Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, March 28 to 29, 2020

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, March 28 to 29, 2020
Start: 2020-03-28T18:40
End: 2020-03-29T00:08
Location: Mississippi

March 28 to 29, 2020 · NWS MEG · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MEG wrote it up.

A low pressure system moved across the midwest with a trailing cold front stretched south into Arkansas. As the cold front tracked eastward storms developed across central and eastern Arkansas during the late afternoon of March 28, 2020. Increasing instability combined with a good deal of wind shear led to the development of supercells across eastern Arkansas along with a strong tornado near Jonesboro, Arkansas, and another weaker tornado in Greene County, Arkansas. Supercells eventually formed into a line along the Mississippi River and then moved across the remainder of the Mid-South producing wind damage and large hail.

What forecasters said that day

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 Mar 28, 5:52 PM CST, 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 5:52 PM CST, 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Memphis TN
652 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

.UPDATE...
Updated for Aviation Forecast Discussion below.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 337 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020/

DISCUSSION...

Latest surface analysis places a 993mb low pressure system over
southwestern Iowa, with a warm front extending eastward through
north central Illinois, and a cold front extending southward
through western Missouri and into Little Rock, Arkansas. Storms
have begun to fire just ahead ahead of the cold front in Central
and eastern Arkansas. So far, storms have remained mainly sub-
severe, as shear is likely overwhelming the thermodynamic
environment. However, the storms are moving into our area, which
is moderately unstable with 1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE available on
tap.

A tornado watch has been issued for the majority of Arkansas,
including all of eastern Arkansas until 7PM. The main risk with
these storms appears to be damaging winds and large hail attm,
with a low end tornado threat, as low level helicity is currently
below 100 m2/s2. However, the risk for QLCS-type tornadoes will
likely increase this evening, as the low level jet picks up and
storms organize into quasi linear segments. Ample instability in
the 1500-2500 MLCAPE range combined with 0-6 km shear of 80kts,
and a coincident 100 kt 500mb jet streak, should be enough for a
strong line of storms to maintain through late this evening. The
primary risk still appears to be damaging winds with a secondary
threat of large hail and short-lived isolated tornadoes. The
threat will end after midnight as the front exits northeast
Mississippi. A few trailing post-frontal showers are possible
overnight as the main trough lifts out of the area.

Pacific high pressure will build into the Mid-South for Sunday,
leading to dry and pleasant conditions. Expect high temperatures
mainly in the upper 60s to lower 70s. High pressure will quickly
slide by Monday as another system develops to our southwest. A
quick moving shortwave will eject across the Desert Southwest on
Monday and make its way into the Texas Panhandle late Monday
night. A surface low is expected to develop and track eastward
through northern Louisiana and Central Mississippi during the day
on Tuesday. This will enhance shower and thunderstorm activity
across our area on Monday night and Tuesday. Due to the track of
the low, the severe threat will stay to our south and mainly along
the Gulf Coast. The system will likely be a heavy rainfall
producer for us and that's about it. The surface low is expected
to push southeast of the area by late Tuesday night, with Canadian
high pressure building into the Mid-South from the northwest.
This will lead to a few consecutive days of dry and near normal
temperatures. The next weather maker looks to arrive this weekend
as a cold front moves across the Mississippi Valley.

AC3

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAFs

Storms have been slower to translate east than earlier depicted by
the short range convection-allowing models. Other than TSRA timing
this evening, TAFs remain largely unchanged from the 18Z package.
VFR will prevail areawide on Sunday.

PWB

&&

.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...None.
MO...None.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 28, 1:20 PM CST, 5 hours 20 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
220 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-292130-
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-
220 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2020

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 tornado watch is in effect until 7PM CDT for all of eastern
Arkansas. Additional convective watches are possible downstream
later tonight.

Severe thunderstorms containing damaging winds, large
hail, and a few tornadoes are possible beginning early this
evening through approximately midnight for the entire Mid-South.
The greatest threat for severe thunderstorms will exist mainly
along and north of the I-40 corridor.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible this afternoon and evening.

AC3

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:42 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
542 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0530 PM     TORNADO          CALDWELL                35.08N  90.82W
03/28/2020                   ST. FRANCIS        AR   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND IN GREENE COUNTY APPROX 6 MILES NW OF
            CALDWELL.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:51 PM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
551 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0457 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT A SHOPPING MALL AND OTHER
            BUILDINGS. POSSIBLE INJURIES.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 4:54 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
554 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0530 PM     TORNADO          CARDWELL                36.05N  90.29W
03/28/2020                   DUNKLIN            MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND IN GREENE COUNTY APPROX 6 MILES NW OF
            CARDWELL MO.

&&

CORRECTED COUNTY/STATE...LOCATION...REMARKS

Local storm report, Mar 28, 5:43 PM CST, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
643 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0513 PM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESBORO               35.82N  90.69W
03/28/2020                   CRAIGHEAD          AR   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL HANGARS AND PLANES DAMAGED AT JONESBORO
            MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. SEVERE DAMAGE IN DOWNTOWN JONESBORO.
            CARS FLIPPED AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED. POSSIBLE INJURIES.

&&

CORRECTED REMARKS

Local storm report, Mar 28, 6:02 PM CST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
702 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0701 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     EARLE                   35.27N  90.47W
03/28/2020                   CRITTENDEN         AR   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR EARLE MOVING NORTHEAST.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 28, 6:15 PM CST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
715 PM CDT SAT MAR 28 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0713 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     ROBINSONVILLE           34.82N  90.32W
03/28/2020                   TUNICA             MS   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            FUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED OVER TUNICA RIVERPARK
            ROBINSONVILLE MS.

&&

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 63 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Soto

When: March 28, 6:40 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: De Soto County, Eudora
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.830, -90.150

Trees and power lines were knocked down.

Hail, Panola

When: March 28, 8:58 PM CST to 9:10 PM CST
Where: Panola County, 0.76 mi ENE of Tocowa to 2 mi SE of Courtland
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 34.222, -90.057

Large hail fell across parts of southern Panola County. Hail up to the size of ping pong balls fell on Tocowa Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pontotoc

When: March 28, 10:25 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where: Pontotoc County, 3.56 mi WNW of Thaxton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 34.341, -89.227

Straight-line winds damaged a barn roof and knocked down a few trees on Hobby Coop Road.

Hail, Lee

When: March 29, 12:03 AM CST to 12:08 AM CST
Where: Lee County, (Tup)lemons Arpt Tup
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.270, -88.770

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Mississippi in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in Mississippi, March 2020

Sources

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: 883039, 882997, 883017, 883018.