Abundant moisture was in place to help trigger showers and storms through the afternoon of July 18th. The remnant outflow boundary along with an approaching cold front helped these storms bring damaging winds to the region.
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 was in place to help trigger showers and storms through the afternoon of July 18th. The remnant outflow boundary along with an approaching cold front helped these storms bring damaging winds to the region.
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 18, 11:24 AM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Jackson MS 1224 PM CDT Wed Jul 18 2018 .UPDATE... Updated for 18Z aviation discussion && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF discussion: Although VFR conditions will prevail through this afternoon and evening, VCTS will dot the landscape. Where storms occur, briefly lower ceilings and visibilities can be anticipated with gusty winds. After midnight, MVFR visibilities in fog will develop and linger through mid morning Thursday./26/ && .DISCUSSION... Vis imagery showing early morning convection dropping to the south over southwest portions with more convection poised upstream over AR. The subsident gap between these two areas has resulted in clearer skies and an opportunity to warm somewhat higher into the 90s before convection redevelops later in the heat of the afternoon. The higher temperatures with dewpoints in the low to mid 70s will result in heat indices around 105. Will, therefore, update the HWO to indicate limited heat stress in these areas./26/ Prior discussion below: Today and Tonight...Look for another day in which warm muggy conditions prevail, with scattered to numerous showers and storms developing across the area through the course of the day. Convective development could again get an early start today as the remnant outflow from a complex of storms that fizzled over Central Arkansas overnight, drops south through the CWA. Then during the afternoon, a front is progged to sink south and eventually stall over, to just north of, the CWA. Another disturbance embedded in northwest flow will accompany the front into the region, both further aiding in the development of showers and storms over the forecast area. A strong storm can't be ruled out, with a stray storm reaching severe limits likewise not out of the question. However, at the moment both confidence and coverage for such storms is low. Therefore, I'll not mention them in this morning's HWO issuance. Still, storms today will be capable of producing gusty winds, frequent lightning, and torrential downpours. As eluded to above, muggy conditions will persist as dew points remain in the 70s areawide. However, with a good coverage of convection and cloud debris left over from decayed MCSs upstream propagating through the CWA, highs today should generally range from the upper 80s to middle 90s. This will result in afternoon heat index values ranging from the upper 90s to around 104, but they will remain below heat advisory criteria. The bulk of today's convection will dissipate this evening. A few models do hint at a weakening MCS, or another outflow boundary, knocking on my northwest doorstep at day break Thursday. This will certainly be monitored in future model runs and on radar and satellite tonight. Still, just given the numerous outflow boundaries left behind from today's activity, in addition to the aforementioned stalled front, all of which will reside in this humid airmass, a slight chance for a shower or storm will remain in the forecast overnight. Otherwise, under partly to mostly cloudy skies, lows will fall into the low and middle 70s. /19/ Thursday through Tuesday...The primary concerns will be heat stress and rain chances along with muggy conditions through period. We will start the period with muggy conditions which will be associated with northwest flow aloft. We will be on the eastern fringe of an anomalous mid to upper level ridge. This ridge was centered over the southwest CONUS. MCSs will cross the region from the northwest for Thursday into Friday. In this airmass pwats will exceed 2 inches at times during the period,which may bring some locally heavy rainfall. Decent lapse rates,vertical totals in the mid to upper 20s, and showalters indices of -3 to -5 may bring some strong storms in northwest flow for Thursday and Friday. For late Friday into Saturday the anomalous ridge will expand into the region from the west. This will increase low to midlevel temperatures and decrease our rain chances. Heat indices will increase from 105 to approaching 110 in the western areas and around 105 elsewhere. This will change as upper troughing increases over the region from the north which will bring a front to our northern counties on Sunday. Rain chances will increase some once again. The front will push deep into the forecast area on Monday. The upper trough will weaken over the region for Tuesday as upper troughing builds north of the region. This will send another front into the region for later in the work week. So with this in mind will keep the heat stress graphic going for Thursday through Monday and hold off on any severe risk for Thursday into Friday for now. As far as temperatures are concern we will have warm highs mainly in the middle to upper 90s with some triple digits. Lows will be in the lower to middle 70s./17/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 92 74 94 76 / 31 22 28 14 Meridian 94 74 91 75 / 30 22 31 15 Vicksburg 92 74 96 76 / 31 20 25 16 Hattiesburg 92 73 93 75 / 54 39 42 13 Natchez 91 75 96 76 / 43 32 30 11 Greenville 93 73 96 76 / 30 24 19 23 Greenwood 94 73 94 76 / 27 23 23 21 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 241 PM CDT Wed Jul 18 2018 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025-034>036- 040>042-047-048-053-054-059>062-191945- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Sunflower-Leflore-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Issaquena-Sharkey- Yazoo-Warren-Hinds-Claiborne-Copiah-Jefferson-Adams-Franklin MS- Lincoln- 241 PM CDT Wed Jul 18 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, northwest Mississippi, south central Mississippi, southwest Mississippi, and west central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Thursday EXCESSIVE HEAT THREAT...Elevated TIMING...Thursday afternoon Temperatures warming into the upper 90s will combine with high humidity to produce heat indices from 105 to 110 mainly during the afternoon Thursday. 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...Thursday night through Tuesday High temperatures from the upper 90s to near 100 will combine with high humidity levels to produce heat indices around 110 each afternoon from Friday through Monday. 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 Tuesday. MSZ029>033-038-039-045-046-051-052-057-058-066-074-191945- Webster-Clay-Lowndes-Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Winston-Noxubee-Neshoba- Kemper-Newton-Lauderdale-Jasper-Clarke-Jones-Forrest- 241 PM CDT Wed Jul 18 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, northeast Mississippi, and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Thursday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday night through Tuesday High temperatures from the mid to upper 90s will combine with high humidity levels to produce heat indices 105 to 110 each afternoon from Friday through Monday. 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 Tuesday. MSZ026>028-037-043-044-049-050-055-056-063>065-072-073-191945- Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Attala-Madison MS-Leake-Rankin-Scott- Simpson-Smith-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Marion-Lamar- 241 PM CDT Wed Jul 18 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, south central Mississippi, and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Thursday EXCESSIVE HEAT THREAT...Limited TIMING...Thursday afternoon Temperatures warming into the mid to upper 90s will combine with high humidity to produce heat indices aroound 105 during the afternoon Thursday. 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...Thursday night through Tuesday High temperatures from the mid to upper 90s will combine with high humidity levels to produce heat indices 105 to 110 each afternoon from Friday through Monday. 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 Tuesday. 26 && ...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
1254 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
ARZ075-MSZ018-019-034-181900-
Chicot AR-Washington MS-Sunflower MS-Bolivar MS-
1254 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHERN CHICOT...NORTHERN
SUNFLOWER...NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON AND BOLIVAR COUNTIES UNTIL 200
PM CDT...
