Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, April 8, 2020

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Memphis TN
1257 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020

.UPDATE...
Updated for 18Z Aviation Forecast Discussion below.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 1111 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020/

DISCUSSION...
Currently, a strong cold front located over Illinois is expected
to drop into the area later this evening. As far as near storm
environment, mesoanalysis as well as RAP forecast soundings
indicate modest instability (SBCAPE 2500 J/kg) over most of the
area, with steep mid-level lapse rates. However, parts of eastern
Arkansas, and west Tennessee are moderately capped. With that
being said, storms could form over northern Mississippi this
afternoon. Some of these storms could be severe but our main
threat will be later tonight as the front approaches the area.

As for tonight, short range models are inconsistent on storm
evolution. However, they are consistent about timing. Both show
discrete cells forming over Illinois around 6 PM, then moving
southeastward toward the Missouri Bootheel and eastern Arkansas by
8 PM. They begin to diverge as the system progresses. The HRRR
shows cells forming into a line and moving into west Tennessee and
not affecting northern Mississippi. The NAMNest shows the line
diving southeast towards northern Mississippi. So far, the NAMNest
seems like the best solution. Large hail and and damaging winds
will be the main threats as the line moves into eastern Arkansas
and the Missouri Bootheel, then the hail threat seems to diminish
as the line moves towards northern Mississippi.

SGW

PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 345 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020/

DISCUSSION...

A northern branch trough and accompanying surface low
will continue to track towards the southeast from south-central
Canada today. At the surface, a strong cold front will contribute
to an increase in showers and thunderstorms across the Mid-South
this evening into early Thursday. Temperatures this afternoon
will climb into the low to mid 80s with dewpoints in the 60s.
These warm temperatures and humid air mass will contribute to
strong surface instability and a decent warm sector across the
Mid-South. While forecast soundings indicate a capped environment
to start the day off a few showers and storms could develop
beneath this cap mainly across portions of North Mississippi. The
big forecast question today is how quickly will this cap break
and when this does occur how will mesoscale and forcing mechanisms
contribute to storm mode. Hi-res guidance is still somewhat
inconsistent regarding convective initiation and evolution.
However, the majority of guidance depicts some discrete
development ahead of the front and eventually taking on more of a
linear structure. Given the highly unstable pre- storm
environment, sufficient deep-layer shear, and steep mid-level
lapse rates, any storms that do develop tonight have the potential
to be strong to severe. The primary threats include damaging
winds and large hail. A few tornadoes are possible as well given
decent low- level curvature on forecast hodographs and veering
wind profile. This particularly threat could increase as storms
evolve into more of a linear structure (QLCS or squall line). As
such, portions of northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and
West Tennessee have been upgraded to an Enhanced Risk for severe
weather tonight through early Thursday morning. The remainder of
the area remains in a Slight Risk during the same timeframe.

Following the passage of the cold front Thursday morning, dry
conditions and cooler temperatures will prevail until the weekend.
Friday will be the coolest day with highs in the 50s to low 60s
and overnight temperatures in the 40s.

An upper trough will swing across the Desert Southwest on Saturday
eventually taking on a neutral to negative tilt. Similarly, an
accompanying surface low will eject northeast through the Southern
Plains. Therefore, rain chances will return and be present for
much of the weekend. At this time the best chance for
thunderstorms will be Saturday night through much of Sunday. The
Euro is a little slower with the eastward progression of this
system whereas other guidance is a little quicker. This leads to
the question of how much of the Mid- South will be encompassed
within the warm sector of this next system. This will help
determine whether or not severe weather can be expected during the
holiday weekend. Definitely a system to keep eyes on.

By late weekend long-term guidance solutions diverge. For now,
have only included low chance PoPs for early next week.

17

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAFs

Primary concern TSRA coverage south of TUP this afternoon, and
evening/early overnight TSRA likely affecting all Midsouth
terminals.

Expect a semi-discrete cluster of storms to develop into a broken
to solid line, racing southeast through JBR, MEM- MKL, TUP
- in that order from 03Z to 07Z.

Convection-allowing models (CAM) consensus on timing was
relatively tight, leading to increased forecast confidence. That
said, the HRRR model remains an outlier in failing to develop a
cold outflow pool over northern AR early evening and subsequent TSRA
at MEM a few hours later. This expected outflow pool will be
responsible for the storms evolving into a broken to solid line,
oriented southwest to northeast, and moving southeast. This
broken-solid line is the most likely scenario.

Large hail potential will be greatest around JBR, gradually
decreasing as storms move southeast to MEM and MKL and eventually
TUP. As large hail threat decreases, strong wind threat will
increase.

Once storms exit, TSRA will rapidly decrease to near zero, with
only strong gradient winds remaining. By MEM outbound push, FL020
winds will prevail around 36045KT, with a few gusts near 25KT
making it to the surface.

PWB

&&

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

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Memphis TN
409 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020

ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017-
020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-091115-
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-
409 AM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas...
the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms tonight through
early Thursday morning across Northeast Arkansas, the Missouri
Bootheel, and West Tennessee. A Slight Risk remains in effect
across portions of North Mississippi. The primary threats include
large hail and damaging winds. Tornadoes and localized heavy
rainfall will be secondary threats.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed Wednesday afternoon through early
Thursday morning. Please relay any information about observed
severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and
CDC guidelines.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
248 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020

TNZ052>054-082015-
Henderson TN-Chester TN-Madison TN-
248 PM CDT Wed Apr 8 2020

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 315 PM CDT
FOR...

Southwestern Henderson County in western Tennessee...
Northern Chester County in western Tennessee...
Southeastern Madison County in western Tennessee...

At 247 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea to dime size
hail and winds to 35 mph was located near Bemis, or 7 miles north of
Chickasaw State Park, moving east at 15 mph.

People in southwestern Henderson...northern Chester and southeastern
Madison Counties should monitor this storm closely.

LAT...LON 3545 8844 3542 8884 3543 8884 3543 8885
      3554 8890 3565 8851
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 253DEG 13KT 3551 8880