An upper-level shortwave trough moved from East Texas across Arkansas during the afternoon of May 2nd. At the surface, a warm front associated with the system developed and lifted north across Louisiana.
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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 JAN wrote it up.
An upper-level shortwave trough moved from East Texas across Arkansas during the afternoon of May 2nd. At the surface, a warm front associated with the system developed and lifted north across Louisiana. Severe thunderstorms developed along and south of the warm front through the afternoon and evening, and one storm produced a brief weak tornado in Madison Parish.
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 Jackson, MS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 2, 1:16 PM CST, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Jackson MS 216 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021 .UPDATE... Updated for 18Z aviation discussion && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF discussion: Tried to adjust the forecast to match the current trends. While rain was a little more widespread, thunderstorm did not quite develop with the first round.There is a blob of rain across much of the area, but storms were becoming more cell like in nature. Kept shower wording with VCTS nearly everywhere into the early evening. Looks like showers mainly and a few thunderstorms will linger into the early morning for the far eastern zones. Winds across the area were expected to increase tonight through much of the day Monday. Maintained sustained winds near 15 kts with gusts from 20-25kts. Guidance shows fog developing at few sites over night, but with winds increasing, thinking stratus is more likely. Kept low clouds for early tomorrow and maintained BKN-OVC through the forecast period. Guidance suggests clouds will hang around. && .DISCUSSION... Showers and thunderstorms continue to develop across the area. The first round of activity generally remained south. Instability has been limited across the area with the ongoing clouds and rain. Looking to see if instability will push north with the second round. Convection continues to develop to the southwest, but so far was weakening once it gets closer to the I-20 corridor. JAN sounding from this morning didn't have much to support thunderstorms, while LIX had decent instability and some lapse rates. PW values were also much better. Models seem to keep the best instability south of I-20 through the evening. The convection continues to blow up to the southwest and the satellite shows some thinning clouds and good southerly flow, so will have to continue monitoring things for now. There was some heavy rain happening also, so keeping a close eye on any flooding risk and may have to expand for today. Storms will remain efficient and will run the risk of producing heavy rain and localized flooding. LIX sounding shows some decent PW values near 1.75 inches, JAN was a little lower around 1.5 inches. For now seems like conditions will remain best south of interstate 20. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Jackson 76 68 88 72 / 94 27 20 8 Meridian 77 66 87 70 / 93 77 33 10 Vicksburg 77 69 90 72 / 93 34 7 10 Hattiesburg 78 68 87 72 / 96 54 39 10 Natchez 78 69 89 72 / 97 16 10 6 Greenville 75 68 88 72 / 93 72 5 16 Greenwood 75 68 88 72 / 93 72 7 12 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...None. LA...None. AR...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Jackson MS 350 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021 ARZ074-075-LAZ007>009-015-016-023>026-MSZ018-019-025>029-032>050- 053>056-059>065-072-032100- Ashley-Chicot-Morehouse-West Carroll-East Carroll-Richland- Madison LA-Franklin LA-Catahoula-Tensas-Concordia-Bolivar- Sunflower-Leflore-Grenada-Carroll-Montgomery-Webster-Choctaw- Oktibbeha-Washington-Humphreys-Holmes-Attala-Winston-Noxubee- Issaquena-Sharkey-Yazoo-Madison MS-Leake-Neshoba-Kemper-Warren- Hinds-Rankin-Scott-Claiborne-Copiah-Simpson-Smith-Jefferson-Adams- Franklin MS-Lincoln-Lawrence-Jefferson Davis-Covington-Marion- 350 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of southeast Arkansas, northeast Louisiana, central Mississippi, north central Mississippi, and south central Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Monday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...The rest of this afternoon through tonight FLOODING THREAT...Limited TIMING...Through the remainder of this afternoon The rest of this afternoon through tonight, severe thunderstormsare possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds to 60 mph and hail at least to the size of quarters. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/3.png) Through the remainder of this afternoon, localized flash flooding is possible, particularly in low lying and urban areas. Minor river flooding is also possible. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/4.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday night through Saturday Areas of flooding are likely for portions of east central Mississippi and portions of southeast Mississippi on Tuesday. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) Severe thunderstorms are possible and tornadoes cannot be ruled out for the entire outlook area Tuesday through Tuesday night. