An upper level disturbance combined with unstable conditions generated scattered severe thunderstorms across portions of north Mississippi during the afternoon and early evening hours of May 30th.
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 upper level disturbance combined with unstable conditions generated scattered severe thunderstorms across portions of north Mississippi during the afternoon and early evening hours of May 30th.
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 30, 11:26 AM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1226 PM CDT Wed May 30 2018 .UPDATE.. /issued 1054 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018/ Morning showers and clouds have dissipated, but the morning warmup is behind schedule across much of North Mississippi. 10:00 am temperatures are only in the middle 70s across much of North Mississippi, but are in the low to middle 80s across most of the remainder of the Midsouth. Knocked afternoon highs down a couple of degrees in North Mississippi, around 88 degrees. The remainder of the Midsouth should climb into the low 90s. Another round of showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon. && .DISCUSSION... /issued 634 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018/ Skies are cloudy over eastern sections of the forecast area with mostly clear skies elsewhere. Temperatures early this morning are in the lower 70s. The center of Alberto is currently over far Western Kentucky and moving north. Some of the rain bands from Alberto continue to effect northern sections of West Tennessee. The rain bands should move out of Tennessee later this morning so will keep the Flash Flood Watch in effect until 7 AM with no need to extend it. With Alberto moving out of the region, the weather pattern should return to a more summer like one with scattered afternoon and early evening thunderstorms. Temperatures will be warmer today with highs around 90 degrees. On Thursday, a frontal boundary will be over the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of the front and move toward the forecast area. There could be some severe storms over northern sections of West Tennessee and the Missouri bootheel with large hail and damaging winds as the main threat. Temperatures will remain quite warm on Thursday with highs in the lower 90s. The cold front will move south Thursday night and Friday remaining north of the forecast area with more thunderstorms expected. The front is expected to die out before reaching the forecast area Friday night so rain is not expected either Friday night or Saturday. Another cold front will makes its way into the forecast area for Saturday night and Sunday bringing more thunderstorms to the region. Cooler air will move into the region on Sunday behind the front bringing temperatures back to normal levels. High pressure will build into the region by Sunday night bringing somewhat drier air into the forecast area. Dry weather and near normal temperatures are expected from Sunday night through Tuesday. ARS && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF Set VFR conditions are expected to continue over the next 24 to 30 hours. Main caveat will be thunderstorm development this afternoon into the early evening hours with a shortwave moving through the region. Left vicinity wording in all TAF sites through 00Z. Southwest winds will remain around 10 KTS and may be gusty at times through 00Z. Thereafter, speeds will drop to 5 KTS or less. Winds will pick back up after 15Z. KRM && && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 705 AM CDT Wed May 30 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>092-311415- 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- 705 AM CDT Wed May 30 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over portions of northwest Tennessee and the Missouri bootheel. The main threat from these storms will be damaging winds and large hail. Hot and humid conditions are expected by the end of the week with heat indices potentially exceeding 100 degrees Friday and Saturday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed on Thursday.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
142 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
MSZ013-015-021>023-301915-
Lafayette MS-Pontotoc MS-Calhoun MS-Yalobusha MS-Chickasaw MS-
142 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 215 PM CDT
FOR...
Southeastern Lafayette County in northwestern Mississippi...
Southwestern Pontotoc County in northeastern Mississippi...
Calhoun County in northeastern Mississippi...
Eastern Yalobusha County in northwestern Mississippi...
Northwestern Chickasaw County in northeastern Mississippi...
At 142 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger was located near Banner, or 12 miles southeast of Water
Valley, moving east at 30 mph.
People in southeastern Lafayette...southwestern Pontotoc...Calhoun...
eastern Yalobusha and northwestern Chickasaw Counties should monitor
this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3387 8951 3387 8966 3402 8974 3417 8964
3425 8909 3394 8903 3385 8951
TIME...MOT...LOC 1842Z 258DEG 28KT 3406 8944
WLCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
224 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
TNZ090-091-302015-
Hardeman TN-McNairy TN-
224 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 315 PM CDT
FOR...
Southern Hardeman County in southwestern Tennessee...
Central McNairy County in southwestern Tennessee...
At 223 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located 9 miles west of
Pocahontas, or 13 miles south of Bolivar, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in southern Hardeman and central McNairy Counties should
monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3499 8897 3499 8907 3513 8915 3527 8879
3525 8878 3525 8872 3531 8869 3530 8865
3531 8864 3532 8866 3538 8851 3537 8848
3507 8848
TIME...MOT...LOC 1923Z 243DEG 32KT 3508 8898Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 238 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018 MSZ014>016-302030- Pontotoc MS-Union MS-Lee MS- 238 PM CDT WED MAY 30 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 330 PM CDT FOR... Pontotoc County in northeastern Mississippi... Southeastern Union County in northeastern Mississippi... Lee County in northeastern Mississippi... At 238 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Randolph, or near Pontotoc, moving east at 40 mph. Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are also possible with this thunderstorm. People in Pontotoc...southeastern Union and Lee Counties should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3409 8912 3430 8918 3451 8863 3415 8860 TIME...MOT...LOC 1938Z 248DEG 33KT 3421 8909
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:56 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree damage at the Pontotoc Country Club.
Multiple trees down in the Furrs Community. Widespread power outages.
Roof off a home.
Large tree down at the Piney Grove Area of Bay Springs Lake.
Tree down on a shed.
Multiple trees down around Tishomingo.
Nickel to quarter size hail fell around the fire station.
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: 754299, 754297, 754298, 754300, 754301, 754302, 754303, 754304.