Abundant moisture combined with lingering boundaries across the region to help produce afternoon showers and storms across the region. These storms brought damaging winds to the area.
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.
Abundant moisture combined with lingering boundaries across the region to help produce afternoon showers and storms across the region. These storms brought damaging winds to the area.
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 Jul 16, 11:35 AM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Jackson MS
1235 PM CDT Mon Jul 16 2018
.UPDATE...
Updated for 18Z aviation discussion
&&
.AVIATION...
18Z TAF discussion:
Mainly VFR conditions are expected at TAF sites through the region
through the 18Z TAF cycle with the exception of limiting
conditionsby the way of isolated to scattered thunderstorms
impacting a site. Better chances of thunderstorms impacting a site
will exist near KHBG so a prevailing -TSRA group was added. VCTS
was introduced this afternoon for all other sites. Although some
MVFR CIGs have developed at KGTR they are expected to lift soon.
Storm coverage should begin to decrease as we get into the
evening. There's a chance some low CIGs could develop tomorrow
morning but there was not enough confidence to introduce this
solution into the TAFs.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
The morning update to the forecast included raising rain/storm
chances through the region for today as well as increasing the
amount of cloud cover and lowering high temperatures throughout
most of the region. Morning radar scans show that convective
storms, which are forming along an old boundary from storms that
moved through the Plains on yesterday, have already begun to
develop in SE AR and Northern MS. These storms and associated
cloud cover will continue to move towards the SW into our region
over the next few hours. In the east, remnants of a cluster of
thunderstorms that moved though TN this morning continue to dive
south. While most of the storms associated with this feature are
just east of us in Alabama, cloud cover has spread well into our
region and should keep high temps in east MS in the upper 80s to
lower 90s. Outflow boundaries from storms to our east will help
initiate convection east of the I-55 corridor. Latest CAM guidance
has trended earlier and wetter. The Heat Advisory has been pulled
for a good portion of the CWA. Only some counties and parishes
along and west of the MS River where rain chances are lower and
less cloud cover is expected will remain in the advisory. Although
the advisory was pulled from counties in Central MS, some
isolated locations could still meet advisory criteria for a brief
period of time in the earlier afternoon hours before cloud cover
begins to overspread the area.
Prior discussion below:
Through tonight: Over the next 24 hours, the area will come under
greater influence from northwesterly mid/upper flow, aiming a
series of shortwave disturbances toward the region. This will
continue the pattern of relatively high diurnal convective
coverage into today. Several residual boundaries from Sunday
convection will serve as foci for development later today, with
current expectations of the highest POP over north MS and across
East MS into the Pine Belt. Locally heavy rainfall isn't out of
the question given the abundantly moist airmass (PW >2") in place.
Though the greatest coverage is expected this afternoon into the
early evening, with passing disturbances in NW upper flow, there's
better potential for lingering overnight activity than in
previous days.
Outside of showers and storms, heat stress will remain a concern
for today. Forecast apparent temps once again show us peaking
between 105 to 110 across most of the CWA. Typically I would be
less inclined to post a heat advisory with relatively high POP
over much of the area. However, even with development early in the
day Sunday over east MS, much of that area reached advisory
criteria during the late morning before rain and clouds began to
curtail temps/heat indices. I expect today will work similarly,
though CAMs suggest most development will occur mid to late
afternoon. I did leave out part of the Pine Belt, where conditions
look a touch more borderline, and north central parts of the CWA,
where heat indices have been staying below 105 the past few days.
/DL/
Tuesday through Sunday: A mid level northwest flow regime will
continue to setup over the region early in the period as
troughiness continues to increase over the eastern third of the
nation. This flow pattern will bring the area under greater
influence of shortwaves embedded in the flow, as well as, cold
fronts associated with the stronger waves. Cold front associated
with the intial wave will try to drop into the region Tuesday, but
the majority of its support will push on to the east. Model
differences exist on just how far the boundary will drift to the
south. Still, such proximity will serve to focus convective
activity through Thursday when it lifts back north somewhat.
Friday looks to be the hottest day of the week as the mid level
ridge tries to reassert itself to the east over the forecast area.