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region remainder of the afternoon through tonight and Tuesday through Tuesday night. MSZ030-031-032100- Clay-Lowndes- 350 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Monday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...The rest of this afternoon through tonight The rest of this afternoon through tonight, severe thunderstorms are possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds to 60 mph and hail at least to the size of quarters. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/3.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday night through Saturday Areas of flooding are likely for portions of east central Mississippi and portions of southeast Mississippi on Tuesday. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) Severe thunderstorms are possible and tornadoes cannot be ruled out for the entire outlook area Tuesday through Tuesday night. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region remainder of the afternoon through tonight and Tuesday through Tuesday night. MSZ051-052-057-058-066-073-074-032100- Newton-Lauderdale-Jasper-Clarke-Jones-Lamar-Forrest- 350 PM CDT Sun May 2 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of east central Mississippi, and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Tonight and Monday SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THREAT...Slight TIMING...The rest of this afternoon through tonight FLOODING THREAT...Elevated TIMING...Through the remainder of this afternoon The rest of this afternoon through tonight, severe thunderstorms are possible. Some thunderstorms could produce damaging winds to 60 mph and hail at least to the size of quarters. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/3.png) Through the remainder of this afternoon, areas of flash flooding likely and some roads could be flooded or closed. Some structures may be potentially threatened by high water. Minor river flooding is also possible. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/4.png) .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday night through Saturday Areas of flooding are likely for portions of east central Mississippi and portions of southeast Mississippi on Tuesday. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/2.png) Severe thunderstorms are possible and tornadoes cannot be ruled out for the entire outlook area Tuesday through Tuesday night. (https://www.weather.gov/images/jan/graphicast/1.png) .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... The activation of storm spotters, HAM radio operators, and emergency management personnel in support of severe weather operations may be needed for portions of the region remainder of the afternoon through tonight and Tuesday through Tuesday night. 20 && ...HAZARD LEGEND... *SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS* High...Significant severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are likely with strong or violent tornadoes possible. Moderate...Significant severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are likely with strong tornadoes possible. Enhanced...Severe thunderstorms are likely and tornadoes are possible. Slight...Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible. Marginal...Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. *FLOODING* Extreme...Widespread and significant flooding is likely. Significant...Widespread flash flooding is likely and significant flooding is possible. Elevated...Areas of flash flooding likely. Limited...Localized flash flooding is possible. ...USEFUL WEATHER WEB PAGES (URLS)... NWS JAN Home page... https://www.weather.gov/jan Stay Aware, Stay Safe NWS JAN Briefing Page... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe Latest Weather Briefing... https://www.weather.gov/jan/weather_briefing Find NWS JAN on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Twitter... @NWSJacksonMS Follow NWS JAN on Youtube... https://www.youtube.com/user/NWSJacksonMiss ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR SEVERE WEATHER ISSUES... Storm Prediction Center (SPC)... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/ Meso Analysis... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/mesoanalysis/ Day 1 through 3 Outlooks... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/ Storm Reports... https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/ ...ADDITIONAL URLS FOR FLOODING ISSUES... Current Watches and Warnings... https://www.weather.gov/jan/safe_HeavyRain Observed Precipitation Images... https://www.weather.gov/jan/precipmaps River Forecast Center... https://www.weather.gov/lmrfc/ Significant River Flood Outlook... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/nationalfloodoutlook/index.html Day 1 through 3 Excessive Rainfall... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/excess_rain.shtml Excessive Rainfall Discussion... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpferd.html Day 1 through 7 QPF... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml QPF Discussion... https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/qpfpfd.html
The Jackson/Brandon,MS radar (KDGX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:55 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A spotter observed a brief tornado crossing US Highway 65 near Omega. No damage was observed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Louisiana in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Louisiana, 2021Warnings in Louisiana, May 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: 958281.