A westward moving upper level disturbance generated a severe thunderstorm capable of damaging winds in an unstable airmass during the evening hours of July 4th across west Tennessee.
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.
A westward moving upper level disturbance generated a severe thunderstorm capable of damaging winds in an unstable airmass during the evening hours of July 4th across west Tennessee.
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 Jul 4, 6:13 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
713 PM CDT Wed Jul 4 2018
.UPDATE...
Updated to extend heat advisory and add excessive heat warnings
through Thursday evening.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
A weak shortwave embedded within deep easterly flow, to the south
of a sprawling upper level ridge of high pressure over the Middle
Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, will produce scattered showers and
thunderstorms this evening. Very warm and humid weather will
continue through tonight.
Very hot and humid weather is anticipated for Thursday with
dangerous heat index values ranging from 105 to 115 degrees by
afternoon. Heat advisories have been extended through Thursday
evening areawide, with an excessive heat warning for most areas
along and west of the Mississippi River. Use extreme caution with
any outdoor activities tomorrow afternoon through early evening.
JLH
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 250 PM CDT Wed Jul 4 2018/
Upper level ridge over the Midwest/central U.S. will retrograde
late Thursday/Friday, placing the Mid-South in northwest/northerly
upper flow. This will allow a weak front to move into the area,
with temperatures not as hot and increased precipitation chances.
For tonight...heat index values over 100 at many sites across the
Mid-South, so heat advisory continues. High-res models show
showers/a few tstorms over the area. Latest few runs of the CAMs,
as well as NAM/GFS, suggest convection persisting well into the
evening hours. Will raise POPs into the chance category for the
00-06Z period for SW TN/N MS/E AR. Agree with SPC assessment of
gusty winds possible, given strong DCAPEs across area.
Lingering effects of upper ridge should persist through Thursday.
Weak front will work in by late afternoon, but forecast highs in the
90s and dewpoints in the 70s suggest a heat advisory may be needed
for portions of the area, especially NE AR/MO Bootheel. Will let
midnight shift re-evaluate after the evening convection.
Upper-level transition in full swing by Thursday night/Friday. Mid-
South should see less influence from upper ridge, focusing of weak
frontal boundary, and weak upper system rounding the east side of
the ridge. Showers/tstorms increasing late Thursday night, and
widespread precipitation on Friday. At this point no organized
severe or widespread heavy rain is expected.
For Saturday...surface boundary should be drifting over N MS. Weak
systems riding along southern periphery of upper ridge should
keep convection mostly over and south of our N MS counties.
Surface boundary should wash out by late weekend, allowing moisture
and POPs to return to much of the area into early next week.
Upper ridge to build back over the MS/OH valley area by late in
the forecast period, which will mean increasing temps as well.
GW
&&
&&
.AVIATION.../00z TAFs/
VFR conditions will prevail through much of the forecast period.
There may be temporary reductions in vsbys in fog late tonight at
KMKL and KTUP. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms
will also continue across the Mid South this evening and again
Thursday afternoon across southern sections. Winds should remain
light and variable tonight, becoming easterly on Thursday at
speeds between 5-8 kts.
JLH
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Thursday for Lawrence-Randolph.
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Thursday for Clay-
Craighead-Crittenden-Cross-Greene-Lee AR-Mississippi-
Phillips-Poinsett-St. Francis.
MO...Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Thursday for Dunklin-
Pemiscot.
MS...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Thursday for Alcorn-Benton MS-
Calhoun-Chickasaw-DeSoto-Itawamba-Lafayette-Lee MS-Marshall-
Monroe-Panola-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-Tallahatchie-Tate-
Tippah-Tishomingo-Union-Yalobusha.
Excessive Heat Warning until 8 PM CDT Thursday for Coahoma-
Tunica.
