An strong upper level disturbance tracking through the Central Plains and an inverted surface trough along the Mississippi and Alabama border brought a couple of severe thunderstorms to portions of north Mississippi during the early evening hours of May 20th.
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 strong upper level disturbance tracking through the Central Plains and an inverted surface trough along the Mississippi and Alabama border brought a couple of severe thunderstorms to portions of north Mississippi during the early evening hours of May 20th.
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 20, 5:30 PM CST, 1 hour earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 630 PM CDT Sun May 20 2018 .UPDATE...Aviation Discussion. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 326 PM CDT Sun May 20 2018/ The atmosphere has once again become unstable this afternoon as an outflow boundary propagated southeast into northeast Arkansas through the Missouri Bootheel. Effective shear on the order of 30 kts is allowing storms developing along this boundary to remain organized. These storms have been rotating and producing severe winds and large hail. Conditions are such that an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out this afternoon. Further south, pulse severe thunderstorms will be possible with strong instability in place, but minimal shear. Wet microbursts with large hail and damaging winds are favorable in these areas. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for the entire Mid South through 8 pm cdt. Storms should diminish in coverage and intensity later this evening. By late tonight, a shortwave trough lifting northeast out of the Southern Plains will likely initiate new convection late tonight across northern and western portions of the region. CAPE values around 1000 j/kg and enhanced shear may support a continued strong to isolated severe storm threat late tonight, especially over northwest portions of the Mid South. An outflow boundary or weak synoptic front will stretch across the Mid South on Monday as morning convection diminishes. This boundary along with strong heating/instability should support additional afternoon and evening storms. Temperatures should remain a few degrees cooler on Monday as compared to today with more storm debris clouds slowing the heating a bit. Highs should top out in the middle to upper 80s. A few storms may again reach severe limits, especially along and east of the new outflow boundary/weak synoptic cold front. Upper level ridging will expand over the Mid South through mid week. The early week front may stall across the southern portions of the area where moisture will pool and may support scattered mainly diurnal convection. Temperatures will be very warm through mid week with high humidity expected to continue. By late in the week and into next weekend, attention will turn to the Gulf of Mexico and a possible disturbance. There remains uncertainty with the overall model solutions, but increased moisture and lower overall mid level heights should at least result in an upswing in convection for the end of the extended forecast period. JLH && .AVIATION.../18z TAFs/ Coverage and intensity of thunderstorms should continue to diminish over the next several hours. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected again tomorrow as temperatures warm and the atmosphere becomes unstable. Coverage of storms is very questionable, so will only include VCTS after 18z at all sites for now and attempt to get a better handle on exact timing in upcoming updates. Winds will be generally from the south, but locally variable and gusty in association with thunderstorms. Vis may be reduced to IFR levels for brief periods in association with the heavier showers and thunderstorms both this evening and again tomorrow afternoon. Winds will be generally from the south, but locally variable and gusty in association with thunderstorms. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 706 PM CDT Sun May 20 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>092-220215- 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- 706 PM CDT Sun May 20 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Scattered strong and isolated severe thunderstorms will be possible through the period, mainly during the afternoon and early evening hours. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
336 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0325 PM HAIL S PARAGOULD 36.06N 90.51W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH GREENE AR TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
&&
MRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
339 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0336 PM HAIL PARAGOULD 36.06N 90.51W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH GREENE AR TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZED HAIL HIGHWAY 69 EAST OF PARAGOULD.
&&
MRMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
340 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
MSZ003-004-202115-
Tippah MS-Benton MS-
340 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 415 PM CDT
FOR...
Southern Tippah County in northeastern Mississippi...
Southeastern Benton County in northeastern Mississippi...
At 340 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located over Blue Mountain, or
near Ripley, moving north at 15 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in southern Tippah and southeastern Benton Counties should
monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3460 8884 3461 8915 3488 8911 3487 8882
3486 8882 3486 8879
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 192DEG 9KT 3471 8901PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
359 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0356 PM HAIL 3 N BARTLETT 35.26N 89.84W
05/20/2018 M1.00 INCH SHELBY TN TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
&&
MRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
459 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1249 PM HAIL SMITHVILLE 36.08N 91.30W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH LAWRENCE AR PUBLIC
0135 PM HAIL BLACK ROCK 36.11N 91.11W
05/20/2018 M1.75 INCH LAWRENCE AR PUBLIC
HAIL RANGED DIME SIZE TO GOLFBALL.
0200 PM HAIL 2 NE BLACK ROCK 36.13N 91.08W
05/20/2018 M1.00 INCH LAWRENCE AR EMERGENCY MNGR
QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN DAVIDSONVILLE STATE PARK.
0200 PM HAIL MCDOUGAL 36.44N 90.39W
05/20/2018 M1.00 INCH CLAY AR PUBLIC
0245 PM HAIL NE BONO 35.91N 90.80W
05/20/2018 M1.75 INCH CRAIGHEAD AR BROADCAST MEDIA
QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL.
0315 PM HAIL LAFE 36.21N 90.50W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH GREENE AR TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZE HAIL BETWEEN OAK GROVE AND LAFE.
0325 PM HAIL S PARAGOULD 36.06N 90.51W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH GREENE AR TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL.
0336 PM HAIL PARAGOULD 36.06N 90.51W
05/20/2018 E1.00 INCH GREENE AR TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZED HAIL HIGHWAY 69 EAST OF PARAGOULD.
0356 PM HAIL 3 N BARTLETT 35.26N 89.84W
05/20/2018 M1.00 INCH SHELBY TN TRAINED SPOTTER
NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
0402 PM TSTM WND DMG S JACKSON 35.63N 88.83W
05/20/2018 MADISON TN BROADCAST MEDIA
TRAMPOLINE BLEW OVER POWER LINES AT HOME IN SOUTH
JACKSON.
0405 PM TSTM WND DMG S JACKSON 35.63N 88.83W
05/20/2018 MADISON TN BROADCAST MEDIA
LARGE TREE BLEW OVER HOUSE ON MALESUS HEIGHTS DRIVE.
&&
MRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
702 PM CDT SUN MAY 20 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0440 PM TSTM WND DMG EARLE 35.27N 90.46W
05/20/2018 CRITTENDEN AR TRAINED SPOTTER
SEVERAL TREES DOWN SOME ON POWER LINES. SHED BLOWN
OVER.18 WHEELER TRUCK BLOWN OVER ON HIGHWAY 64 GOING INTO
EARLE.
&&
MRMThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:30 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds downed trees and caused power outages in Fulton.
Large tree down on a home.
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: 754084, 754085.