Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in southeast Mississippi.
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 MOB wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in southeast Mississippi.
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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 17, 11:03 AM CST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Mobile AL 1203 PM CDT Thu May 17 2018 .DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below. && .AVIATION... 18Z issuance...General VFR CIGs/VISBYs expected through the day, with local drops in eastward moving tsra beginning to develop over Mississippi. Tonight, drops into low end MVFR levels possible in fog prone areas, but general VFR conditions are expected soon after sunrise. /16 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1143 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ DISCUSSION...See updated information for land areas below. UPDATE...No updates planned attm, with current package on track. A line of tsra is moving across Wayne and Choctaw counties, and am expecting more to develop south and west of these counties as the forecast moves into the afternoon. The activity south of the coast has moved south of 60NM and am expecting any further activity to develop onshore and move south. /16 PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 648 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ DISCUSSION...Updated for latest aviation discussion below. AVIATION... 12Z issuance...Patchy dense fog with localized LIFR to VLIFR visibility reductions has recently developed in the vicinity of K0J4, KCEW and KNSE. These conditions should only last through around 13-14Z before visibility should rapidly improve. Primary aviation concerns later today will be development of scattered to numerous TSRA over our region capable of producing localized strong winds and MVFR or lower conditions. Storms should develop around 17Z and continue through the afternoon and evening hours. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 451 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/ NEAR TERM /Now Through Thursday night/...A broad upper level trough continues to extend across the central Gulf Coast region and into the northern and central Gulf of Mexico early this morning, while weak surface low pressure and surface troughing also extends across the Mississippi valley and through the central Gulf Coast region. A weak shortwave impulse on the base of the upper level trough has aided in the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight across portions of southwest and south central AL, and radar continues to show weakening convection from near Greenville to Evergreen as of 4 A.M. CDT. An upper level low will slowly translate from southern Missouri toward western Tennessee today, while the upper level trough axis will continue to extend southeastward from this feature across the central Gulf coast region and the adjacent central Gulf of Mexico. Another shortwave impulse looks to round the base of the trough axis and move from the Lower Mississippi Valley toward southeast MS and southwest and south central AL this afternoon and evening. A weak area of surface low pressure also becomes positioned across the vicinity of eastern MS and western AL by later this afternoon, while a weak attendant surface boundary/front pushes southeastward toward southeast MS and interior southwest AL. Ascent ahead of these features should aid in the development of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms that should propagate into southeast MS and adjacent southwest AL during the early to mid afternoon hours, while additional scattered to numerous showers and storms also develop across portions of south central AL and the FL panhandle along the surface trough axis. WRF-ARW and HRRR trends lend confidence to increasing POPs to 60-70% over much of the interior today, with high end scattered coverage (50%) near the immediate coast. RAP forecast soundings show decent CAPE values between 1500- 2500 J/KG across a good portion of southeast MS, southwest AL and portions of the FL panhandle this afternoon. Although deep layer shear will be weak across our area today, forecast soundings show dry air in the mid levels with computed DCAPE values up to around 1000 J/KG. There is therefore some concern that the stronger storm cells that develop could produce strong to locally damaging wind gusts today and will mention this potential in the HWO. CAPE values and lapse rates could also be supportive of hail in the stronger storm cores today. We continued to trend high temperatures just a little above guidance again today, with readings in the upper 80s to around 90 degrees over most locations. The upper level trough will slowly pivot eastward across our forecast area tonight and deeper moisture will tend to shift toward the eastern part of our CWA. Will maintain a chance of showers and storms across the region during the evening, with better chances for convection shifting toward the eastern zones overnight. Another mild and muggy night can otherwise be expected. /21 SHORT TERM /Friday Through Saturday night/...A broad trough will continue over the area on Friday before lifting out on Saturday as an upper ridge builds over the region. Meanwhile, a sfc ridge of high pressure will continue from the western Atlantic to the central Gulf coast. This will maintain scattered showers and thunderstorms each day, decreasing slightly on Saturday as the upper ridge builds. /13 LONG TERM /Sunday Through Wednesday/...A surface high pressure ridge extends west across the area through most of the period. As a result, a typical summer-like pattern will continue through the period. Scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms, with high temps in the upper 80s and lower 90s and lows ranging from the upper 60s inland to lower 70s at the coast. /13 MARINE...A light offshore flow near bays and sounds and the near shore waters prevail early this morning with light westerly flow well offshore. A light to moderate southwesterly to southerly flow will develop over the marine area late this morning into this afternoon as a trough of low pressure extends across the central Gulf Coast region. This flow pattern generally continues into Saturday before winds become more south to southeast late this weekend into early next week as a ridge of high pressure becomes situated over the southeastern U.S. and adjacent western Atlantic. /21 && .MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. FL...None. MS...None. GM...None. && This product is also available on the web at: http://weather.gov/mob
