Afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed in a warm, unstable airmass. A few storms were strong to severe with damaging winds and hail.
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 JAN wrote it up.
Afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed in a warm, unstable airmass. A few storms were strong to severe with damaging winds and hail.
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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 25, 11:51 AM CST, 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 1251 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020 .UPDATE... Updated for 18Z aviation discussion && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF discussion: VFR conditions continue this afternoon across the area. Some storms are moving north into the area but are far from TAF sites at this time. Expect additional storms to move into or develop across the region this afternoon, some of which might affect a site with heavy downpours, lightning, gusty winds and brief MVFR vis restrictions. This threat would continue into early evening before diminishing. KJAN/KHKS/KGLH would potentially have the best chance for storms this afternoon and evening. Guidance indicates some MVFR stratus affecting all sites prior to daybreak tomorrow and being slow to lift during the morning. /28/ && .DISCUSSION... Another warm day is on tap across the region with highs expected to reach into the upper 80s and lower 90s. Convection today may once again have a slightly later onset though some showers and storms are creeping north into the far southern and southwest portions of the forecast area. While morning sounding analysis indicated some drier air that may work to inhibit storms, lapse rates should be steep and with some flow, some storms could be strong to severe. This would especially be the case across the western part of the forecast area where there could be some outflow/influences from a shortwave trough further west and residual boundaries from convection in Texas and Louisiana. Hi-res CAM guidance shows decent coverage of storms in the western part of the forecast area and a marginal risk has been introduced this morning. Main concerns would be damaging winds but hail is also possible. /28/ Prior discussion below: Today through Tonight: A substantial amount of shortwave trough energy digging southward through the Southern Plains will result in an increasingly wet weather pattern for the ArkLaMiss region as we go through the upcoming week. For today and tonight, most of the lift associated with the trough will remain just west of the forecast area, and deep layer moisture (precipitable water ~1.4 to 1.5 inches) is somewhat marginal for getting deep convection this time of the year. But convergent, southeast flow combined with strong insolation should lead to scattered mid/late afternoon multicell thunderstorm activity with coverage greatest over the southwest half of the ArkLaMiss region. Given the latter onset of storms during peak heating and steepest low level lapse rates, expect the significant low level flow may contribute to stronger surface wind gusts in the most intense storms. Storms will diminish in coverage and intensity during the evening with loss of heating with influence from the trough likely helping to maintain at least lingering shower activity through the night. /EC/ Tuesday through Sunday: The weather pattern through the rest of this week and into next weekend will be wet and summer like. As the shortwave trough moves east across the CONUS, an upper-level low pressure system looks to close off and could potentially become cut off from the flow aloft near the end of the week. Even if it continues to move slowly across the South, this low will keep a warm and humid air mass in place over our region through at least the end of the work week. Surges of deeper moisture will likely wrap around the low at times and bring periods of heavy rain where they sweep across, with PWAT values up to 2.0 inches in these streams of more humid air, but at this time no particular period or area looks to be more favorable to highlight for a flooding risk apart from typical isolated flash flooding threat from slow-moving summer showers and thunderstorms. Activity each day will peak during the afternoon hours, with temperatures spiking up to the upper 80s and lower 90s range before onset of the day's rain and cloudiness. Some showers may persist overnight especially if the core of the upper low drifts more directly over our forecast area. Any severe thunderstorm potential will be conditional upon the position of the upper-level low, with increased shear possible as it drifts more overhead. Otherwise daytime heating with steeper low- level lapse rates could support isolated stronger to severe storms at times with damaging wind gusts being the primary hazard. If the pattern remains a little more progressive and the low gets kicked east by the weekend, then rain chances will diminish by Saturday into Sunday. If the low misses its kicker wave, then expect rain chances into the weekend. The forecast for next weekend remains more of a persistence forecast with temperatures near normal and daytime slight chance to chance POPs. /NF/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 87 69 86 68 / 61 36 59 48 Meridian 88 67 85 67 / 46 40 44 28 Vicksburg 87 70 85 70 / 65 46 72 60 Hattiesburg 87 67 86 68 / 61 37 54 31 Natchez 86 69 83 67 / 67 43 76 60 Greenville 88 70 85 70 / 58 60 72 62 Greenwood 88 70 86 69 / 40 45 57 48 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. && 28
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 1143 AM CDT Mon May 25 2020 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-034-040-041-047-053- 059>062-261645- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Washington-Issaquena-Sharkey-Warren-Claiborne-Jefferson-Adams- Franklin MS-Lincoln- 1143 AM CDT Mon May 25 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, northwest Mississippi, south central Mississippi, southwest Mississippi, and west central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...The rest of Today and Tonight SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Marginal TIMING...remainder of today Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon into this evening. Damaging winds will be the main hazard but hail up to quarter size will be possible. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region rest of today through tonight. MSZ019-025>033-035>039-042>046-048>052-054>058-063>066-072>074- 261645- Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Clay-Lowndes- Choctaw-Oktibbeha-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Winston-Noxubee-Yazoo- Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper-Hinds-Rankin-Scott-Newton- Lauderdale-Copiah-Simpson-Smith-Jasper-Clarke-Lawrence- Jefferson Davis-Covington-Jones-Marion-Lamar-Forrest- 1143 AM CDT Mon May 25 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Mississippi, east central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, south central Mississippi, and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...The rest of Today and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations is not expected through next Sunday. 28 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* High...Significant severe thunderstorms are expected. Moderate...Severe storms expected with significant severe weather possible. Enhanced...Severe storms expected. Slight...Severe storms possible. Marginal...Isolated severe storms possible. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... https://www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... https://www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Find NWS JAN on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... Storm Prediction Center (SPC)... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/ Meso Analysis... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/ Day 1 through 3 Outlooks... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ Storm Reports... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
104 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
LAZ023>025-251830-
Tensas LA-Catahoula LA-Franklin LA-
104 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN TENSAS...
NORTHEASTERN CATAHOULA AND SOUTHERN FRANKLIN PARISHES UNTIL 130 PM
CDT...
At 104 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
near Wisner, or 18 miles south of Winnsboro, moving northwest at 35
mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Wisner around 115 PM CDT.
Jigger around 120 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this storm include Gilbert and Sicily
Island.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious
injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors
during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees.
&&
LAT...LON 3214 9156 3175 9142 3175 9154 3174 9154
3174 9158 3175 9158 3176 9160 3174 9162
3174 9176 3197 9189 3200 9190 3203 9190
TIME...MOT...LOC 1804Z 154DEG 32KT 3190 9165
TWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Jackson MS
113 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
MSZ054-251845-
Copiah MS-
113 PM CDT Mon May 25 2020
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN COPIAH COUNTY UNTIL
145 PM CDT...
At 113 PM CDT, Meteorologists were tracking a strong thunderstorm
over Barlow, or 14 miles west of Hazlehurst, moving north at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Copiah
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
High winds can bring down trees and large limbs resulting in serious
injury or property damage. Exercise extreme caution when outdoors
during such strong winds...and be especially aware of older trees.
&&
LAT...LON 3183 9073 3184 9072 3190 9072 3195 9058
3170 9041 3170 9064
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 157DEG 19KT 3180 9063
TWThe Ft Polk radar (KPOE), 156 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:17 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A power line was blown down in Wisner and a tree was blown down on a parish road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Louisiana, May 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: 882657.