable airmass will support the development of showers and thunderstorms across the Mid-South into tonight. Short term models including Convective Allowing Models (CAMs) indicate showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop and push across Arkansas for the remainder of the afternoon and affecting portions of East/Northeast Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel until early evening. This convective activity is anticipated to reach the Mississippi River between early to evening, and across the remainder of the Mid-South late evening into the overnight hours. Some uncertainty remains between the models on timing and coverage and will be closely monitored as the event unfolds. Surface based CAPE values in excess of 3000 J/kg, steep 700-500 mb layer mid- level lapse rates around 7 C/km, and 0-6 km Bulk Shear values around 40 kts support the potential of some strong to severe thunderstorms across the region late this afternoon into tonight. Damaging winds is expected to be the predominant threat along with a secondary threat of large hail. Localized heavy rainfall may also be possible with these thunderstorms. Slightly cooler and drier air will filter into the Lower Mississippi Valley into early next week. Long term models indicate an upper level ridge will attempt to build across the region into much of next week. However, much of the region will remain on the eastern periphery of the upper level ridge axis placing the Mid- South within northwest flow aloft. Confidence in shower and thunderstorm chances next week remains low as models differ on timing of individual mid-level shortwave troughs and the strength of the ridge. Consequently, have leaned toward isolated rain chances until models come into better agreement. CJC && .AVIATION... 00Z TAFs Warm midlevel temps (FL050-FL150) effectively capped TSRA development over the Midsouth earlier this afternoon. Cooler temps aloft will arrive later this evening (04z-06z at MEM) as a midlevel disturbance weakens upper level ridging. Latest few HRRR runs have been consistent with potential TSRA timing. Strength and coverage will dependent on how well or if TSRA can organize a cold pool over southern MO and forward propagate south/southeast quickly enough to overcome otherwise weak southerly inflow and relatively dry air above FL040. In summary, forecast confidence for TSRA in the MEM TRACON is limited, but enough potential exists to maintain the status quo, with minor adjustments to timing. PWB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 254 PM CDT Sat Jun 2 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>092-032200- 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- 254 PM CDT Sat Jun 2 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 Strong to severe storms will be possible late this afternoon into this evening ahead of an approaching cold front. Damaging winds and large hail will be the main threats from any severe thunderstorms. Localized heavy rainfall is also possible. Heat indices will reach between 100 to 105 degrees this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed in support of severe weather operations.
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 151 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:11 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were down on Highways 62 and 90 west of Pocahontas. Tree down on the Eleven Point River Bridge on Highway 62. Power lines were also knocked down.
Several trees down around Imboden.
Trees down across town.
Trees and power lines down around Walnut Ridge.
Power lines and trees down around Paragould.
Front porch removed from a home in town.
Trees and power lines down just west of Waldenburg.
Lots of trees and power-lines down around the area. A shed completely destroyed. Shingles peeled off roof and a metal farm shop roof was removed.
Sixteen power-poles in a row snapped and a metal barn blown down.
Two large grain bins were completely destroyed near County Road 100. One grain bin was tossed 75 feet across the road into a bunch of trees.
Wind damage to a power sub station.
Roof collapsed on large combine shed.
Twelve large power poles snapped in a row along Highway 64 just west of Wynne.
Trees down at Fitzgerald Crossing south of Wynne.
Numerous trees down in approximately a two mile swath from near Colt, Arkansas. The hangar at the Delta Regional Airport in Colt was destroyed. In addition, several trees fell on houses along the path and numerous homes had some roof damage. Some power poles were snapped in the damage path.
House collapsed after roof was torn off.
Numerous trees and power lines down across town with a widespread power outage. Additional trees down on houses across the city and one trailer north of town. The worst damage stretched along Highway 1.
Damage to a Waffle House and two semi-trailers overturned off I-40 and Highway 1 exit.
Lots of large trees down along Highway 79 in and around the city of Marianna.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 2018
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: 766602, 766582, 766581, 766585, 766583, 766584, 766586, 766588, 766587, 766589, 766590, 766591, 766592, 766593, 766594, 766596, 766600, 766598, 766601.