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Mobile AL 601 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018 ALZ051>060-261>266-FLZ201>206-GMZ633-MSZ067-075-076-078-079- 181115- Choctaw-Washington-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland-Mobile Central- Baldwin Central-Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-Escambia Inland- Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Inland-Santa Rosa Coastal- Okaloosa Inland-Okaloosa Coastal-Perdido Bay-Wayne-Perry-Greene- Stone-George- 601 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Alabama...southwest Alabama...northwest Florida...southeast Mississippi and the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the area again, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. A few storms could become strong to marginally severe this afternoon, capable of producing strong to locally damaging wind gusts, hail, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes, and locally heavy rainfall. There is a moderate risk of rip currents along the Alabama and northwest Florida panhandle beaches today and tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a moderate risk of rip currents along the Alabama and northwest Florida Friday and Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of SkyWarn Severe Storm Spotter networks is currently not anticipated. GMZ630>632-634>636-650-655-670-675-181115- Northern Mobile Bay-Southern Mobile Bay-Mississippi Sound- Pensacola Bay System-Western Choctawhatchee Bay- Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay- Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM- Waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL from 20 to 60 NM- 601 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing locally strong wind gusts and higher seas over the marine area today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Winds and seas will be locally higher near isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1126 AM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
ALZ051-171715-
Choctaw AL-
1126 AM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
NORTHERN CHOCTAW COUNTY UNTIL 1215 PM CDT...
At 1126 AM CDT, the strong thunderstorm was located over Kinterbish,
or 7 miles southeast of Cuba, moving east at 30 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northern Choctaw
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3231 8793 3228 8793 3228 8794 3230 8794
3230 8800 3228 8801 3228 8802 3227 8802
3226 8801 3222 8801 3222 8843 3231 8842
TIME...MOT...LOC 1626Z 267DEG 26KT 3234 8832Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1134 AM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
ALZ051-MSZ067-171715-
Choctaw AL-Wayne MS-
1134 AM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...NORTHWESTERN CHOCTAW AND NORTHEASTERN WAYNE COUNTIES UNTIL
1215 PM CDT...
At 1134 AM CDT, the strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 4 miles southeast of Snell to 6 miles southeast of De
Soto, and moving east at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Butler, Lisman, Pennington, Gilbertown and Toxey.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3222 8801 3217 8801 3214 8804 3209 8805
3206 8807 3207 8810 3206 8812 3201 8812
3180 8830 3184 8875 3190 8847 3222 8843
TIME...MOT...LOC 1634Z 266DEG 18KT 3214 8844 3191 8864Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1213 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
ALZ051-052-MSZ067-171800-
Choctaw AL-Washington AL-Wayne MS-
1213 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...CHOCTAW...NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHEASTERN WAYNE
COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1212 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 6 miles southeast of Kinterbish to 9 miles south of
Crandall, and moving southeast at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Butler, Lisman, Silas, Pennington, Gilbertown and Toxey.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3231 8793 3228 8793 3230 8794 3230 8798
3228 8802 3218 8801 3214 8804 3209 8804
3205 8812 3199 8810 3201 8809 3200 8809
3200 8808 3163 8830 3184 8862 3186 8860
3190 8847 3207 8845 3231 8827
TIME...MOT...LOC 1712Z 306DEG 13KT 3228 8820 3183 8851Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 1220 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018 MSZ079-171800- George MS- 1220 PM CDT THU MAY 17 2018 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES... SOUTHEASTERN GEORGE COUNTY UNTIL 100 PM CDT... At 1220 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorm was located 9 miles northwest of Wade, or 14 miles southwest of Lucedale, moving east at 15 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern George County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3081 8877 3087 8842 3074 8842 3073 8877 TIME...MOT...LOC 1720Z 268DEG 11KT 3073 8869
The Mobile radar (KMOB), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:58 UTC.
3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and large limbs near Basin.
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: 759571, 759597, 759598, 759599.