An upper-level disturbance moved into the area as cold air arrived at the surface. As a result, rain quickly changed over to snow and accumulated about an inch across parts of Clay County.
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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.
An upper-level disturbance moved into the area as cold air arrived at the surface. As a result, rain quickly changed over to snow and accumulated about an inch across parts of Clay County.
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 Jan 27, 5:34 AM CST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Memphis TN
534 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021
.UPDATE...
See the 12z aviation discussion.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 423 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021/
DISCUSSION...
Colder air continues to filter into the Mid-South this morning
behind a cold front that is located across Central Mississippi
into Central Alabama at this time. A few showers continue across
portions of Northeast Mississippi. These showers should shift east
into Alabama over the next couple of hours.
Meanwhile, an upper level trof is digging into Southwest Missouri
and Northwest Arkansas at this time. The trough will move through
the Mid-South today. Precipitation associated with the upper
trough will begin to move into Northeast Arkansas shortly after
sunrise. With cold air aloft continuing to filter into the region
today, precipitation will briefly start out as rain and then
quickly turn to all snow across areas along and north of
Interstate 40. Minor snow accumulations will occur across this
area with best chances occurring across Northeast Arkansas near
the Missouri-Arkansas state line and northern portions of the
Missouri Bootheel. Around an inch of snow can be expected in this
area and a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued. Further
south, a dusting up to an inch can be expected. Accumulations will
mainly occur on grassy and elevated surfaces, but can't rule out
some travel problems as bridges and overpasses may become slick.
The snow will taper off from west to east during the afternoon
hours. However, flurries may continue into the evening hours.
South of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line, all rain is
expected to occur today. A wide range of temperatures are expected
across the Mid-South today with highs ranging from the mid 30s
near Malden, Missouri to the mid 50s near Aberdeen, Mississippi.
Temperatures will drop down into the 20s tonight across the entire
Mid-South.
High pressure will build into the region on Thursday. Temperatures
will be chilly with highs ranging from the upper 30s to mid 40s.
The high will begin to shift east on Friday. With winds expected
to turn around to the south and upper ridging occurring across the
area, a gradual warming trend is expected to occur Friday into the
weekend. However, showers will begin to spread back into the Mid-
South Saturday into Sunday as a low pressure system tracks from
the Southern Plains into mid Mississippi River Valley. A few
thunderstorms will occur Saturday afternoon into Saturday Night
ahead of the approaching cold front. No severe storms are expected
at this time.
Colder air will filter into the CWA Sunday Night into Monday
behind the system. A few flurries may occur across the area.
High pressure will build into the Mid-South on Tuesday.
KRM
&&
.AVIATION...
/12z TAFs/
Low stratus is filling in quickly along/west of the MS River. This
trend will continue this morning with rain and/or snow moving
across the area from west to east. Locations across north MS will
see all rain, with a rain/snow mix at MEM. A changeover to snow
is anticipated farther north at JBR/MKL which may result in lower
visibility. Otherwise, expect prevailing ceilings of 1000-2000 ft
AGL with tempo ceilings below 1000 ft AGL. Rain/snow moves east
this afternoon with dry weather overnight. Low clouds are expected
to persist into the evening hours and perhaps longer, but
confidence during the overnight period is low. Winds will be from
the north, increasing mid/late afternoon on the backside of the
departing trough with gusts near 20 kts at times.
MJ
&&
.MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AR...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM CST this afternoon for Clay-
Greene.
MO...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM CST this afternoon for
Dunklin.
MS...None.
TN...None.
&&Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 439 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-281300- 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- 439 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Snow will move into areas along and north of Interstate 40 today. Minor accumulations are expected with best chances occurring across portions of Northeast Arkansas near the Missouri-Arkansas state border and northern portions of the Missouri Bootheel. Around an inch of snow could occur in this area and a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued. South of the Winter Weather Advisory to the I-40 corridor, a dusting to less than an inch of snow accumulations is expected. Accumulations are mainly expected to be on grassy and elevated surfaces. However, slick spots may occur on bridges and overpasses. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time, but spotters are encouraged to report any snowfall totals today. KRM
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Memphis TN 351 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021 ARZ026>028-035-036-MOZ115-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>052-088-272200- Craighead-Poinsett-Mississippi-Cross-Crittenden-Pemiscot-Lake- Obion-Weakley-Henry-Dyer-Gibson-Carroll-Benton TN-Lauderdale- Tipton-Haywood-Crockett-Madison-Shelby- Including the cities of Jonesboro, Harrisburg, Blytheville, Wynne, West Memphis, Caruthersville, Tiptonville, Union City, Martin, Dresden, Paris, Dyersburg, Humboldt, Milan, Huntingdon, Camden, Ripley TN, Covington, Brownsville, Alamo, Jackson, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Memphis, and Millington 351 AM CST Wed Jan 27 2021 ...Light Snow Expected Today... Colder air will continue to filter into the Mid-South today ahead of an upper level trough. Precipitation associated with the upper trough will spread into areas along and north of Interstate 40 over the course of the day. The precipitation may briefly start out as rain, but will quickly changeover to snow. Minor accumulations, generally less than an inch, may occur across the area with accumulations mainly occurring on grassy or elevated surfaces. However, there may be isolated slick spots on bridges and overpasses. Drivers should use extra caution if driving in snowy conditions today. The snow will taper off from west to east this afternoon. KRM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
About an inch of snow fell across parts of Clay County, mainly on elevated surfaces.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, January 2021
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: 939761.