A weak shear axis lingered from the Southeast Texas coast north across East Texas into Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas on May 23rd. Strong heating and ample low level moisture near this shear axis allowed for moderate instability by afternoon, contributing to the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms across East Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana.
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 SHV wrote it up.
A weak shear axis lingered from the Southeast Texas coast north across East Texas into Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas on May 23rd. Strong heating and ample low level moisture near this shear axis allowed for moderate instability by afternoon, contributing to the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms across East Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and North Louisiana. An isolated severe thunderstorm developed over southeast Franklin County, where severe thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of a home and nearby boat dock on Lake Bob Sandlin just northeast of the Scroggins community. Penny size hail also fell from another isolated severe thunderstorm just northwest of Texarkana, Texas.
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 Shreveport, LA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 2:02 PM CST, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Shreveport LA 302 PM CDT Wed May 23 2018 .SHORT TERM.../tonight through Thursday Night/ Isold convection has developed by mid aftn, but expecting a little more coverage by early eve, before diurnal dissipation occurs. With pwat values around 1.6 to 1.9, and K index values in mid to upper 40s, very little reason to think much will be different on Thursday, with widely sct to sct diurnal convection and aftn temps either side of 90 degrees along with overnight temps either side of 70 degrees. Lgt winds to continue as well./07/ .LONG TERM.../Friday Morning through Tuesday Night/ Broad upper-trough across the central Gulf of Mexico extending through Louisiana and into the Mississippi River Valley to maintain a chance of mainly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms trough the weekend. Surface and upper trough to move inland on Sunday night across the northeast gulf coast near the Florida panhandle. As this disturbance drifts north and east, upper-level ridge to build across the Red River valley bringing hot and dry conditions across the ArkLaTex early next week. Temperatures from Friday through Monday to range from highs in the lower 90s to lows around 70. Expect a gradual warming trend early next week with high temperatures across East Texas on Monday and Tuesday to approach the mid 90s. Otherwise, best chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms through the weekend will be across northeast Louisiana and south- centeral Arkansas. /05/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1247 PM CDT Wed May 23 2018/ AVIATION... Although cumulus development is only taking place gradually at some locations, isold convection has begun to recently develop elsewhere. Juicy unstable airmass suggest that rapid development is possible, although weak wind shear suggest cells very slow movers and svr wx unlikely. For now, will handle with vcnty tstms and update to localized thunder at areal terminals when necessary. Fog possible where rain occurs but very localized and cannot narrow down this 18z taf package. Sfc winds mostly lgt and vrbl thru period but could be gusty near convection./07/. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1037 AM CDT Wed May 23 2018/ UPDATE... Decided not to lower pops as airmass quite juicy with K index values in mid/upper 30s and lack of any dry layers on areal 12z soundings. Scattered convection movg nwd across I-10 attm which may justify high end chance across southern portions of area, while stgr moisture convergence across nrn portions of area may allow for more rapid development once convective temps around upper 80s are reached in mid aftn. No update needed but reran zones and rec to remove morning wording./07/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 71 91 71 90 / 30 40 20 30 MLU 72 90 70 90 / 30 50 20 40 DEQ 67 87 68 89 / 30 50 20 30 TXK 69 88 69 89 / 30 50 20 30 ELD 68 88 69 90 / 30 50 20 30 TYR 71 88 71 91 / 20 30 20 30 GGG 71 89 71 91 / 20 30 20 30 LFK 69 88 70 91 / 20 30 20 40 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. LA...None. OK...None. TX...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Shreveport LA 525 AM CDT Wed May 23 2018 ARZ050-051-059>061-070>073-LAZ001>006-010>014-017>022-OKZ077- TXZ096-097-108>112-124>126-136>138-149>153-165>167-241100- Sevier-Howard-Little River-Hempstead-Nevada-Miller-Lafayette- Columbia-Union-Caddo-Bossier-Webster-Claiborne-Lincoln-De Soto- Red River-Bienville-Jackson-Ouachita-Sabine-Natchitoches-Winn- Grant-Caldwell-La Salle-McCurtain-Bowie-Franklin-Titus-Camp- Morris-Cass-Wood-Upshur-Marion-Smith-Gregg-Harrison-Cherokee-Rusk- Panola-Nacogdoches-Shelby-Angelina-San Augustine- 525 AM CDT Wed May 23 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible today and into tonight across the entire Four State Region. The best chances for thunderstorms will be this afternoon during peak daytime heating. This activity should slowly decrease through the evening and nighttime hours. Brief heavy downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud to ground lightning will be the primary threats. While an isolated storm could become severe, widespread severe thunderstorms are not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... Scattered thunderstorms are expected each day from Thursday through Tuesday. The greatest thunderstorm activity is expected each afternoon during peak daytime heating, and any storms that develop will gradually dissipate during the evening. Brief heavy downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud to ground lightning will be possible, but widespread severe weather is not expected. A tropical low pressure system moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Mississippi River may provide more widespread and persistent thunderstorm chances across mainly Southern Arkansas and Northern Louisiana Saturday through Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of emergency management personnel, amateur radio operators, and storm spotters is not anticipated through tonight. 09
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
302 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
LAZ001-TXZ138-151-232045-
Caddo LA-Panola TX-Harrison TX-
302 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
At 302 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Deberry, or 17 miles northeast of Carthage, moving northwest at 20
mph.