TN...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT Thursday 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 National Weather Service Memphis TN 1159 AM CDT Wed Jul 4 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>092-051045- 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- 1159 AM CDT Wed Jul 4 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 A Heat Advisory is in effect for the entire Mid-South today as Heat Index values may exceed 105 degrees at times this afternoon and early this evening. A few strong storms are possible this afternoon and evening over southwest Tennessee...northern Mississippi...and extreme eastern Arkansas. Gusty wind...heavy rain...and lightning are the primary threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Heat Index values may exceed 105 degrees on Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 336 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018 MSZ002-013-014-042115- Lafayette MS-Marshall MS-Union MS- 336 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR... Northeastern Lafayette County in northwestern Mississippi... Southeastern Marshall County in northwestern Mississippi... Western Union County in northeastern Mississippi... At 334 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing winds at least 40 mph was located over New Albany, moving west at 30 mph. Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are also possible with this thunderstorm. People in northeastern Lafayette...southeastern Marshall and western Union Counties should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3436 8950 3458 8950 3459 8892 3445 8890 TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 088DEG 27KT 3451 8899 TLSJr
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 427 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018 MSZ002-008-012-013-042200- Lafayette MS-Marshall MS-Panola MS-Tate MS- 427 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 500 PM CDT FOR... Northwestern Lafayette County in northwestern Mississippi... Southern Marshall County in northwestern Mississippi... Northeastern Panola County in northwestern Mississippi... Eastern Tate County in northwestern Mississippi... At 427 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Bethlehem, or 7 miles south of Wall Doxey State Park, moving west at 35 mph. Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are also possible with this thunderstorm. People in northwestern Lafayette...southern Marshall...northeastern Panola and eastern Tate Counties should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3464 8933 3446 8936 3448 8989 3475 8983 TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 099DEG 31KT 3456 8944
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
523 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
MSZ001-002-008-042315-
Marshall MS-DeSoto MS-Tate MS-
523 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 615 PM CDT
FOR...
West central Marshall County in northwestern Mississippi...
DeSoto County in northwestern Mississippi...
Tate County in northwestern Mississippi...
At 523 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Independence, or 12
miles east of Hernando, moving west at 25 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in west central Marshall...DeSoto and Tate Counties should
monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3465 9021 3467 9022 3469 9022 3470 9023
3472 9021 3472 9020 3486 9020 3497 9018
3497 8979 3483 8966 3465 8971 3460 8973
3462 9024
TIME...MOT...LOC 2223Z 102DEG 22KT 3476 8978PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
630 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0507 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 WNW MARIANNA 34.75N 89.67W
07/04/2018 MARSHALL MS LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREE DOWN REPORTED BY DESOTO COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, RADAR
ESTIMATED TIME.
&&
WLCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
634 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
ARZ035-036-048-049-MSZ007-050015-
St. Francis AR-Cross AR-Lee AR-Crittenden AR-Tunica MS-
634 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 715 PM CDT
FOR...
St. Francis County in eastern Arkansas...
Southwestern Cross County in eastern Arkansas...
Lee County in eastern Arkansas...
Southwestern Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas...
Northern Tunica County in northwestern Mississippi...
At 634 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located near Horseshoe Lake, or
7 miles southeast of Hughes, moving west at 35 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in St. Francis...southwestern Cross...Lee...southwestern
Crittenden and northern Tunica Counties should monitor this storm
closely.
LAT...LON 3500 9115 3500 9105 3527 9104 3506 9025
3503 9025 3504 9029 3502 9031 3498 9030
3496 9026 3490 9026 3487 9031 3486 9030
3486 9026 3469 9027 3475 9110 3487 9110
3487 9112 3491 9112 3491 9115
TIME...MOT...LOC 2334Z 103DEG 31KT 3489 9037PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
737 PM CDT WED JUL 4 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0556 PM TSTM WND DMG HERNANDO 34.83N 89.99W
07/04/2018 DESOTO MS TRAINED SPOTTER
TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROADS IN AND AROUND CITY OF HERNANDO.
TIME IS RADAR ESTIMATED.
&&
AJCThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:29 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree fell on car initially injuring a woman who later passed away at the hospital.
Measured 2 inches of rainfall.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin | 2018-07-04 | 46 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 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: 773052, 773053.