A surface wave along a slow moving cold front produced several facets of severe weather, including flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes across northern Mississippi during the evening of April 13th.
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 surface wave along a slow moving cold front produced several facets of severe weather, including flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes across northern Mississippi during the evening of April 13th.
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 13, 5:28 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Memphis TN
628 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019
.UPDATE...
Updated for 00Z Aviation Forecast Discussion below.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 311 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019/
DISCUSSION...19Z Surface analysis places a surface low just
southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana with a warm front extending
east towards Laurel, Mississippi. Meanwhile, overcast conditions
have persisted into the afternoon with temperatures as of 2 PM
CDT in the middle 50s to around 60 degrees at most locations.
Regional WSR-88D radar trends thus far have shown rain showers
across the Mid-South with an occasional elevated thunderstorm
over North Mississippi as the area has remained well north of a
warm front. Short term models including Convective Allowing Model
solutions (CAMs) indicate the warm front should begin to surge
north late this afternoon into early evening perhaps as far as the
Tennessee/Mississippi state line or slightly north.
Recent radar trends over Louisiana and Southern Arkansas are
already starting to show signs of a strongly forced line
developing. The CAM solutions are generally on track or perhaps
about an hour slower than what is occurring. This should bring
stronger convective activity into the forecast area beginning
5-7 PM CDT over east Arkansas (south of I-40), and across north
Mississippi this evening. Damaging winds continues to be the
predominant severe thunderstorm threat with a potential for
perhaps a tornado or two embedded within bowing segments.
Localized heavy rainfall will also be possible this evening. Will
continue the Wind Advisory for the aforementioned area as
surface/boundary layer winds are expected to remain strong as the
surface low and its tight pressure gradient move across the Mid-
South tonight.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to gradually diminish to
rain showers as the surface low pushes away from the region.
Cooler and drier air is expected to filter in behind this low with
temperatures Sunday night into Monday morning dropping back into
to the upper 30s to around 40 degrees. This may result in the
development of patchy frost across portions of West Tennessee and
North Mississippi. Rain free conditions are expected to persist
into Tuesday across the Mid-South with temperatures in the 60s to
lower 70s on Monday recovering to the middle 70s by Tuesday.
Long term models continue to suggest a return of showers and
thunderstorms for Wednesday into Thursday with a chance for strong
to perhaps severe thunderstorms late Wednesday into Thursday. This
will continue to be monitored and subsequent threats addressed as
this timeframe draws closer. Stay tuned...
CJC
&&
.AVIATION...
00Z TAFs
Combination of strong gradient winds, strong southerly low level
jet, and numerous TSRA to prevail this evening. Latest NAMNest
and other convection-allowing models show back edge of strongly-
forced TSRA should be east of MEM at 05Z-06Z. Surface winds are a
challenge after that, with low pressure depicted by the NAMNest
near NQA, and southerly winds at MEM. If the surface low ends up
at OLV, MEM will instead see NE winds. For the TAFs, have blended
HRRR, NAMNest and ARW with respect to surface low position.
Much calmer conditions on Sunday, with MVFR gradually transitioning
to VFR during the day.
PWB
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Wind Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for Crittenden-Cross-
Lee AR-Phillips-St. Francis.
MO...None.
MS...Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Sunday for Calhoun-Coahoma-DeSoto-
Lafayette-Marshall-Panola-Quitman-Tallahatchie-Tate-Tunica-
Yalobusha.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Sunday for Benton MS-Chickasaw-
Itawamba-Lee MS-Monroe-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Tippah-Union.
TN...Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Sunday for Fayette-Shelby-Tipton.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 321 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-142230- 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-Lee AR-Lee MS- Madison-Marshall-McNairy-Mississippi-Monroe-Obion-Panola-Pemiscot- Phillips-Poinsett-Pontotoc-Prentiss-Quitman-Shelby-St. Francis- Tallahatchie-Tate-Tippah-Tipton-Tishomingo-Tunica-Union-Weakley- Yalobusha- 321 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019 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 enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms south of a line from Clarksdale, Mississippi to Tupelo, Mississippi, and a slight risk of severe thunderstorms south of a line from Forrest City Arkansas to McKenzie, Tennessee tonight into early Sunday morning. Damaging winds and a few tornadoes are the main threats. Large hail is a secondary threat. Rainfall amounts of up to 3 inches could result in localized flash flooding. A Wind Advisory is in effect across east-central Arkansas, southwest Tennessee and North Mississippi late this afternoon into this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Patchy frost is possible late Sunday night into Monday morning. A few strong to severe storms are possible Wednesday night into Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
420 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019
ARZ036-048-049-MSZ007-132200-
St. Francis AR-Lee AR-Crittenden AR-Tunica MS-
420 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR...
Eastern St. Francis County in eastern Arkansas...
Eastern Lee County in eastern Arkansas...
Southwestern Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas...
Northwestern Tunica County in northwestern Mississippi...
At 420 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or
larger and winds at least 40 mph was located 8 miles north of St
Francis National Park, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in eastern St. Francis...eastern Lee...southwestern Crittenden
and northwestern Tunica Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3515 9062 3515 9018 3503 9025 3504 9030
3500 9031 3497 9029 3463 9048 3464 9078
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 205DEG 39KT 3470 9063
JOHNSONSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
553 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019
MSZ007-008-010-011-132330-
Tunica MS-Coahoma MS-Tate MS-Quitman MS-
553 PM CDT Sat Apr 13 2019
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 630 PM CDT
FOR...
Tunica County in northwestern Mississippi...
Northeastern Coahoma County in northwestern Mississippi...
Western Tate County in northwestern Mississippi...
Northwestern Quitman County in northwestern Mississippi...
At 553 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing winds at least 40 mph
was located near Jonestown, or 12 miles northeast of Clarksdale,
moving northeast at 55 mph.
People in Tunica...northeastern Coahoma...western Tate and
northwestern Quitman Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3443 9057 3450 9059 3454 9054 3470 9055
3463 9054 3468 9046 3471 9055 3477 9054
3477 9050 3472 9051 3472 9050 3474 9045
3477 9046 3476 9020 3472 9020 3476 9013
3472 9006 3422 9039 3431 9062
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 205DEG 49KT 3437 9049
JOHNSONThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:44 UTC.
2 tornado, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Reports of widespread street and low lying flooding across the county and especially in Senatobia.
The tornado developed just south of Hamilton, MS and rapidly increased in intensity. Substantial damage to residences and outbuildings occurred along Seely Drive south of Hamilton Road. Numerous trees were uprooted or trunks snapped along the track. A tree fell on a mobile home on Center Hill Road north of Hamilton killing the resident. The tornado continued north-northeast, uprooting trees and causing minor structural damage. The tornado dissipated near West Road. Three injuries were also reported. Peak winds were estimated at 130 mph.
A few trees down on Lakeshore Drive in Tupelo.
Tornado occurred mostly in forested areas. Several homes received primarily roof damage. Several transmission line towers were destroyed approximately 2 miles north of Highway 278. Peak winds were estimated near 115 mph.
Minor home damage. A tin awning was bent backwards.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Monroe | 2019-04-13 | 95 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Mississippi in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Mississippi, 2019Warnings in Mississippi, April 2019
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: 822659, 815468, 815464, 815470, 815466.