Half inch hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Greenwood, Waskom, Deberry, Elysian Fields, Midyett, Deadwood, Front
and Spring Ridge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3238 9437 3252 9404 3223 9389 3219 9395
3220 9404 3214 9404 3210 9412
TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 153DEG 15KT 3226 9407
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
329 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
TXZ111-112-232115-
Cass TX-Morris TX-
329 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY...
At 328 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hughes Springs, or 21 miles west of Atlanta, moving northwest at 15
mph.
Half inch hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Daingerfield, Linden, Hughes Springs, Naples, Omaha, Rocky Branch,
Avinger and Marietta.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3326 9465 3325 9464 3325 9461 3326 9459
3325 9458 3327 9456 3327 9453 3328 9452
3299 9437 3290 9456 3312 9482 3318 9481
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 149DEG 15KT 3301 9452
05Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
409 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
LAZ001-TXZ126-138-232200-
Caddo LA-Harrison TX-Marion TX-
409 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL CADDO PARISH...
SOUTHEASTERN MARION AND EASTERN HARRISON COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 408 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Elysian Fields to near Waskom. Movement
was north at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Shreveport, Marshall, Vivian, Greenwood, Waskom, Oil City,
Mooringsport, Karnack, Elysian Fields, Woodlawn, Gray, Scottsville,
Uncertain, Caddo Lake, Leigh, Jonesville, Bethany and Nesbitt.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3288 9399 3246 9386 3238 9407 3235 9427
3266 9448
TIME...MOT...LOC 2108Z 161DEG 12KT 3241 9420 3249 9402
20Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Shreveport LA 412 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018 TXZ097-112-232200- Cass TX-Bowie TX- 412 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CASS AND SOUTHEASTERN BOWIE COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT... At 412 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles west of Atlanta, moving north at 15 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Atlanta, Queen City, Redwater, Maud, Douglassville and Red Hill. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. && LAT...LON 3306 9417 3304 9438 3338 9449 3342 9417 TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 172DEG 14KT 3313 9429 20
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
415 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
TXZ108>110-232200-
Camp TX-Franklin TX-Titus TX-
415 PM CDT WED MAY 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FRANKLIN...WESTERN TITUS AND
WESTERN CAMP COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM CDT...
At 414 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Leesburg, moving north at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Mount Pleasant, Pittsburg, Leesburg, Mount Vernon, Scroggins,
Newsome, Winfield, Miller's Cove, Rocky Mound, Hopewell and
Monticello.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3336 9499 3295 9498 3293 9515 3300 9515
3299 9516 3298 9516 3297 9518 3296 9517
3296 9520 3297 9520 3332 9531 3333 9527
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 172DEG 14KT 3302 9510
20The Shreveport radar (KSHV), 138 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:18 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The roof of a home as well as a boat dock were damaged by severe thunderstorm winds on County Road 4396 on Lake Bob Sandlin northeast of the Scroggins community.
Penny size hail fell just northwest of Texarkana, TX.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, 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: 747020, 747021.