Showers and thunderstorms developed each afternoon and evening in a warm and humid air mass. Some of these storms produced damaging wind gusts and hail.
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 each afternoon and evening in a warm and humid air mass. Some of these storms produced damaging wind gusts and hail.
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 Aug 5, 5:21 PM CST, 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 621 PM CDT Sun Aug 5 2018 .UPDATE... Updated for 00Z aviation discussion && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF discussion: A cluster of weakening -TSRA/SHRA will impact KJAN and KHKS very early in the period before dissipating altogether. VFR flight conditions will prevail overnight and through the day tomorrow. Some isolated thunderstorms may develop by tomorrow afternoon but there was not enough confidence in coverage to add VCTS to any site. Winds will be light and mainly from the south through the period. && .DISCUSSION... Tonight and Monday: A weak mid/upper-level low and associated vorticity maximum remains in place over Arkansas and cut off from a belt of broad westerly zonal flow across the central portion of the country. Two areas of ridging reside on either side of the low with the eastern ridge centered over Georgia and a western ridge over New Mexico resulting in a weak shear axis over the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are ongoing along the Hwy 84 corridor and across portions of the Delta. This activity is expected to continue into the early evening hours before quickly dissipating after sunset and loss of heating. Expect partly cloudy skies tonight with overnight low temperatures dropping into the low to mid 70s. By tomorrow, the main synoptic features will remain relatively unchanged with the shear axis and vorticity maximum over the ArkLaMiss Delta and ridging still in place to the east and west. The better moisture quality will shift further east across eastern Mississippi as dry mid-level air works into the Delta from the west. This will focus any isolated to scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms mainly along and east of the I-55 corridor. While locally gusty winds from any stronger storms cannot be ruled out, area averaged forecast soundings across eastern Mississippi reveal tall skinny CAPE profiles and weak lapse rates which will preclude a greater severe weather threat. Otherwise, expect partly cloudy skies with high temperatures in the low to mid 90s. /TW/ Monday night through Sunday: Any isolated convection that develops in the east Monday should dissipate rapidly by Monday evening. Otherwise, near normal overnight lows in the lower 70s are expected. Come Tuesday morning our CWA wl still be in a weakness between a 592dam high just to our east and a second high centered to our west. A >1018mb surface ridge is expected to continue nosing in from the east. This high pressure surface and aloft wl continue to limit convection and contribute to a warmer than normal day. Tuesday looks to be the warmest day of the long term period as highs top out 92-95F. Although wl still have a moist airmass in place, surface dewpoints look to mix to around 70F during the afternoon. This will result in peak heat index values in the lower 100s. Wednesday the mid level ridge will be shunted south as increasing troughiness over the mid/upper MS valley digs south. This will lead to slightly cooler temperatures greater rain chances. The main upper level trough will slide east Thursday but broad troughiness and a stalled surface boundary will linger over our region into Friday. Another shortwave trough looks to drop out of the mid/upper MS valley Friday into Saturday prolonging decent rain chances into the weekend. The rain chances and associated cloud cover wl help keep afternoon highs cooler than normal while morning lows run near normal through the period. /22/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 74 93 73 94 / 14 19 5 17 Meridian 75 94 72 94 / 4 29 5 19 Vicksburg 74 94 73 94 / 21 16 5 14 Hattiesburg 74 94 73 94 / 11 19 6 25 Natchez 73 93 73 93 / 20 17 6 19 Greenville 73 93 73 93 / 5 17 5 15 Greenwood 74 93 72 94 / 5 26 5 17 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && JPM3
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 311 PM CDT Sun Aug 5 2018 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074- 062015- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Lowndes- Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Winston- Noxubee-Issaquena-Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper- Warren-Hinds-Rankin-Scott-Newton-Lauderdale-Claiborne-Copiah- Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke-Jefferson-Adams-Franklin MS-Lincoln- Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest- 311 PM CDT Sun Aug 5 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, and south central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday night through Saturday 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 Saturday. 21 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... No short term hazards expected. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... https://www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... https://www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Tropical page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/srh/tropical?office=jan National Hurricane Center Home Page... https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Find NWS JAN on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
451 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
LAZ025-MSZ047-053-052230-
Tensas LA-Warren MS-Claiborne MS-
451 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN TENSAS PARISH...
CLAIBORNE AND SOUTHWESTERN WARREN COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...
