A cold front moved in from the northwest causing thunderstorms to develop resulting in some flash flooding in portions of Arkansas and southwestern Tennessee.
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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.
A cold front moved in from the northwest causing thunderstorms to develop resulting in some flash flooding in portions of Arkansas and southwestern Tennessee.
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 Aug 13, 2:33 PM CST, 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 333 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021 .DISCUSSION... Currently, showers and thunderstorms are very slowly moving across the area. With little movement, ample CAPE, PWATs 1.8-2in these storms are efficient rainmakers. Flash flooding is a concern. Please use caution and do not drive onto/through flooded roadways. Turn around, don't drown. These storms are out ahead of a cold front that is draped across Indiana, Illinois and through the Plains. This front will continue to move through the area into tomorrow evening. Rain and storms are possible again tomorrow with temperatures into the upper 80s. For the rest of the weekend through next week, we can expect temperatures into the upper 80s and low 90s with no heat advisory concerns through at least mid to late week. The upper level ridge that has weakened over the past 24 hours will hang out over our area which will allow for daily showers and thunderstorms through late week. Looking to the tropics we have Tropical Storm Fred which looks to affect the FL panhandle Sunday evening. It should track into the southern Appalachians missing our area. The next area of focus is tropical Depression 7, which may become Grace, is further out in the Atlantic. As of now it is too far out to predict what, if any, impacts this system will have on the Mid-South. SMW && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF CYCLE Lots of uncertainty over the next 12-18 hours as a cold front moves across the Midsouth with numerous outflow boundaries across the area. Showers and thunderstorms should impact all TAF sites this afternoon with slight weakening after sunset. Showers may continue through the night and increase in coverage tomorrow. MEM may see additional thunderstorms after 18z tomorrow. Winds may shift from the north ahead of the actual cold front due to outflow, and possibly shift back from the southwest before the front ushers in northeast wind behind the front. Cigs will also be ragged and variable along and ahead of the front, but should settle around 10,000 ft tonight. 30 && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 331 AM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-141045- 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- 331 AM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021 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 a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms today, along and north of the Interstate 40 corridor. Damaging winds and flash flooding will be possible. Away from thunderstorm outflow, midafternoon heat indices may approach 105 degrees. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. PWB
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
200 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
ARZ036-MSZ001-TNZ088-131945-
Crittenden AR-DeSoto MS-Shelby TN-
200 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Crittenden, western DeSoto and southwestern Shelby Counties through
245 PM CDT...
At 200 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Anthonyville, or 10 miles northeast of Hughes, moving southeast at 35
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Southaven, Olive Branch, West Memphis, Horn Lake, Hernando, T O
Fuller State Park, Memphis, Walls, Edmondson, Horseshoe Lake,
Anthonyville, Pinckney, Lake Cormorant, Lynchburg, Eudora, Simsboro,
Whitehaven, Southwest Memphis, Newport and Kate.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3500 9041 3500 9040 3505 9040 3514 9035
3498 8985 3474 8999 3485 9020 3486 9020
3486 9023 3495 9041
TIME...MOT...LOC 1900Z 296DEG 32KT 3503 9032
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
213 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
ARZ027-035-132000-
Poinsett AR-Cross AR-
213 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Poinsett and northwestern Cross Counties through 300 PM CDT...
At 213 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
McFadden, or 15 miles southeast of Newport, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge, Waldenburg, Fisher, Wiley Crossing,
Pittinger and Supply.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3556 9104 3560 9073 3533 9077 3537 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 283DEG 17KT 3545 9105
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
214 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
ARZ027-035-132000-
Poinsett AR-Cross AR-
214 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Poinsett and northwestern Cross Counties through 300 PM CDT...
At 214 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hickory Ridge, or 16 miles southeast of Newport, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge, Waldenburg, Fisher, Wiley Crossing,
Pittinger and Supply.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3556 9104 3560 9073 3533 9077 3537 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 1914Z 283DEG 17KT 3545 9104
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
215 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
ARZ027-035-132000-
Poinsett AR-Cross AR-
215 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Poinsett and northwestern Cross Counties through 300 PM CDT...
At 214 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hickory Ridge, or 16 miles southeast of Newport, moving east at 20
mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Cherry Valley, Hickory Ridge, Waldenburg, Fisher, Wiley Crossing,
Pittinger and Supply.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3556 9104 3560 9073 3533 9077 3537 9104
TIME...MOT...LOC 1914Z 283DEG 17KT 3545 9104
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
225 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
MSZ003-004-014-132015-
Tippah MS-Union MS-Benton MS-
225 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Union,
southwestern Tippah and southeastern Benton Counties through 315 PM
CDT...
At 224 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Ripley, moving south at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
New Albany, Ripley, Blue Mountain, Gravestown, Keownville, Myrtle,
Cotton Plant, Shari, Union Hill, Murry, Poolville, Concord, Old
Myrtle, Pumpkin Center, Molino, Clarysville, Whitten Town, Baker,
Parks and Smalco.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3479 8912 3481 8890 3448 8882 3446 8915
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 356DEG 20KT 3474 8901
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
327 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
ARZ027-035-036-132100-
Poinsett AR-Cross AR-Crittenden AR-
327 PM CDT Fri Aug 13 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Poinsett, northwestern Crittenden and northeastern Cross Counties
through 400 PM CDT...
At 326 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cherry Valley, or 9 miles northwest of Parkin, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Marked Tree, Earle, Parkin, Tyronza, Cherry Valley, Smithdale, Three
Forks, Togo, Birdeye, Colton, Twist, McDonald, Boat Run, Cloar,
Galilee, Bay Village, Coldwater, Northern Ohio, Monterey and
Princedale.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3526 9073 3544 9075 3553 9038 3526 9034
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 262DEG 17KT 3537 9066
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 39 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:57 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding occurred in East Memphis with several cars stranded.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 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: 978297.