An unstable atmosphere allowed for a few pop-up storms with one that reached severe limits across northern Mississippi during the afternoon of May 15.
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 MEG wrote it up.
An unstable atmosphere allowed for a few pop-up storms with one that reached severe limits across northern Mississippi during the afternoon of May 15.
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 May 15, 2:33 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 333 PM CDT Tue May 15 2018 .DISCUSSION... Temperatures at 3:00 PM are in the low to middle 90s across most of the Midsouth. The exceptions are in Northeast Arkansas where clouds have moved in and in isolated parts of North Mississippi and West Tennessee where a line of thunderstorms has cooled things off a bit. A ridge responsible for the abnormal heat of late continues to break down allowing for the development of thunderstorms this afternoon and will lead to slightly cooler conditions tomorrow. Showers/thunderstorms first initiated over Northeast Mississippi but we are currently seeing additional development over the Mississippi Bootheel and Northeast Arkansas. A series of weak troughs will move through general zonal flow tonight and tomorrow. The first of these features may help to keep thunderstorms ongoing through the night tonight, and the likely enhance ongoing activity and or result in redevelopment tomorrow. Most of the Midsouth should see some rainfall over the next 36 hours. Due to the convective nature of the storms, localized areas could see over one half of an inch or rain, but county wide average totals will likely be much less. Consider yourself lucky if you receive more than a few tenths of rain. Localized gusty wind and frequent lightning may accompany the stronger storms. An isolated severe thunderstorm can't be ruled out. A weak upper level low over the Northern Gulf will drift inland tomorrow into Thursday. This feature combined with a weak broad trough over the Mississippi River should keep at least marginal rain chances around through the end of the work week...likely highest over Northeast Mississippi and near the Tennessee River in West Tennessee. A few strong storms are possible, with the greatest threat being localized gusty wind. Over the weekend, the Gulf Low and broader trough over our area should all begin to shift East. As a result, drier conditions are expected Saturday, with warmer temperatures returning area wide. Highs are expected to climb back into the low 90s. Another cold front should approach the Midsouth late in the weekend ushering in another round of showers and thunderstorms. Behind the front, high temperatures early next week should drop back into the low to middle 80s. 30 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFs A slow moving/weak upper disturbance in the Ozarks will track through the TAF sites this period. Convection appears disorganized with isolated coverage early and then scattered coverage late. For now have VCTS and/or VCSH mentioned with VFR cigs. Better threat for thunderstorms at MKL and TUP just after 16/18z. Patchy MVFR vsby near sunrise at TUP...MKL and JBR. Winds will be light overall with a general southwest through north component. JAB && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 404 PM CDT Tue May 15 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>092-162315- 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- 404 PM CDT Tue May 15 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight An isolated strong to perhaps severe thunderstorm is possible late this afternoon into early evening across the Mid-South. Damaging winds along with localized heavy rainfall are the threats if a thunderstorm develops and reaches severe limits. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
235 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
TNZ054-055-152015-
Henderson TN-Decatur TN-
235 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 315 PM CDT
FOR...
Southeastern Henderson County in southwestern Tennessee...
Decatur County in Middle Tennessee...
At 235 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located over Decaturville, or 13
miles west of Linden. This storm was nearly stationary.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in southeastern Henderson and Decatur Counties should monitor
this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3539 8798 3539 8802 3542 8807 3538 8812
3539 8817 3538 8820 3541 8822 3542 8825
3568 8824 3572 8804 3568 8802 3562 8804
3552 8797 3551 8797 3548 8799 3547 8802
3545 8804 3542 8803 3541 8797
TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 239DEG 2KT 3557 8807Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
244 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
MSZ015-023-152015-
Pontotoc MS-Chickasaw MS-
244 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 315 PM CDT
FOR...
Pontotoc County in northeastern Mississippi...
North central Chickasaw County in northeastern Mississippi...
At 244 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Pontotoc, moving
northeast at 25 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in Pontotoc and north central Chickasaw Counties should
monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3407 8914 3408 8919 3438 8905 3438 8893
3436 8893 3436 8883 3427 8882 3404 8885
3404 8914
TIME...MOT...LOC 1944Z 222DEG 22KT 3418 8904Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
253 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
MSZ004>006-009-014-152045-
Tippah MS-Tishomingo MS-Union MS-Alcorn MS-Prentiss MS-
253 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 345 PM CDT
FOR...
Southeastern Tippah County in northeastern Mississippi...
Northwestern Tishomingo County in northeastern Mississippi...
Northeastern Union County in northeastern Mississippi...
Alcorn County in northeastern Mississippi...
Prentiss County in northeastern Mississippi...
At 253 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located over Hinkle, or 9 miles
north of Booneville, moving east at 5 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in southeastern Tippah...northwestern Tishomingo...
northeastern Union...Alcorn and Prentiss Counties should monitor this
storm closely.
LAT...LON 3499 8827 3450 8853 3451 8854 3450 8890
3499 8866
TIME...MOT...LOC 1953Z 274DEG 6KT 3479 8861Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 322 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 ARZ018-152100- Greene AR- 322 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 400 PM CDT FOR... Greene County in eastern Arkansas... At 322 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds at least 40 mph was located over Crowleys Ridge State Park, moving northeast at 10 mph. Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are also possible with this thunderstorm. People in Greene County should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3626 9032 3596 9046 3597 9079 3626 9063 TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 238DEG 7KT 3606 9063
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 427 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 MSZ024-152200- Monroe MS- 427 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR... Western Monroe County in northeastern Mississippi... At 426 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near New Wren, or 7 miles southeast of Okolona, moving east at 5 mph. Dangerous cloud to ground lightning is also possible with this thunderstorm. People in western Monroe County should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3381 8872 3401 8872 3399 8849 3375 8854 TIME...MOT...LOC 2126Z 289DEG 5KT 3391 8869
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 459 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 ARZ026-152230- Craighead AR- 459 PM CDT TUE MAY 15 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 530 PM CDT FOR... Southwestern Craighead County in eastern Arkansas... At 459 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Jonesboro, moving east at 5 mph. Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are also possible with this thunderstorm. People in southwestern Craighead County should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3592 9083 3589 9056 3570 9063 3572 9089 TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 289DEG 5KT 3581 9079
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:02 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were knocked down in Bruce.
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, May 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: 753944.