At 450 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Rocky Springs to 6 miles north of
Port Gibson to 6 miles southeast of Newellton. Movement was north at
15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Newellton and Rocky Springs around 505 PM CDT.
Reganton around 520 PM CDT.
Yokena around 530 PM 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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3217 9130 3219 9102 3217 9073 3182 9078
3183 9088 3186 9101 3187 9114 3188 9126
TIME...MOT...LOC 2150Z 179DEG 12KT 3204 9084 3204 9099 3202 9115
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
512 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
MSZ048-049-054-055-052245-
Copiah MS-Hinds MS-Rankin MS-Simpson MS-
512 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN RANKIN...
NORTHWESTERN SIMPSON...SOUTHEASTERN HINDS AND NORTHEASTERN COPIAH
COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM CDT...
At 512 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Whites to near Mendenhall. Movement
was north at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Whites around 525 PM CDT.
Star and Piney Woods around 530 PM CDT.
Florence around 540 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Braxton.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3221 9032 3217 9006 3210 8988 3204 8989
3186 8997 3188 9014 3193 9032
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 191DEG 17KT 3202 9015 3197 8995
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
606 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
LAZ016-MSZ040-047-052330-
Madison LA-Warren MS-Issaquena MS-
606 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN MADISON PARISH...
NORTHERN WARREN AND SOUTHEASTERN ISSAQUENA COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM
CDT...
At 605 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Vicksburg, moving north at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Redwood around 615 PM CDT.
Oak Ridge around 620 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Mound and Delta.
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 3255 9113 3256 9111 3256 9107 3258 9104
3257 9065 3255 9065 3224 9074 3230 9102
3235 9114
TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 191DEG 26KT 3240 9084
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
622 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
MSZ047-048-060000-
Warren MS-Hinds MS-
622 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN WARREN AND
NORTHWESTERN HINDS COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...
At 622 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Oak Ridge, or 7 miles east of Redwood, moving north at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Warren
and northwestern Hinds Counties.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3258 9075 3257 9073 3259 9073 3262 9072
3262 9069 3259 9069 3259 9066 3255 9065
3255 9059 3253 9058 3253 9056 3251 9055
3229 9058 3229 9075 3258 9076
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 177DEG 18KT 3245 9067
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
633 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
MSZ040-047-060015-
Warren MS-Issaquena MS-
633 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN WARREN AND
SOUTHEASTERN ISSAQUENA COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...
At 632 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Redwood, moving north at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Warren
and southeastern Issaquena Counties.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3266 9090 3266 9073 3264 9071 3264 9069
3263 9070 3262 9072 3262 9069 3259 9069
3259 9066 3255 9065 3254 9065 3234 9075
3239 9091
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 196DEG 16KT 3248 9076
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
702 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
MSZ040>042-060045-
Sharkey MS-Yazoo MS-Issaquena MS-
702 PM CDT SUN AUG 5 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT YAZOO...EAST CENTRAL ISSAQUENA
AND SOUTHEASTERN SHARKEY COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM CDT...
At 700 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from Little Yazoo to near Phoenix to near
Valley Park. Movement was north at 25 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Little Yazoo around 705 PM CDT.
Tinsley around 715 PM CDT.
Benton around 725 PM CDT.
Yazoo City and Holly Bluff around 730 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Satartia and
Bentonia.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3294 9086 3290 9018 3261 9034 3258 9040
3259 9044 3256 9045 3253 9050 3255 9065
3259 9066 3259 9069 3262 9069 3262 9072
3259 9072 3260 9090
TIME...MOT...LOC 0000Z 194DEG 23KT 3269 9037 3265 9058 3266 9085
DCThe Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:18 UTC.
7 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Deputies reported heavy roof damage to two businesses and a couple of garages. Multiple trees were blown down in the Little Yazoo area near Fletchers Chapel and Concord Church roads, and Highway 49. There was minor roof damage to two residences on Fletchers Chapel Road.
A tree was blown down on Highway 44 just north of Columbia. A large limb was also blown down in the city.
Two trees were blown down at the intersection of Highway 28 East and Bailey Road, and one tree blocked Highway 28.
A barn was destroyed with debris blown approximately 300 yards downwind.
Five to six trees were blown down on Monticello and Beauregard roads, with a tree on a power line on each road.
Multiple trees were blown down in Monticello, including one on a house.
One tree was blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, August 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: 768059, 768060, 768089, 768091, 768093, 768094, 768096, 768098.