S and eventually moved into northwest parts of the Mid-South during the late evening hours of April 28, 2020.
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 line of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds developed over the central U.S and eventually moved into northwest parts of the Mid-South during the late evening hours of April 28, 2020.
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 28, 8:26 PM CST, 3 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 926 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 .DISCUSSION...Surface analysis this evening places a cold front from near Saint Louis back through South Central Missouri and into Northwest and North Central Arkansas. Regional WSR-88D radar trends indicate a line of strong to severe thunderstorms slightly ahead of the front across the aforementioned areas. As of 8 PM CDT, temperatures across the Mid-South are in the 60s at most locations. Short term model trends including Convective Allowing Model Solutions (CAMs) indicate showers and thunderstorms will begin to affect western sections of the Mid-South in the next 3-4 hours. Radar trends suggest these solutions may be slightly slower than what is occurring due to an upstream cold pool. Instability is expected to decrease throughout the night with the associated convection anticipated to weaken around or slightly east of the Mississippi River. The predominant threat will be damaging winds with any thunderstorms that become severe. The forecast overall remains in good shape with no changes anticipated at the moment as the earlier update with the watch issuance has accounted for these forecast trends. CJC && .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 645 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020/ UPDATE... Updated for 00Z Aviation Discussion. PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 325 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020/ DISCUSSION... A weak leading shortwave lifting northeast out of the Arklamiss was aiding in the development of storms over the MS River delta this afternoon. This shortwave was evident on KNQA radar, upstream from storms lifting northeast through the delta. These storms were rooted in an elevated layer and will present a marginal threat (at most) for large hail through late afternoon. Midafternoon GOES water vapor imagery showed a double-centered upper low over the western Dakotas, and another upper low near Duluth MN. These three low pressure centers will combine into one deep upper low dropping into the mid-MS River valley by Wednesday morning. A line of storms over eastern KS/northwest MS will likely expand in areal extent will moving southeast this evening and overnight. Main directed cold pool push will likely occur to the west and south of the Midsouth, toward the Red and Sabine River valleys, into the low level instability axis. Closer to home, convection-allowing model (CAM) consensus depicts a couple of bowing segments to the north, over northeast AR. Last couple of HRRR runs depicted the northern extent of the convective line dissipating earlier over the Midsouth, by around 2 AM. Too early to jump on one CAM solution, but this may point toward a lower-end event for portions of the Midsouth east of the MS River. One axis of the multi-lobe upper low will drop through the Midsouth toward midday Wednesday. NAM model depicted a band of steep isentropic downglide behind this feature, suggesting some momentum from stronger winds aloft will reach the ground. That said, 925-850mb winds are depicted 25 to 30 knots, less strong than with the previous couple of upper low pressure systems. Following showers and perhaps isolated high-based thunderstorms Wednesday, the remainder of the week will see an upper level ridge translate east to the MS River through Saturday, gradually deamplifying during the process. Daytime temps over the Midsouth should warm well into the 80s this weekend. Next rain event will arrive with a return to northwest flow and associated cold frontal passage Sunday into Monday. PWB && .AVIATION... /00Z TAFs/ KNQA showers a few showers and isolated thunder across northern MS at this hour with the main line of convection entering into NW Arkansas. High clouds and strong southerly winds will persist across the Mid-South for the next few hours. LLWS is still expected to develop along and east of the MS River ahead of an approaching cold front. This main line of storms back to the west will quickly move across the Mid- South overnight. Maintained the TEMPO groups for TSRA/IFR VIS at all TAF sites. As early as 05Z at JBR and 06Z at KMEM. However, this will need to monitored as any cold pool development could lead to a quicker onset to convection than what hi-res guidance is showing. MVFR cigs will develop shortly after the passage of the main line of convection. Similarly S/SW winds will veer to the W and eventually to the NW remaining elevated and periodically gusty. VFR conditions should return to all of the Mid-South by tomorrow afternoon. 17 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Memphis TN 203 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-292115- 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- 203 PM CDT Tue Apr 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 There is a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms from middle evening through middle overnight along and west of the Mississippi River. There is a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms overnight for the remainder of the Midsouth. The primary severe weather threat will damaging winds. Secondary threats include large hail and short-lived tornadoes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Strong winds will be possible Wednesday, mainly over the Mississippi River delta and northwest Tennessee. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. PWB
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1012 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020
ARZ009-018-026-MOZ113-290400-
Greene AR-Craighead AR-Clay AR-Dunklin MO-
1012 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 1100 PM CDT
FOR...
Greene County in eastern Arkansas...
Central Craighead County in eastern Arkansas...
Clay County in eastern Arkansas...
Northwestern Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri...
At 1011 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing winds at least 40
mph was located near Biggers, or near Pocahontas, moving east at 55
mph.
Very heavy rain along with continuous cloud to ground lightning are
also possible with this thunderstorm.
People in Greene...central Craighead...Clay and northwestern Dunklin
Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3663 8996 3651 8996 3571 9048 3571 9055
3588 9091 3588 9087 3604 9084 3615 9075
3615 9081 3629 9081 3630 9079 3628 9075
3641 9075 3643 9078 3650 9078 3650 9022
3663 9015
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 288DEG 48KT 3634 9089
KRFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1054 PM CDT TUE APR 28 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1053 PM TSTM WND GST BONO 35.91N 90.80W
04/28/2020 E60 MPH CRAIGHEAD AR LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
CJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1110 PM CDT TUE APR 28 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1101 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW JONESBORO 35.83N 90.72W
04/28/2020 CRAIGHEAD AR FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
LARGE TREE ON HOUSE.
&&
CJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1129 PM CDT TUE APR 28 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1101 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 WNW JONESBORO 35.83N 90.72W
04/28/2020 CRAIGHEAD AR SOCIAL MEDIA
TREE ON HOUSE.
&&
CJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1200 AM CDT WED APR 29 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1145 PM TSTM WND GST GOSNELL 35.96N 89.97W
04/28/2020 E60 MPH MISSISSIPPI AR PUBLIC
&&
CJCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1210 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020
ARZ028-MOZ115-TNZ001-002-019-048-050-290600-
Mississippi AR-Pemiscot MO-Lake TN-Lauderdale TN-Obion TN-Dyer TN-
Haywood TN-
1210 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2020
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 100 AM CDT
FOR...
Northeastern Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas...
Central Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri...
Lake County in western Tennessee...
Lauderdale County in western Tennessee...
Western Obion County in western Tennessee...
Dyer County in western Tennessee...
Northwestern Haywood County in western Tennessee...
At 1210 AM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing winds at least 40
mph was located near Cottonwood Grove, or near Caruthersville, moving
northeast at 35 mph.
People in northeastern Mississippi...central Pemiscot...Lake...
Lauderdale...western Obion...Dyer and northwestern Haywood Counties
should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3650 8908 3588 8929 3588 8934 3584 8936
3580 8935 3579 8932 3568 8936 3569 8987
3643 8973 3640 8967 3641 8960 3634 8954
3638 8951 3643 8955 3646 8952 3650 8954
3650 8949 3647 8949 3646 8947 3650 8942
TIME...MOT...LOC 0510Z 242DEG 32KT 3617 8957
KRFThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:27 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Power lines down near WJ Freeman Park and Stage Road in Bartlett.
A large tree fell into a house due to lightning. The tree knocked several windows out of the home.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, April 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: 890797, 890801.