Tornado and Hail in Missouri, April 3, 2018

Name: Tornado and Hail in Missouri, April 3, 2018
Start: 2018-04-03T17:06
End: 2018-04-03T17:25
Location: Missouri

April 3, 2018 · NWS MEG · 3 events in 1 county or zone

A broken line of severe thunderstorms along a strong cold front produced numerous reports of damaging winds and large hail and one tornado during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 3rd.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.

A broken line of severe thunderstorms along a strong cold front produced numerous reports of damaging winds and large hail and one tornado during the late afternoon and evening hours of April 3rd.

What forecasters said that day

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 Apr 3, 2:50 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 3, 2:50 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
350 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

.DISCUSSION...

A deep surface low is centered over E IL this afternoon while a
strong cold front extends through MO into NW AR. A broken line of
thunderstorms has developed ahead of the front in MO and AR. The
low will continue tracking northeastward while the cold front
moves quickly through the forecast area late this afternoon and
evening. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will quickly
progress across the Midsouth along and just ahead of the cold
front late this afternoon and evening. Cannot rule out a semi
discrete cell or two to form just ahead of the line, especially
over NE AR late this afternoon. Damaging winds, large hail, and
possible tornadoes are all potential threats with any of these
storms. The best chance for tornadoes will be over NE AR and MO
Bootheel. All activity should be east of the forecast area before
midnight as the front pushes into middle TN and northern AL.

High pressure will build into the region Wednesday supporting an
unseasonably cold polar airmass advecting in from the NW. Frost
will be likely Wednesday night with some areas experiencing a
freeze.

Another system will provide rain Friday possibly mixing with or
changing to snow near the MO/KY border by Saturday morning as cold
air advects into the area. There is another risk for frost or
freezing temperatures Saturday night. More showers are possible by
the end of the weekend.

SWC

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs

Few changes made to the 18Z TAFs with respect to timing of the
convective line later this afternoon. Pre-frontal SHRA/TSRA
likely a bit overdone on the HRRR, given strength of the low level
capping inversion.

Short range convection-allowing models have better converged
with respect to timing. MEM will likely be near the interface of
frontal-forced TSRA approaching from northwest and outflow
boundary TSRA to the west/southwest. Evolution of this southern
group of storms will depend on how ongoing TSRA evolves coming out
the Arklatex.

Storms should be well east of the MEM TRACON at the onset of late
evening arrival push, with a broken TSRA line extending from west
central AL northeast through the Ohio Valley by 03Z.

16Z HRRR model depicts a weak wake low over north central AR at
06Z. Have bumped up MEM winds a bit into the early overnight.

PWB

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Clay-Craighead-
     Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lawrence-Lee AR-Mississippi-
     Phillips-Poinsett-Randolph-St. Francis.

MO...Wind Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening for Dunklin-Pemiscot.

MS...Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for Alcorn-Benton MS-
     Coahoma-DeSoto-Lafayette-Marshall-Panola-Prentiss-Quitman-
     Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Yalobusha.

TN...Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for Benton TN-Carroll-
     Chester-Crockett-Decatur-Dyer-Fayette-Gibson-Hardeman-
     Hardin-Haywood-Henderson-Henry-Lake-Lauderdale-Madison-
     McNairy-Obion-Shelby-Tipton-Weakley.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 3, 11:02 AM CST, 6 hours 4 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1202 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 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>092-041915-
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-
1202 PM CDT Tue Apr 3 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas...
the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

There is an moderate risk for severe weather across the majority
of the Mid-South this afternoon and this evening. Damaging winds
and large hail are the main threats. A few tornadoes are
possible. A significant tornado could occur across Northeast
Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel or Northwest Tennessee.

A wind advisory is in effect for most of the Mid-South through
late tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Frost is likely across much of the Midsouth Thursday morning with
subfreezing temperatures possible in West Tennessee especially
near the Tennessee River.

Freezing temperatures are possible again on Saturday morning
across northern portions of the Mid-South.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed this afternoon and evening.

SJM

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 3, 4:41 PM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
541 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0520 PM     HAIL             LIGHT                   36.07N 90.75W
04/03/2018  M1.00 INCH       GREENE             AR   PUBLIC

&&

JAB

Local storm report, Apr 3, 4:45 PM CST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
545 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0540 PM     HAIL             PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
04/03/2018  M1.25 INCH       GREENE             AR   PUBLIC

&&

JAB

Local storm report, Apr 3, 4:46 PM CST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
546 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0540 PM     HAIL             PARAGOULD               36.06N 90.51W
04/03/2018  M1.50 INCH       GREENE             AR   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

JAB

Local storm report, Apr 3, 4:56 PM CST, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
556 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 PM     HAIL             JONESBORO               35.82N 90.69W
04/03/2018  M1.00 INCH       CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HAIL FALLING ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN.

&&

JAB

Special weather statement, Apr 3, 5:02 PM CST, 4 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
602 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

ARZ036-049-058-MSZ007-032330-
Phillips AR-Lee AR-Crittenden AR-Tunica MS-
602 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 630 PM CDT
FOR...

Northeastern Phillips County in eastern Arkansas...
Eastern Lee County in eastern Arkansas...
South central Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas...
Central Tunica County in northwestern Mississippi...

At 602 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing penny to nickel size
hail was located 8 miles north of St Francis National Park, moving
east at 55 mph.

Dangerous cloud to ground lightning is also possible with this
thunderstorm.

People in northeastern Phillips...eastern Lee...south central
Crittenden and central Tunica Counties should monitor this storm
closely.

LAT...LON 3491 9046 3490 9041 3494 9041 3497 9034
      3463 9024 3461 9024 3455 9084 3470 9086
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 248DEG 49KT 3470 9062

Local storm report, Apr 3, 5:06 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
606 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0605 PM     HAIL             7 S JONESBORO           35.72N 90.69W
04/03/2018  M0.88 INCH       CRAIGHEAD          AR   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JAB

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 80 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:03 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Dunklin

When: April 3, 5:06 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where: Dunklin County, 3.3 mi S of Arbyrd to 1.9 mi ESE of Hornersville Mem Arp
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.7 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $1.5 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.002, -90.231

The tornado developed near the intersection of County Roads 627 and 638 and moved east. The tornado damaged storage buildings, trees, power poles, and center pivot irrigation systems. A few residences also experienced shingle and roof damage. The tornado turned northeast after crossing State Highway K. The most significant damage was noted along County Road 657 south-southwest of Hornersville. The tornado dissipated in the Hornersville Swamp Conversation Area.

Hail, Dunklin

When: April 3, 5:15 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Dunklin County, 0.73 mi SSW of Hornersville to 1 mi ESE of Hornersville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.040, -90.125

Hail, Dunklin

When: April 3, 5:20 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where: Dunklin County, 0.58 mi W of Clarkton to 0.67 mi ENE of Clarkton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.449, -89.980

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Missouri, 2018 Warnings in Missouri, April 2018

Sources

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: 748980, 748983, 748985.