A front stalled across the Mid-South started to lift north as low pressure tracked into southwest Missouri. Meanwhile, a potent upper-level disturbance tracked across the region and triggered thunderstorms across Missouri.
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 front stalled across the Mid-South started to lift north as low pressure tracked into southwest Missouri. Meanwhile, a potent upper-level disturbance tracked across the region and triggered thunderstorms across Missouri. The airmass across the Mid-South was ripe for severe storms with strong shear and instability in place. Clusters of severe storms moved into northern parts of the Mid-South by mid-afternoon and moved east-southeast through the evening hours producing damaging winds, hail, and flash flooding. This was the second day in a row that northern sections of the Mid-South suffered widespread severe weather.
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 May 4, 2:03 PM CST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 303 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 .DISCUSSION... Current radar imagery shows activity finally moving into eastern Arkansas. Current mesoanalysis and short range models shows the environment is favorable for damaging winds and hail. Instability and low level shear will ramp up as a warm front lifts northward towards Missouri. The tornado threat seems to ramp up for this afternoons storms with low level helicity values increasing but the main threats will likely be damaging wind and large hail. Short range models indicate showers continuing until 8 PM for the first round. The tornado threat should diminish as the second round of showers moves through later tonight into tomorrow morning as a cold front approaches the area. There could be some potential for storms later in the evening Tuesday but confidence is low. Temperatures tonight into tomorrow will generally be in the upper 60s. Cooler air will move into the area as the front passes allowing for breezy conditions and high temperatures to be in the mid 70s. Showers will finally end by Wednesday as the trough finally moves to our east. Dry weather will persist through Thursday allowing for pleasant weather. Highs Wednesday and Thursday will generally be in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Lows will generally be in the lower 50s. The next chance for showers and thunderstorms will approach the area Thursday night into Friday morning as a cold front moves towards the area. So far, instability looks to be minimal but there could be the potential for strong to severe storms. It's a little too early to mention in the HWO at this time but we will continue to monitor. Temperatures will drop this weekend into the 60s as a large upper trough over the Great Lakes and the eastern U.S. will push cooler air into the Mid-South. Lows this weekend will be in the 40s with the potential for a freeze. Will continue to monitor. SGW && .AVIATION... /18z TAFs/ Convection over the Ozarks will move quickly eastward this afternoon, potentially affecting JBR/MKL. Gusty west winds and hail are possible with this convection. Another round of convectionis possible tonight as the cold front moves through the area. However, there remains some uncertainty as to whether this line will hold together. Decided to use VCTS/VCSH to denote this possibility with the understanding that TS may be needed on station at some point. Otherwise, expect gradually improving ceilings today as a warm front lifts north. This will result in increasing southerly winds this afternoon and evening, eventually shifting from the west- northwest early Tuesday behind the cold front. Additional low ceilings around 2000 ft are possible late tonight into Tuesday morning. MJ && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 405 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-051115- 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- 405 AM CDT Mon May 4 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Severe storms are possible north of a Helena-West Helena, Arkansas to Tupelo, Mississippi line this afternoon into this evening. The best chance for severe weather will be across Northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel and Northwest Tennessee. The most likely time for severe weather will be between 2 pm and midnight. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats though a tornado is possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability of widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon into this evening. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. SJM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
542 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0541 PM HAIL WARDELL 36.35N 89.82W
05/04/2020 E1.50 INCH PEMISCOT MO BROADCAST MEDIA
PING PONG BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED IN WARDELL
&&
SMWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
550 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0538 PM HAIL KENNETT 36.24N 90.05W
05/04/2020 M1.00 INCH DUNKLIN MO BROADCAST MEDIA
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
550 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020
ARZ018-026-028-042300-
Greene AR-Craighead AR-Mississippi AR-
550 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020
...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 600 PM CDT
FOR...
South central Greene County in eastern Arkansas...
Northeastern Craighead County in eastern Arkansas...
Northwestern Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas...
At 549 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail and
winds to 50 mph was located near Monette, moving southeast at 70 mph.
People in south central Greene...northeastern Craighead and
northwestern Mississippi Counties should monitor this storm closely.
LAT...LON 3605 9039 3604 9035 3602 9035 3601 9037
3600 9037 3600 9022 3594 9004 3565 9018
3587 9054
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 295DEG 62KT 3597 9036PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
552 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0549 PM TSTM WND DMG CLARKTON 36.45N 89.97W
05/04/2020 DUNKLIN MO BROADCAST MEDIA
POWERLINES DOWN AND TREE DAMAGE.
&&
SMWPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
553 PM CDT MON MAY 04 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL HOLCOMB 36.40N 90.02W
05/04/2020 E1.00 INCH DUNKLIN MO BROADCAST MEDIA
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 554 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 ARZ028-MOZ113-115-TNZ019-048-042315- Mississippi AR-Pemiscot MO-Dunklin MO-Lauderdale TN-Dyer TN- 554 PM CDT Mon May 4 2020 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 615 PM CDT FOR... Northern Mississippi County in eastern Arkansas... Southwestern Pemiscot County in southeastern Missouri... Southeastern Dunklin County in southeastern Missouri... Northwestern Lauderdale County in western Tennessee... Southwestern Dyer County in western Tennessee... At 554 PM CDT...a strong thunderstorm producing pea size hail or larger and winds to 45 mph was located over Gosnell, moving southeast at 75 mph. People in northern Mississippi...southwestern Pemiscot...southeastern Dunklin...northwestern Lauderdale and southwestern Dyer Counties should monitor this storm closely. LAT...LON 3586 9016 3607 9009 3608 8929 3568 8975 TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 300DEG 65KT 3597 8994
The Memphis radar (KNQA), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:55 UTC.
13 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A macroburst struck southern portions of Lake County causing widespread damage. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. A mobile home was destroyed in Ridgely. Many homes in the Cottonwood area suffered roof damaged.
Large trees were knocked down.
Trees were knocked down in Bogata.
Quarter size hail fell on Christmasville Road near the Madison County line.
Quarter size hail fell in northeast Madison County.
Trees uprooted south of Dyersburg.
Large tree limbs were snapped in Newbern and a church steeple blown off.
A tree fell on a house on Sand Ridge Bargerton Road near Highway 412 west of Lexington. Twenty-eight trees were knocked down on one property west of Lexington.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in southern Gibson County. Intersections were flooded in Humbdolt and water was high enough to stall cars. Significant street flooding occurred in Medina. Pleasant Hill road was flooded.
Narrow Gauge road was cracked and partially washed out due to flash flooding.
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, 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: 898995, 898967, 898968, 898969, 898999, 899010, 899004, 899008, 899015, 899016, 899017, 899018, 899019, 899206, 899208, 899207, 899209, 899211, 899212, 899216, 899217.