At 1253 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Elaine to near Yancopin to 8 miles
east of Monticello. Movement was east at 30 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Gunnison around 115 PM CDT.
Dermott around 120 PM CDT.
Shelby around 135 PM CDT.
Mound Bayou around 140 PM CDT.
Renova around 145 PM CDT.
Greenville, Drew, Parchman, Scott, Metcalfe, Winterville and
Lamont around 200 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Alligator, Beulah,
Pace, Winstonville, Duncan, Merigold and Halley.
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 3412 9066 3399 9066 3399 9045 3375 9045
3337 9111 3346 9146 3356 9145 3352 9125
3360 9113 3370 9121 3368 9103 3373 9115
3378 9113 3378 9099 3397 9109 3396 9097
3409 9087 3411 9094 3412 9095
TIME...MOT...LOC 1753Z 281DEG 26KT 3425 9092 3394 9113 3359 9165
GRGSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
157 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
ARZ074-075-MSZ018-034-182000-
Chicot AR-Ashley AR-Washington MS-Bolivar MS-
157 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CHICOT...EASTERN
ASHLEY...WASHINGTON AND SOUTHWESTERN BOLIVAR COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM
CDT...
At 157 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Lamont to near Snyder. Movement was
south at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Winterville around 205 PM CDT.
Portland around 210 PM CDT.
Greenville and Metcalfe around 220 PM CDT.
Parkdale around 225 PM CDT.
Leland around 230 PM CDT.
Wilmot around 235 PM CDT.
Wayside around 250 PM CDT.
Avon around 255 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Arcola.
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.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3339 9151 3339 9146 3342 9146 3365 9100
3320 9071 3301 9108 3301 9168 3327 9175
TIME...MOT...LOC 1857Z 339DEG 19KT 3356 9106 3325 9166
BYBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
240 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
ARZ075-LAZ007>009-MSZ034-040>042-182030-
Chicot AR-Morehouse LA-East Carroll LA-West Carroll LA-Washington MS-
Sharkey MS-Yazoo MS-Issaquena MS-
240 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN CHICOT COUNTY...
NORTHEASTERN MOREHOUSE...EAST CARROLL AND WEST CARROLL PARISHES...
SOUTHEASTERN WASHINGTON...WEST CENTRAL YAZOO...ISSAQUENA AND SHARKEY
COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CDT...
At 240 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking strong thunderstorms
along a line extending from near Delta City to 6 miles northwest of
Oak Grove. Movement was south at 35 mph.
Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Delta City around 245 PM CDT.
Oak Grove and Nitta Yuma around 250 PM CDT.
Anguilla and Goodwill around 255 PM CDT.
Rolling Fork around 300 PM CDT.
Darnell around 310 PM CDT.
Holly Bluff around 315 PM CDT.
Monticello around 320 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by these storms include Mayersville,
Kilbourne, Forest, Cary, Pioneer and Epps.
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 3304 9114 3321 9071 3301 9065 3292 9066
3292 9061 3276 9052 3254 9132 3254 9144
3255 9144 3257 9143 3258 9145 3258 9151
3300 9167
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 342DEG 31KT 3310 9083 3292 9148
JPMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
250 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
MSZ048-049-182015-
Hinds MS-Rankin MS-
250 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN RANKIN AND EAST CENTRAL
HINDS COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM CDT...
At 249 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Brandon, moving southeast at 30 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Jackson, Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Richland, Cato, Monterey, Johns 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 3205 8996 3226 9028 3239 9018 3240 9014
3240 9007 3242 9007 3242 9006 3243 9004
3221 8973 3210 8973 3205 8981
TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 314DEG 24KT 3226 9002
JPMThe Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:18 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down, with one across Highway 1 near Derr Plantation Road.
Several trees were snapped or downed as a microburst occurred along Highway 587. One large limb broke and caused minor damage to a small section of a gable roof. A few trees were down across the railroad which had to be removed.
A couple of trees were blown down in southern Madison County, including along Rankin Road, Cedar Hill Road and Coker Road.
A large tree was blown down along Trickhambridge Road just north of Paige McDill Road.
Yandell Road flooded near Highway 51.
A couple of trees were blown down in Walnut Grove.
A tree was blown down across Highway 487 southeast of Carthage.
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: 759476, 759477, 759478, 759826, 759830, 759828, 759829.