Meanwhile, the next potent wave will dive southeast out of the upper
MS valley into the OH valley with another cold front poised to move
into the area Saturday/Sunday. The GFS is more bullish with this
scenario, while the ECMWF maintains a stronger ridge position and
pushes the majority of the energy east. Trended toward the ECMWF
with a hotter/less convection forecast through the weekend.
With dewpoints remaining in the low to mid 70s and temps climbing to
near 100, heat indices will easily extend above 105 and may reach
110 over the ArkLaMiss Delta region over the weekend if the ECMWF
solution pans out. Because of model variance this far out, will at
least mention limited heat stress in the HWO for the weekend./26/
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Jackson 92 74 92 74 / 32 45 53 34
Meridian 90 73 92 74 / 47 41 69 36
Vicksburg 95 74 92 75 / 33 26 45 33
Hattiesburg 92 73 91 74 / 61 32 67 46
Natchez 93 74 92 75 / 31 17 42 35
Greenville 94 73 91 74 / 33 39 52 33
Greenwood 93 73 91 74 / 58 35 58 28
&&
.JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MS...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for MSZ040-041-047-053-
059>061.
LA...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for LAZ007>009-015-016-
023>026.
AR...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for ARZ074-075.
&&
JPM3Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 1040 AM CDT Mon Jul 16 2018 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>066-072>074- 171545- 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- 1040 AM CDT Mon Jul 16 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, and south central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...The rest of Today and Tonight EXCESSIVE HEAT THREAT...Limited TIMING...remainder of today The combination of heat and humidity today is expected to result in several hours of heat index values between 100 and 105 degrees. Precautions should be taken to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Check on those vulnerable to heat stress. Stay hydrated and wear light, loose fitted clothing. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The combination of heat and humidity today is expected to result in several hours of heat index values near 105 degrees. Precautions should be taken to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Check on those vulnerable to heat stress. Stay hydrated and wear light, loose fitted clothing. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) .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 Sunday. 3 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *EXCESSIVE HEAT* Extreme...Maximum heat index greater than 110 degrees for 3 or more days in a row and/or air temperatures greater than 107 degrees. Significant...Maximum heat index greater than 110 degrees and/or air temperatures greater than 105 degrees. Elevated...Maximum heat index 105 to 110 degrees and/or air temperatures greater than 103 degrees. Limited...Maximum heat index near 105 degrees and/or air temperatures 100 to 103 degrees. ...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
115 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
MSZ038-039-045-046-161845-
Kemper MS-Neshoba MS-Winston MS-Noxubee MS-
115 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN NOXUBEE...KEMPER...
SOUTHEASTERN WINSTON AND NORTHEASTERN NESHOBA COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM
CDT...
At 115 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Gholson, or 14 miles northeast of Preston, moving
southeast at 25 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Nanih Waiya, Preston, Macon, De Kalb, Liberty, Mashulaville, Gholson,
Bluff Springs, Electric Mills, Paulette, Scooba and Shuqualak.
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 3275 8837 3264 8881 3295 8906 3319 8855
3289 8835
TIME...MOT...LOC 1815Z 328DEG 20KT 3300 8863
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
118 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
MSZ049-055-056-161845-
Smith MS-Rankin MS-Simpson MS-
118 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN RANKIN...
NORTHEASTERN SIMPSON AND NORTHWESTERN SMITH COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM
CDT...
At 118 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near White Oak, or 14 miles south of Morton, moving southeast at 15
mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Raleigh and Burns around 145 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Polkville and Puckett.
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 3188 8955 3205 8986 3222 8970 3222 8957
3214 8933
TIME...MOT...LOC 1818Z 300DEG 11KT 3215 8966
JMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
146 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
MSZ045-046-161930-
Kemper MS-Neshoba MS-
146 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT KEMPER AND SOUTHEASTERN NESHOBA
COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM CDT...
At 146 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near De Kalb, or 10 miles southeast of Preston, moving south at 30
mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
De Kalb around 155 PM CDT.
Liberty around 210 PM CDT.
Blackwater around 215 PM CDT.
