Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, May 19, 2018

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Missouri, May 19, 2018
Start: 2018-05-19T14:30
End: 2018-05-19T14:35
Location: Missouri

May 19, 2018 · NWS MEG · 2 events in 1 county or zone

An upper level disturbance and passing cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across the Bootheel of Missouri during the afternoon hours of May 19th.

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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

An upper level disturbance and passing cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across the Bootheel of Missouri during the afternoon hours of May 19th.

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 May 19, 1:03 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 19, 1:03 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
203 PM CDT Sat May 19 2018

.DISCUSSION...

Current conditions...severe thunderstorm watch for mainly the
northern counties through early this evening...due to a more
organized threat of storms moving southeast from southern
Missouri. A cold pool is expected that will sweep towards the
Tennessee River by sunset...or shortly thereafter. Otherwise
further south 4500 CAPE amounts were generating more pulse like
convection that is also reaching severe limits. Latest reports
have been for quarter-size hail and winds estimated at 60mph.

Tonight and tomorrow convection is expected to wind down this
evening but a few storms may linger across the far north on the
edge of the flattened ridge and in the vicinity of a weak frontal
boundary. Not much change expected for tomorrow. A somewhat
worked over atmosphere though may keep coverage more isolated to
scattered...however CAPE amounts are expected to once again shoot
up to near 4000 j/kg...so a few strong to severe storms are likely
in the afternoon/evening.

The upcoming work week...pattern doesn't change much this period
with 20-35kts from the southwest/west in the upper levels and
<10kts near the ground. Dewpoints in the upper 60s to low
70s...coupled with daytime highs in the upper 80s will trigger
afternoon and evening convection each day. Storms forming upstream
in Missouri may become organized during the overnight hours for
nocturnal activity brushing through the northern Midsouth
counties...so have higher PoPs in this region during the overnight
hours. A few severe storms will be a threat each day as is
typical in this summer-type pattern and airmass.

Long-range solutions from the GFS and Euro show a stronger cold
front arriving at the end of next weekend...that may scour out the
airmass in place long enough for a dry day or two.

JAB

&&

.AVIATION...

Scattered thunderstorms to affect the TAF sites early this
period...with activity diminishing after sunset. Conditions
generally VFR with MVFR and brief IFR during storms. Light fog
will be around near sunrise. Winds will be from the south and
southwest at mainly 4-8kts...with higher gusts possible near
storms.

JAB

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 9:57 AM CST, 4 hours 33 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1057 AM CDT Sat May 19 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>092-201800-
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-
1057 AM CDT Sat May 19 2018

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a marginal risk for severe weather across the northern
counties this afternoon and early this evening. Damaging
winds...large hail and heavy rain will be the main threats.

Farther south isolated strong thunderstorms will be possible with
brief heavy rain and strong wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Isolated strong thunderstorms will be possible, with locally
heavy rainfall and strong winds.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be possible this afternoon and evening
across the northern Midsouth counties.

JAB

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 19, 12:44 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
144 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0115 PM     HAIL             LAKELAND                35.24N 89.73W
05/19/2018  M1.00 INCH       SHELBY             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JAB

Local storm report, May 19, 1:02 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
202 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0135 PM     HAIL             THREE WAY               35.70N 90.25W
05/19/2018  E0.75 INCH       MISSISSIPPI        AR   PUBLIC

&&

JAB

Local storm report, May 19, 1:11 PM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
211 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0207 PM     HAIL             4 N NEW HARMONY         34.46N 88.92W
05/19/2018  E0.75 INCH       UNION              MS   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

JAB

Local storm report, May 19, 1:13 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
213 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0130 PM     HAIL             NUTBUSH                 35.70N 89.42W
05/19/2018  M0.75 INCH       HAYWOOD            TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

JAB

Local storm report, May 19, 1:55 PM CST, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
255 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0255 PM     HAIL             4 SE BOLIVAR            35.22N 88.95W
05/19/2018  M0.75 INCH       HARDEMAN           TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MOSTLY DIME SIZE

&&

JAB

Local storm report, May 19, 2:24 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
324 PM CDT SAT MAY 19 2018

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

0323 PM     HAIL             JONESBORO               35.82N 90.69W
05/19/2018  E1.00 INCH       CRAIGHEAD          AR   PUBLIC

&&

JAB

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Pemiscot

When: May 19, 2:30 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where: Pemiscot County, 1.18 mi NNW of Caruthersville Arpt to Caruthersville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.187, -89.674

Thunderstorm Wind, Pemiscot

When: May 19, 2:30 PM CST to 2:35 PM CST
Where: Pemiscot County, 1.13 mi ENE of Stubtown to Caruthersville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.189, -89.683

Estimated wind gust in town.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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 Warnings in Missouri, May 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: 753981, 753982.