Gusty southerly winds increased ahead of an approaching cold front. Winds gusting to 40 mph caused some damage near Blytheville.
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The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.
Gusty southerly winds increased ahead of an approaching cold front. Winds gusting to 40 mph caused some damage near Blytheville.
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 Dec 23, 11:55 AM CST, 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 1155 AM CST Wed Dec 23 2020 .DISCUSSION...Surface analysis late this morning places a warm front bisecting the Mid-South late this morning near the Mississippi River. A few rain showers have occurred this morning with additional rain showers developing just west of the Mississippi River. As of 11 AM CST, temperatures across the Mid- South are in the 50s at most locations. Latest short term Convective Allowing Model trends indicate an increase in rain shower coverage this afternoon. Forecast overall is generally in good shape but will be monitoring wind trends for a potential advisory if conditions warrant. CJC && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1151 AM CST Wed Dec 23 2020/ UPDATE... Updated for 18Z aviation discussion. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 539 AM CST Wed Dec 23 2020/ DISCUSSION... Another warm day is expected across the Mid-South today. Southerly winds are already beginning to increase across the area ahead of an approaching cold front. The front is currently located across Central Kansas and Western Oklahoma. Showers will begin to break out across Eastern Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and portions of North Mississippi by the mid-morning hours. If you have any outdoor activities to do, plan to get outside early as rain chances will increase as the day progresses. Chances for a few rumbles of thunder will begin to occur during the afternoon hours and will continue into the evening. Can't rule out a thunderstorm occurring about anywhere in the CWA. CAM models show a skinny line of convection developing along the front as it pushes through the Mid-South this evening. Behind the front, arctic air will come plunging into the area. Models show most of the precipitation will come to an end before the arctic air moves in. However, a brief changeover or a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow could occur across areas of West Tennessee near the Tennessee River and portions of Northeast Mississippi just before precipitation comes to an end. No accumulation is expected. Stratocumulus clouds will quickly develop over the area on Thursday as strong cold air advection occurs. Can't rule out some flurries occurring across areas mainly east of the Mississippi River as an upper trof moves through the region. Temperatures will be frigid with expected highs ranging from near freezing to the mid/upper 30s. Wind chill values will be in lower to mid 20s on Thursday as gusty northerly winds occur. Temperatures will plummet Christmas Eve as the stratocumulus clouds dissipate. Expect lows to drop into the mid teens to lower 20s. Wind chill values will be approaching zero degrees across Northwest Tennessee during the overnight hours. Christmas Day will not be much warmer as arctic high pressure settles over the area. In fact, areas near Paris, Tennessee may not see highs get above freezing. Expect the rest of the CWA to see highs in the 30s. Winds will turn around to the south as the high shifts east. Thus, expect a big warm up over the weekend as warm air advection occurs. Highs will get back into the 50s. Models are a tad slower with the next cold front. Looks like showers will hold off until late Sunday afternoon with the best chances for rain occurring Sunday Night as the cold front moves into the area. Can't rule out a brief changeover or mixture of rain/snow before precipitation ends with this system as well late Sunday Night into Monday morning. Temperatures will be colder behind the front, but not as cold as what occurs over the Christmas holiday. Expect highs in the 40s. KRM && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFs Rain showers are developing over eastern AR as a cold front approaches the area. TAFS will start off with MVFR conditions with winds gusting from the south up to 28kts. Winds will shift from the north-northeast after the front passes late this evening. Ceilings will gradually diminish as clouds scatter out by the end of the TAF period. Removed LLWS as surface winds are too high for speed shear and directional shear is non-existent. KRF && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 342 AM CST Wed Dec 23 2020 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-241200- 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- 342 AM CST Wed Dec 23 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Wind chill values will drop into the single digits late Christmas Eve into Christmas morning across Northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and much of West Tennessee. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. KRM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Power poles were bent and a section of roof was blown off in Blytheville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, December 2020
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: 934633.