Prismatic around 220 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 this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3258 8856 3258 8895 3277 8908 3291 8852
3260 8839 3259 8839
TIME...MOT...LOC 1846Z 000DEG 25KT 3282 8867
JMSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Jackson MS 149 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018 MSZ049>051-055>057-161915- Smith MS-Scott MS-Newton MS-Rankin MS-Simpson MS-Jasper MS- 149 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN JASPER... SOUTHEASTERN RANKIN...SOUTHWESTERN NEWTON...NORTHEASTERN SIMPSON... NORTHERN SMITH AND SOUTHEASTERN SCOTT COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM CDT... At 149 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Forest to near Johns. Movement was southeast at 15 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Strong thunderstorms will be near... Homewood around 155 PM CDT. White Oak and Pineville around 215 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by these storms include Polkville, Montrose and Puckett. 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 3215 8909 3194 8977 3217 9002 3236 8942 TIME...MOT...LOC 1849Z 318DEG 14KT 3229 8945 3217 8982 JM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
228 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
MSZ045-046-051-052-162015-
Kemper MS-Lauderdale MS-Newton MS-Neshoba MS-
228 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN NEWTON...SOUTHERN
KEMPER...SOUTHEASTERN NESHOBA AND LAUDERDALE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM
CDT...
At 228 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Porterville to Prismatic to near
Little Rock. Movement was southeast at 15 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Daleville, Porterville and Tamola around 235 PM CDT.
Meridian Station around 250 PM CDT.
Marion around 305 PM CDT.
Lauderdale around 310 PM CDT.
Suqualena, Toomsuba, Meehan and Nellieburg around 315 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Chunky.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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 3242 8841 3231 8864 3231 8896 3236 8910
3244 8918 3260 8923 3274 8837
TIME...MOT...LOC 1928Z 318DEG 14KT 3266 8843 3257 8874 3256 8904
DCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
231 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
MSZ056-057-065-066-162015-
Smith MS-Jones MS-Covington MS-Jasper MS-
231 PM CDT MON JUL 16 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN JASPER...
SOUTHEASTERN SMITH...NORTHEASTERN COVINGTON AND NORTHERN JONES
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT...
At 231 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Heidelberg to near Stringer to near
Taylorsville. Movement was southeast at 10 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Sandersville around 250 PM CDT.
Moss around 255 PM CDT.
Hebron around 315 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Soso.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
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 3163 8913 3160 8951 3162 8960 3175 8968
3178 8968 3178 8965 3184 8965 3197 8908
3180 8894 3168 8895
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 308DEG 11KT 3189 8902 3183 8927 3181 8953
DCThe Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:55 UTC.
11 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 3 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down on Ridge Road on the west side of Chunky.
A tree was blown down along Highway 43N.
A tree was blown down along Highway 440 near the Lighthouse Children's Home.
A tree was blown down along Highway 12 West.
A sailboat was caught on Ross Barnett Reservoir during a severe thunderstorm. It was damaged. Two occupants were in distress but were not injured.
At least ten structure fires occurred around the county due to lightning.
A tree was blown down across the road.
Lightning struck a home in Derby Cove.
Multiple trees were blown down across the city of Ridgeland.
Lightning struck a house on Vintage Drive.
Flash flooding occurred in the Lake Caroline area. Streets were also underwater in the Grayhawk subdivision.
Several inches of water covered the road at the intersection of North State Street and Woodrow Wilson.
Streets were flooded in the Red Oak Plantation subdivision.
Water covered Church Road.
Trees and power lines were blown down near the intersection of Lower Water Bridge Road and Bogue Chitto Road.
Backyards and streets were flooded near the intersection of Hoy Road and North Old Canton Road. Two to three feet of water also covered portions of Highland Ridge subdivision and water entered two homes.
At least six inches of water covered the intersection of Ridgewood Road and Sheffield Drive, with one car stalled. Multiple inches of standing water occurred in the Deville Plaza parking lot.
Water overflowed Suncrest Drive.
Multiple trees were blown down in the southern part of the county.
A tree was blown down onto a power line across Liberty Church Road.
A tree was blown down near Campground and Rabbit roads.
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, July 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: 759450, 759451, 759452, 759453, 759454, 759455, 759456, 759457, 759458, 759459, 759460, 759461, 759462, 759463, 759469, 759464, 759467, 759468, 759471, 759473, 759474.