Multiple shortwaves rotated around a low-pressure system over the Rockies. This produced slow-moving thunderstorms with heavy rain across parts of the Mid-South.
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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.
Multiple shortwaves rotated around a low-pressure system over the Rockies. This produced slow-moving thunderstorms with heavy rain across parts of the Mid-South.
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 19, 1:51 PM CST, 3 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Memphis TN 251 PM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021 .DISCUSSION... Skies remain mostly clouds across the Mid-South this afternoon with temperatures mainly in the 80s to around 90 degrees. Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue to move across the region this afternoon. Additional showers and thunderstorms have developed to our west over portions of northern Louisiana, northeast Texas and eastern Oklahoma. Some of this activity will move into the Mid-South this evening. In addition, some patchy areas of fog are possible across portions of west Tennessee overnight. Temperatures will remain on the warm side with lows Friday morning in the low to mid 70s. Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected to start Friday morning and continue through the afternoon hours. Temperatures will be similar to today with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Friday night mainly during the overnight hours. Saturday will see another round of showers and thunderstorms will the best chance of rain expected over the eastern half of the Mid-South. Temperatures will be a little warmer with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. With the warmer temperatures, heat index values may exceed 105 degrees over western sections of the region. Scattered thunderstorms will continue into Saturday night and Sunday. Temperatures will be a little warmer on Sunday so heat index value may reach 105 or higher over more of the region. By Sunday night, the chance of rain will diminish with only scattered afternoon thunderstorms expected for Monday through Wednesday. Temperatures will remain on the hot side during this period with some locations having heat index values exceed 110 degrees. On Wednesday night, a cold front will move into northern sections of the Mid-South and remain over the region next Thursday. The front will bring more showers and thunderstorms during this period. ARS && .AVIATION... Expect showers and storms to continue throughout the TAF period. Periods of VFR conditions can be expected, but MVFR to IFR conditions will be possible where storms occur. Winds should remain in the 5 to 10 knot range. Patchy fog is possible later on tonight as well. We will continue the unsettled weather into the daytime hours on Friday as well. && .MEG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...None. MO...None. MS...None. TN...None. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Memphis TN 411 AM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021 ARZ009-018-026>028-035-036-048-049-058-MOZ113-115-MSZ001>017- 020>024-TNZ001>004-019>022-048>055-088>092-201100- 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- 411 AM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of East Arkansas... the Missouri Bootheel...North Mississippi...and West Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few strong storms are possible across the Mid-South this afternoon. The strongest storms will be capable of producing gusty winds. Locally heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Numerous showers and thunderstorms will continue to pose a threat for locally heavy rainfall Friday and Saturday. Hot and humid conditions will return this weekend into early next week with heat indices approaching 105 degrees. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time. MJ
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
342 PM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021
MSZ023-192115-
Chickasaw MS-
342 PM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Chickasaw
County through 415 PM CDT...
At 342 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Houston, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Houston, Trebloc, McCondy, Anchor and Buena Vista.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3395 8905 3399 8878 3381 8877 3381 8904
TIME...MOT...LOC 2042Z 265DEG 21KT 3390 8894
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Memphis TN
432 PM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021
MSZ024-192200-
Monroe MS-
432 PM CDT Thu Aug 19 2021
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Monroe
County through 500 PM CDT...
At 431 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
New Wren, or near Amory, moving south at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size 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...
Amory, Aberdeen, Prairie, New Wren, Hatley, East Aberdeen, Becker,
Bigbee and Wren.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3401 8872 3406 8845 3384 8832 3377 8872
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 346DEG 18KT 3396 8858
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPHThe Memphis radar (KNQA), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:27 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
At least six inches of water covered King Ridge Drive between Six Crowns Street and King Ridge Cove. A foot of water covered Byhalia Road south of West Powell Road.
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: 978675.